Description
A 4-week baby massage course with our qualified therapist (and mum and former midwife!) Jenny Pateman.
Sundays 11am to midday at Innermost Healthcare, Cardiff
Please bring the following items to each session:
- your baby!
- a towel and/or blanket
- baby changing things
- a change of baby clothes just in case
About Baby Massage
Baby massage is a lovely way to enjoy time with your baby and also to develop bonding and attachment.
Before babies are able to understand language, we often communicate and comfort them through touch. If a baby cries, for example, parents will hold, cuddle or stroke them. Baby massage is part of this natural impulse. It involves the gentle, rhythmic stroking of your baby’s body using your hands. As part of a massage routine, you might gently manipulate your baby’s ankles, wrists and fingers. You might also talk softly, hum or sing to them while massaging to create a sense of calm and reassurance for your baby.
Baby massage was introduced about 30 years ago in neonatal wards to support the development of premature babies in intensive care units. A study in 2004 found that babies in intensive care units who were massaged spent less time in hospital, had slightly better scores on developmental tests and slightly fewer postnatal complications.
Today, there is widespread belief that baby massage can increase a parent’s awareness of their baby’s needs and support their early bond, as well as support an overall sense of well-being.
Many people talk about the following benefits:
- becoming more confident in handling their child and better at recognising their needs
- improved positive interaction with baby
- a great way for partners, family members and carers to bond with baby
- improved sleep for baby
- easing discomfort such as teething, colic, constipation, excess mucus and congestion, tension, improved relaxation and reduced stress, improved immunity, stimulates major internal systems aiding neurological and physical development
When can I start baby massage?
There are no set guidelines regarding the minimum age for when to start baby massage. Although nurturing touch can be given from birth, some babies may find formal, structured massage too stimulating in the very early weeks.
When it comes to baby massage classes, some babies may find a formal class overwhelming in the early weeks. It can also be hard for parents to make it to a class on time or consistently with a newborn. As a result, many parents prefer to wait until their baby is about six weeks old when their routine is more settled and their behaviour is sometimes more predictable.
It can also be helpful to start baby massage after your baby’s six week check so any issues with development, such as hip dysplasia, should have already been identified.
