“It is through our hands that we
speak to the child.
That we communicate. Touch is the child’s first language,
understanding comes long after feeling” Frederick Leboyer, M.D & author
Infant
massage, otherwise known as baby massage, involves the parent
or caregiver learning a series of strokes and massage techniques
in order to enhance your baby’s physiological and psychological
development and to deepen the parent-infant bond and promote secure attachment through nurturing touch.
"It is a wonderful parenting tool that provides you and your family with a life skill"
As well as learning the massage sequence, infant massage
is about discovering newborn communication through their body language (non-verbal communication), and learning
how to interpret this in terms of whether they would like
a massage or not. This forms part of the 'permission sequence' which is the very first part of the infant massage routine. It is also important for the parent or carer to ask their baby, 'would you like a massage now?' (verbal communication). The permission sequence is a 'learned response' and may take several weeks of regular, daily massage for your baby to recognise. Some regard the permission sequence as the most important part of the massage routine.
VIDEO (The Permission Sequence): demonstrating how to ask your baby or toddler permission to massage, by Natalie Garmson (Cert. Infant Massage Instructor, W.A. State Rep. International Assoc of Infant Massage).
Note: this is a silent video, the emphasis being on the positive body language from my 2 year old as I 'ask permission', such as patting his chest as I rub the oil in my hands, sticking his chest out, smiling and holding my hands. The Permission Sequence, or asking permission, is as follows:
1. With your child lying down in front of you, rub a small amount of oil between your hands in front of your child, or if they have vision impairment, close to their ears
2. Show both hands where your child can see (not too close to their face)
3. Ask your child "Would you like a massage?" or if you are massaging a specific area of the body eg the tummy "Would you like your tummy massaged?"
Nurturing touch supports the parent-infant relationship and promotes sensitive, attuned parenting. Idibidi Kids courses are non-judgemental and are held in a supportive and friendly environment, whether that be at your home or centre.
Participating in the I.A.I.M Infant Massage course is investing in your child's health and wellbeing . Help strengthen the bond between you and your child through nurturing touch... the benefits will last a life time!
For further information on infant massage, please read about
IDIBIDI KIDS™ Massage and refer to articles on Infant Massage and Touch Therapy. Idibidi Kids™ runs parent-child wellbeing courses and
workshops designed to assist your babies health and development, focusing on specific massage strokes and techniques.
Benefits of massage for babies, toddlers and kids...
Massage is much more than relaxation!
Other benefits of infant massage include:-
• Increases circulation
• Strengthens the immune system
• Improves sleep patterns / increases deep sleep(BLOG article December 2008)
• Increases weight gain in pre-term/low birth weight
infants(BLOG article November 2009)
• Relieves congestion
• Encourages parent-infant interaction/bonding
• Increases body awareness
• Assists with reflux(BLOG article January 2009)
• Relieves colic, constipation and wind(BLOG article June 2009)
• Assists with post-natal depression
• Maintains flexibility through lymphatic exercises
• Effective therapy (especially to assist bonding and tactile sensitivity, improve motor development and muscle tone - hypertonicity or hypotonicity) for many childhood conditions, including Autism, Cerebral Palsy (links to PDF research paper), developmental delay conditions such as Global Development Delay and Down's Syndrome. Massage instruction being offered to parents as an activity they can enjoy together with their child at home, complimenting other therapies such as physiotherapy and occupational therapy.
• It is easy to learn and enjoyed by both parent and child!
Massage is essential
touch for your baby’s
body, mind and soul!
Infant and children's massage,
Touch therapy articles and Websites RESEARCH & INFORMATION
Below is a list of Infant Massage/Baby Massage/Children's Massage articles,research studies, reports and websites, that I have read and may be of interest to you.(Please note - the links below will redirect you. To return to Idibidi Kids Massage, please click on the arrow to go back to this page on the top LHS of your browser)
• Positive Touch and massage in the neonatal unit: a British approach Cherry Bond Winnicott Baby Unit, St Mary's NHS Trust, London, UK Semin Neonatol 2002; 7: 477-486 There is now a general trend towards a more baby friendly, family centred approach in the Neonatal Unit. Here the impact of these complementary practices (not to be confused with complementary therapies) is discussed.
•Cerebral Palsy Symptoms in Children Decreased following Massage Therapy
Early Child Development and Care
Vol. 175, No. 5, July 2005, pp. 445–456
Extract: Twenty young children (mean age = 32 months) with cerebral palsy (CP) recruited from early intervention programs received 30 minutes of massage or reading twice weekly for 12 weeks. The children receiving massage therapy showed fewer physical symptoms including reduced spasticity, less rigid muscle tone overall and in the arms, and improved fine and gross motor functioning. In addition, the massage group had improved cognition, social and dressing scores on the Developmental Profile, and they showed more positive facial expressions and less limb activity during face-to-face play interactions. These findings suggest that massage therapy attenuates physical symptoms associated with CP, enhances development and should be considered as an early intervention for children with CP.
• Touch and massage for medically fragile infants PDF (2007) Preliminary data from this study indicates feasibility and safety of infant massage and satisfaction among the caregivers, CIMIs and the nurses in the CNICC. An important contribution from this study was the demonstration of the infants’ safety based on physiological stability and no change in agitation/pain scores of the infants receiving massage.
• Stimulation Programs
for Pre-term Infants (2004)
Tiffany Field, Maria Hernandez-Reif, and Julia Freedman
20 page PDF, looks at the effects of massage for promoting the growth and development of pre-term babies
• "The Benefits of Massaging
Babies" Lemise Kassim 8 page PDF research paper. The aim of this piece of research was to ascertain that massage had specific benefits as part of
routine baby care. Brisbane, Australia.
• Queen Charlotte’s
and Chelsea Hospital, "Benefits of Infant Massage
for Mothers with Post Natal Depression" (2002)
Looks at the benefits of massage, trial studies, role of oxytocin and evaluations.
Infant massage by the mother has been popular in many cultures, especially India, and is growing in popularity in the West. Mothers with postnatal depression often have problems interacting with their infants. A small controlled study has shown that attending a massage class can help such mothers relate better to their babies. The mechanisms by which this is achieved are not clear but may include learning to understand their babies' cues and the release of oxytocin.
• National Literary Trust
UK
Research abstracts about baby massage, contains three links: Imperial College of London, UK; Touch Research Institute; University of Warwick http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/
• Brisbane Times - A Hug A Day Keeps The Doctor Away (2007) Effects and Benefits of touch, Massage and the elderly, Touch Deprivation & Infant Massage
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/
• Cherokee Health Massage (2006) Massage calms kids with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) & Understanding ADHD, Massage for your teenager. http://www.cherokeehealthmassage.com/
•Massage at Preschools and Schools
Massage Today magazine, April 2003, Vol 3 Issue 4. http://www.massagetoday.com/
• Massage Improves Preschoolers' Cognitive Performance
Massage Magazine. Looks at the research paper written by the Touch Research Institute, Miami, "Preschooler's Cognitive Performance Improves Following Massage" http://www.massagemag.com/
• Massage Therapy Journal, USA (2007) "The Kids are Alright" Article looking at massage in the classroom. 8 pages with pictures. kidsarealright.pdf
• Increasing Touch between parents and children with disabilities The children had a range of disabilities including cerebral palsy, asthma, sensory impairments and Down's syndrome. Parents reported improvements in children's muscle tone, joint mobility, sleep patterns, bowel movements and response to other forms of therapy, e.g. physiotherapy. Parents also reported that they themselves had benefited, e.g. by feeling "closer" to their child and less stressed.
• Improvements in the behaviour of children with Autism following massage Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, Vol 31, No. 5, 2001 PDF preview of abstract
• Educating Children With Autism (FREE download) Sensory Intergration Therapy, page 98 - 99
Specific Infant and Children's Massage Research & Touch Therapy sites
Recommended reading, from the Idibidi Kids™ bookshelf...
Follow the Idibidi Kids™ BLOG page (Archived: September 2008) for more book listings, reviews and what Natalie is currently reading. Subjects of interest include health & wellbeing, philosophy, children's development, childhood development, natural therapies, child psychology, science and women's health.... and more! Natalie would love to hear from you if you have a book to recommend..... contact Natalie today!
Loving Hands – The Traditional Art of Baby Massage
Leboyer,F. 1976, Newmarket Press, New York, U.S.A.
Touch, Field,T. 2001, The MIT Press, Cambridge,
Massachusetts, London, England.
What's Going On In There? How the Brain and Mind
Develop in the First Five Years of Life, Eliot,L Ph.D. 1999
Bantam Books, New York, U.S.A
From Neurons to Neighborhoods: The Science of Early Childhood Development, Shonkoff, Jack.P. 2000, National Academic Press, U.S.A
To read the free executive summary as a PDF, click here.
The Science of Happiness - How Our Brains Make Us
Happy-and What We Can Do to Get Happier
Klein,S Ph.D 2002,
Marlowe & Company, New York, U.S.A.
Infant
massage, otherwise known as baby massage, involves the parent
or caregiver learning a series of strokes and massage techniques
in order to enhance your baby’s physiological and psychological
development and to deepen the parent-infant bond and promote secure attachment through nurturing touch. 
Loving Hands – The Traditional Art of Baby Massage
Touch, Field,T. 2001, The MIT Press, Cambridge,
What's Going On In There? How the Brain and Mind 
From Neurons to Neighborhoods: The Science of Early Childhood Development,
The Science of Happiness - How Our Brains Make Us 