The Power of Infant Massage
Written by Sophie Osgood, Spoonful of Nana
Hello, my name is Sophie Osgood, I went to Norland College, leaving in 2007 and nannied until I had my daughter in 2018. During this time, I experienced baby massage within a few of my nanny roles, I could see the connection between parent and baby and fell in love with the teachings.
I found the International Association of Infant Massage (IAIM) by chance and after reading their ethos I was totally hooked. In 2012 I trained to become a Certified Infant Massage Instructor (CIMI) which is where my business ‘Spoonful of Nana’ was born.
I continued to nanny and teach infant massage in my week. It came at a time where a lot of my friends were having babies so I had such a special time in teaching them and their new friends infant massage.
Since becoming a mumma I have realised how much my classes can impact a new mum. I have small groups and we take our lead very much from the babies, being reminded that the baby is the teacher, the parent is the expert and I facilitate and bring them together. I make sure to have plenty of time for chit chat and an all-important cuppa and cake at the end so mummas can enjoy a relax whilst in the company of new friends. I demonstrate the massage strokes on a doll, so parents are the only ones who touch their babies, this gives them a chance to bond with their babies and ask as many questions as needed so they feel comfortable when they get home to carry on massaging.
Classes aren’t just for mummas. I have taught some classes with daddys too. After showing parents the stokes I trust the ripple effect of massage will go far and wide; some older siblings have enjoyed bonding with the magic of massage, as have some grandparents.
We teach infant massage to under 1s this is because they are less wriggly!! We also teach children with additional needs and foster or adopted children up to age 7. Within our classes we discuss how to continue to enjoy massage past infancy, I believe this is a great parenting tool.
The main reason for the massage classes it to give the experience to both parent and baby. IAIM infant massage classes are a great first class to attend, this is because each class is led by the babies needs and wants, and to support mums in starting to feel confident in their new role. We heavily talk about watching your child and picking up on their non-verbal cues.
Benefits for infant massage include secure attachments – when we ask for permission (to start a massage) from our babies, we are giving them the respect all children should have.
‘Research shows that simply touching or caressing a newborn is critical to the infant’s sense of security. Infant massage therefore, becomes an incredibly important art for parents to learn’ - taken from Vimala McClure’s book Infant Massage- A handbook for loving parents. (4th edition)
Other benefits for infant massage include; interaction, stimulation, relaxation, relief (of gas, colic, constipation, elimination, muscular tension and teething discomfort).
There are also benefits for the parents which include giving you a happy, loving hormone release and a small introduction to mindfulness – the art of being here and now, without distractions, just taking the time to bond and be with your baby or child.
There is a wider benefit to family and society because the more we teach parents to massage their children the more normal it will become to be open about needs and positive touch. By role modelling infant massage from the start another benefit I’ve discovered is my daughter’s love for massaging me! She loves lotion and a foot massage! Sometimes it works both ways! These benefits are seen in all ages and stages.
Touch is such an important sense to nurture and grow. In times of worry or unsettled feelings we can connect back to our children using positive touch as a non-verbal communication tool.
Resting hands is a stroke we use which aids an infant or child’s senses;
ask for permission first
warming your hands, you simply place them either on or around the baby or child’s body
by relaxing yourself with intentional deep breathing your body will relax and your hands will naturally become heavier, a calming touch. I remind my mums to imagine passing a sensation of love from hands to their baby or child’s body.
take time here to just be
this alone can be a fantastic tool to aid any aged child.
You can use this technique for all ages, if children are at the age that they can’t verbally talk, this is when you recognise their non-verbal cues such as eye contact, wriggling, or calm relaxed body.
If you can have a conversation with the children then use the safe space to openly ask if there is anything they are worried about, or if there is something they need to be reassured about. Holding hands, having close touch or hands on a teenager’s shoulders is a message to them to say ‘I’m here, I know you need some time, I love you’ Making sure they give us permission we could then offer a massage, or a story massage, to be appropriate for the age of the child.
The IAIM was founded by Vimala McClure; she started the very strokes that we teach today in many countries across the world. There are many CIMIs in the UK you can search for your local class via the website. In this pandemic the association have created a specific programme for Baby Massage Instructors to support families during isolation. They have taken the time and care to consider how we can best do this and ensure its efficiency and safety when we’ve always been a face to face programme. These online classes will be in small groups with a glimpse of the strokes we teach, alongside theory and parental discussion. We are then encouraging parents to join a face to face class when we can. Being in a small group with likeminded others can be a relaxing first class for many families. Details of some of the teachers who are offering classes online are listed at the end of this blog.
Vimala has an amazing book called ‘Infant Massage A handbook for loving parents, 4th Edition‘ directed for parents to be able to learn massage strokes from home.
When you have an idea of what you can do, the main point is to always ask permission; if the baby or child isn’t in the mood then now isn’t the time to massage. Also think of when you go to a spa, you want to have the mood just right, so have no distractions, a warm space with cosy lighting and plenty of time! With younger babies we need to observe when they are in a good behavioural state to try massage, this could be once their needs have been met- they’ve had a nap, been fed and are happy to play. We never massage a sleeping or crying baby. For older children this could be once they have run out their excess energy and have no distractions. If part way through your baby or child decides they have had enough massage, you could go back to resting hands and have a talk, sing a lullaby or nursery rhyme.
For older children you can use their interests to keep massage going, this could be listening to a relaxing cd, having a ‘story massage’ or listening and singing to calm lullabies, for younger children lullabies is an added benefit to the infant massage because you are not only using your touch sense to bond but also your hearing and speech.
If you are brand new to infant massage and your child is no longer an infant, know that positive touch will give you similar results. As usual make sure to ask for permission – for older children you can ask where they would like to be massaged. Remembering to give your child your undivided attention will aid in the whole experience; this can be a nice time for both of you to speak up any worries or concerns. Or you could use the time to list gratitude or favourite times in the day. We advise to use a natural oil such as coconut or sunflower – however you don’t always need oils. Sun cream is a good time to be intentional about massaging into their skin, you can make a positive experience out of it.
I always end my classes on a poem or quote, today’s is taken from Vimala McClure’s book ‘The Tao of Motherhood’
“Keep your life simple,
And serenity will follow,
Like a small country with little
Need for supersonic travel,
A simple life has little need for
Tension and stress,
Give your children yourself, and
The need for things will be minimal”
You can follow Sophie on Instagram @spoonful_of_nana
Here is a link which shows you all of the IAIM classes - Baby massage classes
These are some IAIM teachers who are offering online classes (these are shown with either their Instagram name or web address).
Angela, Durham area, North East @mykidrocksdoesyours
Clare, Newcastle, @soothingbabymassageyoga
Nita, North West Surrey, www.lovingtouchbaby.com
Anna, TW3, West London, @bumpandbabymassage
Suzy, Glasgow, www.babynyou.co.uk
Sarah, Bury, Lancashire, @babymassagewithsarahhodson
Kat, Poole and Bournemouth, @littledreamersbabymassage
Zoe, Dereham, Norfolk, www.toptotoemassage.co.uk
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