Research specific to the benefits of infant massage have been ongoing since the mid 1970's and has been conducted at various institutes, some focusing on infants who were premature, exposed to drugs in utero and infants that had motor problems. All these categories of babies and many more have benefited from the nurturing touch of infant massage. These benefits included weight gain, neurlogical development, decreased hospitalisation and improved digestion.

Some of the numerous benefits to infant massage are listed below:

Benefits for baby:

• Helps baby to sleep more deeply and longer
• Help calm babies emotions and may make them feel less fractious
• Encourage babies to develop awareness of their body
• Help to develop good muscle tone, co-ordination and suppleness
• Boost babies' confidence
• Aid digestion and help to relieve colic, wind and constipation
• Regulates breathing and relieve nasal
• congestion
• Strengthens the immune system
• Visibly improve skin texture

Benefits for both Mum, Dad or caregiver:

• Helps parent to understand baby's non-verbal communication  
• Enhances parent's confidence and competence in dealing with baby 
• Can help with postnatal depression
• Both parents and baby relax together
• Promotes lactation in breastfeeding mums (through stimulation of hormones)
• Promotes nurturing instinct (through stimulation of hormone oxytocin)

I teach the programme devised by Vimala McClure founder of IAIM (International Association of Infant Massage). 

The course consists of 4 or 5 sessions, one hour per week in either a small group setting of 5 or on a one to one basis in the comfort of your own home.

If you are interested in knowing more about infant massage please contact me or alternatively please go to the www.iaim.org.uk website. If you do not live in the Woking area, the IAIM website will be able to show you where your nearest CIMI (Certified Infant Massage Instructor) is located.  

I  warmly invite all babies and parents/caregivers to my class from first born up to 6 months old and look forward to teaching you what a wonderful experience baby massage can be for you both.