It has long been known that a parent’s instinctual loving touch contributes to a baby’s well being. It can help to provide a sense of security and the feeling of being loved, and to create a healthy sense of self and a positive attitude to human connection that will last throughout their life.

 

Touch is a baby’s most developed sense at birth. Through touch a parent can communicate with their newborn and with the loving touch received the newborn learns that he is loved and safe. This positive communication lays important foundations for the baby’s perception of himself and the world around him. This communication between parent and baby strengthens the bond and attachment to each other.

 

ORIGINS

Baby massage has been practiced in the East for centuries. It has been passed down from generation to generation.

It was brought to the West in the mid 1970s after researchers observed the practice in India and realised its benefits.

Pioneers then brought the practice to the West – developing a routine and teaching parents and training instructors.

PRACTICE

It is widely practiced in India, Africa and South East Asia. It is considered an important part of an infant’s daily care.

In Russia, parents are taught Baby Massage by hospital staff to stimulate their babies’ immature nervous systems.

In the UK Baby Massage is now used in hospitals as an important part of care for a premature infant. 

RESEARCH

Much research has been done about the importance of touch and how it affects an infants brain development as well as their physical and emotional development. There is also a lot of research supporting the importance of touch in attachment and bonding. Click here for suggested books/articles on the subject.

The Touch Research Institute Miami was founded by Tiffany Field in 1992 where research is focussed solely on touch and its impact on health and well-being.

 

Benefits

  • Strengthens the bond between parent and baby.
  • Provides relaxation for parent and baby.
  • Allows an opportunity for special time and positive communication between parent and baby.
  • Helps parents to learn to read their baby’s cues.
  • Provides relief from wind, colic, nasal congestion and teething pain.
  • Stimulates the baby’s body systems and encourages their efficiency and maturity.
  • Aids the baby’s body awareness which helps towards physical development.
  • Helps with the baby’s brain development through the stimulation of the nervous system – encouraging nerve connections.
  • Helps the baby to feel safe, secure, relaxed and loved – oxytocin, ‘the love hormone’ is released through stimulation of the skin. 

 

 
 

TESTIMONIALS

My daughter and I really enjoyed the bonding experience of the massage classes and doing it at home. Shelley's teaching style was great.

Jenny, B

A really lovely course - relaxing for both mum and baby!

Emma, P

A thoroughly enjoyable course that Shelley delivered well. She was very knowledgeable and made the course fun.

Rupa, L

Great routine and holds for stomach - really helped with colicky baby. Thank you :-)

Heidi, G

Freya and I have had a wonderful time on the course and learnt a lifelong skill. It has been a wonderful bonding experience and really helped us to establish a bedtime routine. THANK YOU!!

Siobhan, C

We've both really enjoyed the course. Susie's interaction with massage has really seemed to improve her physical development and understanding of her body.

Natalie, W

The baby massage was a really pleasant and relaxing course. It was really helpful to help my baby with stomach issues. I regret not doing it earlier.

Anna, W

Such a great way to spend time and interact with my baby.

Jenny, B

Aurelia and I really enjoyed this course. It was well structured, breaking down the massage, then building up to the full routine in the last session. Shelley was a brilliant teacher - we got a lot out of the course and are really pleased we did it!

Danielle, W

 

Wonderful baby massage course, I really enjoyed having some special one-to-one time with my daughter and learning different baby massage techniques. Shelley is a fantastic teacher, passionate about the holistic benefits that massage brings for both parents and babies - I loved it!

Kat, R

 Great course, Shelley was really friendly and supportive and knows a lot about massage. Highly recommend as I now have a good knowledge of how to massage baby.

Emma, P

Shelley’s classes provided me with an excellent grounding in baby massage which I’ve incorporated into our daily routine with our newborn. It has provided us with an excellent opportunity for further bonding and we both really enjoy it. Shelley is a fantastic teacher, incredibly calm, patient and knowledgeable on all things baby, not just massage – thank you!

Caroline M

I took a baby massage course with Shelley and my son loved it. He always left class feeling relaxed and happy. I am now implementing what I have learned after bathtime every evening and my son is sleeping much better. The class pace is set by babies’ needs which means both babies and mummies are happy. Shelley is very knowledgeable about baby massage techniques and makes sure babies are comfortable at all times. I highly recommend this course.

Fiorella B

My daughter and I very much enjoyed this baby massage course! I learned lots of ways to relax my baby and adapt the massage as she grows older! It was nice to have this special time with her.

Lisa H

Both Luka and I really enjoyed the classes. I’ve found the massage is a brilliant way to engage and bond with Luka. I thought you made the sessions fun and engaging, and the techniques you taught were really easy to follow – I love the laminated instructions!

Jenny M

My daughter really enjoyed the baby massage classes. The studio is a nice space, the classes were relaxed and professional, and the handouts were great. I particularly enjoyed the songs and rhymes.

Jody H