FAQs
Find Out MoreF.A.Q.
What is baby massage?
Baby massage is positive touch by a parent/caregiver with their baby, to express love, caring and respect. Gentle strokes and caresses in a variety of ways for different body parts to deepen the bond, relax and enjoy the moment and to aid many health issues. Many parents naturally stroke and caress their babies while cuddling, playing, soothing for sleep etc. Baby massage courses teach you a focussed approach to positive touch with which you will be able to respond to baby’s needs at different times and also immerse yourselves in these special moments.
Why baby massage?
Infant massage has many benefits for both baby and parents/carers, here are some of the main ones:
Deepens bonding –
Touch is one of baby’s first languages. Positive touch sends messages of love and nurturing, fundamental to emotional and physical growth and wellbeing. Baby massage reduces the incidences of postnatal depression.
Highly recommended for adoptive and foster families where appropriate (personalised communication in this regard is encouraged, please do contact us for further information).
Relaxes baby –
Loving touch can relieve tension, fussiness and irritability. Baby massage is a beautiful way to lessen stress for both parent and baby.
Aids growth and development –
Studies have shown that infant massage increases weight gain, immune function and supports brain and muscle development.
Promotes communication –
Baby massage helps parents/carers become more aware of baby’s non-verbal cues. One on one communication reaffirms the messages of love, nurture and security.
Improves sleep patterns –
Baby massage can help improve baby’s sleep and in turn, your sleep. As baby learns to relax, with opportunity for stress relief, they often sleep for longer periods of time. The baby and the person massaging, increasingly release feel good and happy hormones (for example oxytocin and endorphins) during the massage, enabling both to feel content, loved and relaxed.
Aids wind, colic, reflux and constipation –
Relaxes the tummy area (abdomen) and helps release trapped wind.
How does infant massage differ to adult massage?
Adult massage tends to focus on relieving muscle tension and pain and therefore has a firm approach to the contact. Baby massage techniques are soft, gentle strokes and caresses which encourage relaxation for both baby and parent/caregiver.
When can I start massaging my baby?
It is possible to use some very gentle baby massage techniques from birth (without oil) because skin to skin contact is essential for baby’s health and wellbeing.
Babies often cope better with a baby massage group class situation from 6 weeks old.
Should I use oil? If so, which one?
Baby’s skin is still developing during the first month after birth. A cold pressed, edible, natural oil (such as fractionated coconut, grapeseed or sunflower oil) may be used from 4-6 weeks of age, if you so wish.
I’m a little concerned about how my child will cope with this in a group, do you offer home or online sessions?
Yes we do, we are more than happy to personalise your situation in the home or online. Home or online sessions are also good for adopted/foster children/families. We can also teach you the sessions/skills/techniques, just the adults, with demo dolls/teddies in readiness for your evolving situation.
My baby has had immunisations, is it OK to massage?
Wait 24 hours after immunisations, then if baby is well enough it’s okay to massage, avoiding the immunisation site for around one week.
Are there any times I should not massage my baby?
There may be some times when it is best not to massage baby. The following are some general guidelines:
Don’t wake baby for a massage.
Never force any movements or go against baby’s will. Baby will let you know if they’re not enjoying it, we must be respectful of baby’s wishes while massaging with baby and not ‘to’ baby.
Do not massage a hungry or full baby, wait around 40 minutes following a feed.
After immunisations, wait 24 hours and avoid the immunisation site for one week.
Do not massage an unwell baby.
Recently bruised or broken skin should not be massaged.
What is Calmer Stories?
Calmer Stories weaves together massage, yoga and mindfulness into storytelling.
Calmer Stories helps children to calm and relax their minds and bodies. These techniques can be used in the home, at bed time for example, to help children make sense of their day and promote a good night’s sleep with a calming, bonding, night time experience.
We bring together basic massage strokes (on top of clothing – back, shoulders, head, arms), some yoga inspired movements and breathing/mindfulness techniques into stories, rhymes and play.
Consent is a focus of Calmer Stories. Everyone involved, asking for and deciding whether or not to give consent is a part of the whole process. If someone does not give consent, there are a number of options for how the children can join in, in other ways or observe/be alongside to still benefit from the process.
Calmer Stories is a great way to deepen bonding and connections by safely incorporating positive touch into our family interactions or peer group interactions.
What does a Calmer Stories session look like?
For a community, family Calmer Stories session, mats will be arranged around the room in family groups, for you to interact within the session, with your own family.
‘Family group’ may describe one parent/carer with one child or two parents/carers with their children etc. Families are encouraged to communicate with other families in the sessions where appropriate and to make friends if you so wish, however, storytelling massage/contact is within your family group.
A school setting Calmer Stories session will be consensual peer on peer contact (over the clothes – back, shoulders, head, arms) where appropriate with groups organised with the school, for the group’s specific needs, for example one to one peer on peer, small group or larger group with individuals’ needs met throughout.
The Calmer Stories instructor teaches the moves/strokes/storytelling. The instructor does not make contact with the children. Where personalised demonstration or support may be needed, the instructor may explain/show/engage with a demo doll or a teddy bear to assist.
Why does mindful breathing help?
Mindful breathing, breathing with intention, helps regulate our mind-body system. We can soothe our nervous system, energise our bodies and clear/refresh our minds. As we move through childhood, we tend to lose the gift of breathing deeply like we did as babies, and tend to only use 25% of our lung capacity (Flynn 2013). This is a fascinating topic which we will talk about more in the sessions.
Yoga for children – L Flynn (2013).
For baby massage, are twins / multiple births welcome?
Yes of course and multiple births are one price for the course, not charged per baby.