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Infant massage

Infant massage is about a whole gamut of factors. It’s not just about massage. It’s about communication and relationship between parent and baby and how this can be enhanced by the power of appropriate touch. It’s about the benefits of this relationship to the baby’s and parent’s mental, emotional, psychological and physical health. It’s about giving a baby the best possible start to their life and recognising the importance of this relationship.

Infant massage originated many years ago and has long incorporated aspects of scientific research, reflexology and traditional massage. The benefits of this discipline are numerous . There has been significant investigation to show how advantageous infant massage is to babies in their infancy and in years to come. Some of these benefits include

    • stimulating an immature digestive system that exists in a newborn
    • improving the functioning of an immature nervous system in the newborn
    • stimulates an immature immune system
    • help establish the attachment and bond between parent and child
    • promotes the idea of healthy touch in the growing child
    • can improve sleep in the infant
    • promotes the secretion of the ‘feel good’ hormones and reduces the production of stress hormones in both the parent and child
    • parents gain better understanding of their baby’s behavioral cues
    • establishes a lifetime of advantages for optimum health
 

How is the massage delivered?

As an instructor and a parent educator,  Angie demonstrates and facilitates the massage process as well as leading a time of relaxation for parent and baby. She actually doesn’t perform the massage herself. This is because research has shown that the bonding process between parent and child is optimised by the parent doing the massage.

Angie runs both group and one on one sessions with her mobile business.

The groups are involved in a 4 week program called the ‘First Touch’ initiated by ‘Baby in Mind’.  The program is relationship and cue based so to promote the communication and attachment between parent and baby.

Baby In Mind is an organisation whose courses are government accredited and they have been affiliated with the International Association of Infant Massage. Each weekly group runs for one to one half hours. Each session involves the following:

    • demonstration of a massage stroke in a peaceful, relaxing environment
    • a teaching component related to the baby’s development
    • group discussion geared toward the parent and the baby’s needs
The length of 4 weeks  is desirable in order to learn all that is needed to help the parent reach a level of confidence in relating and discovering their baby’s needs.

Angie uses her knowledge as a Registered Nurse, her experience as a Wellness Coach and her passion for relating the benefits of infant massage to facilitate a stimulating and caring gathering.

Are you considering being involved in a group? Or maybe you are a part of a local mother’s group who may be interested in finding out more information? Angie is more than happy to meet up with you and talk in more detail about what is involved.

Please see our Services and Costs page for prices of the sessions.

Testimonials from  infant massage couples:

“We are very happy to have found Angie to give us baby massage lessons. Angie is a professional and passionate teacher with a very positive attitude. We have learnt a lot of techniques and insights on how to connect with our baby. Our baby is massaged every night and she is enjoying the time. We had a lot of fun and would highly recommend her services.”

Pearl and Juraj

“Infant massage classes with Angie introduced my husband and I to a new way of approaching our baby settling. Our little girl, now 5 months old, has been in an evening routine for some time now of having a massage before her bath. When given the cue that massage is about to begin, she often gets excited and has even stopped her crying! She goes to bath time then bedtime calmly and I believe the massage to be very important in achieving  this. Thank you for all your help Angie!”

Lauren and John

Infant massage basically empowered my family in so many ways,

created connection and filled some gaps in my motherhood journey.

I was unable to breastfeed due to my son having a lip and cleft palates and through learning massage and touch, it brought a sense of connection and bond between my son and I. The massage techniques got us through big tantrums, feelings of stress and tension with long reflux nights, bring on long car rides, before bed, public places and more!

Learning infant massage has taught me how to connect with my son, speak to him in a calm way, soothe him and in doing so completely decreases my stress and adrenaline. Hunter just loves his feet being massaged and it can turn around any mood!

Angie was incredibly encouraging in those early stages of being a mum, she would come and lift the room – empowering us as a couple and teaching us to connect and how well we did know his cues and that we were listening. Every new mum can feel lost or insecure in the early stages. Angie always reminded me I was doing so well and reassured us how well Hunter was responding to us through touch.

I’m honestly obsessed with interacting with my son through massage and have loved seeing my husband on this wonderful learning with me. Everyone needs to learn infant massage – it’s vital in our connection as parents.

 Caitlin