Using Infant Massage In Child Care Settings

Infant Massage in Nurseries and Other Child Care Settings(


)What is Infant Massage?
Infant massage is one of the easiest and most pleasant methods of providing early positive interaction through bonding, trust and relief. Infant massage incorporates nurturing touch, massage and reflexology.

Who can learn infant massage?
Parents, grandparents, primary care givers or infant massage instructors can easily learn infant massage. Infant massage is fun, easy and babies can enjoy the benefits of a healthy touch.

The benefits
A ten minute massage, two or three times a week helps make more confident adult-infant relationships, babies love it and it can help alleviate baby ailments too.

* Massage is an excellent way of connecting with babies.
* Massage can alleviate trapped wind, soothe colic or alleviate constipation
* Massaging the jaw can relax a baby who has just begun to take solids
* Massaging the gums through the skin may ease the pain of teething
* A face massage can unblock baby's blocked nose

The benefits of infant massage for your child or children in your care

* Smoothes transition from womb to the world
* Develops baby's first language: touch
* Teaches positive loving touch
* Develops a feeling of being loved, respected and secure
* Develops body, mind, awareness and coordination
* Can help to reduce the discomfort of colic, wind and constipation
* Helps to regulate and strengthen baby's digestive and respiratory systems
* Promotes relaxation
* Can help to reduce 'fussiness' and improve quality of sleep
* Improves skin condition

(From The Guild of Infant & Child Massage website, .uk, 2005)

Why learn Infant massage for your child care setting?

Well the benefits above speak for them-selves; these benefits can be also apparent and beneficial in your setting. What a wonderful to thing to be able to offer young babies in an environment which is not their own home

Our course – Certificate in Using Infant Massage in Child Care Settings

Aim: To provide nursery staff and child carers with basic knowledge and understanding of Infant Massage to provide infant massage sessions and interventions with babies in their care.

This course is prepared for child carers using dolls to massage with a break of 2-4 weeks in between sessions for staff to practice techniques and provide a case study with babies(


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Course outline

Session 1 – (2 hours)

• Principles and history of Infant Massage
• What is Infant Massage?
• Basic baby development in relation to touch and massage
• Benefits of Baby Massage
• When not to massage – safety aspects
• Preparing for massage
• Beginning the massage
• Moving through areas of the body
• Planning your case study

Session 2 (2 hours) (3 -4 weeks later allowing time for case study and practice)

• Feedback from Case studies
• Moving through and recapping of the massage strokes
• Specific uses of massage
• The Tummy Routine
• Massaging the toddler
• Massage and older children
• Ways of bringing massage into your child care setting
• Further opportunities for infant massage

Assessment: Case study and ongoing assessment of practical skills in group

Certification: Certificate in Using Infant Massage in Child Care Settings

Equipment needed: Each staff member must bring a doll (preferable soft bodied), towel, small blanket and cushion.

Space needed: enough for everyone to sit comfortably on the floor with space in front of him or her to massage the doll

Cost: Includes tuition, handouts, and certification

Open Courses at our Venue in Hove: £45pp maximum 10 participants per group

In house at your venue:
£450 for up to 12 participants
(Optimum group size 8-12 participants due to teaching and practical observations)
(Optional Observation Visit to setting to observe massage session if requested additional at £50 plus travel if over 15 miles from Hove)

Please note this course DOES NOT qualify participants to teach infant massage to groups of parents or carers. We do offer an Infant Massage Instructors Course - Please contact us for details.

Course Taught by Julie Cleasby, who has been teaching Infant Massage in various settings for over 7 years. She is also a registered Child Health Nurse and Health Visitor and has additional qualifications in teaching adult learners. Fully CRB Checked