Allison Ennis. December 2022.

Working in the training team, I am very lucky to spend time with the parents at Amber Family, completing courses, and giving them the knowledge to be able to support their children. One of the courses I have been eager to teach for many years is Baby Massage and I have been very fortunate to have just completed my training.  The course was more intense than I previously envisioned, but I have enjoyed learning the benefits and caution of each move. I will be able to pass my knowledge on to the parents and know it will be lovely to watch as they grow in confidence in picking up on their baby’s cues and watching those bonds form as they have this special time to show their love to their child and their child in turn delights in this pleasurable experience.

Infant massage was introduced to America by Vimala McClure in the 1970s, she had spent time in India working in an orphanage and had observed massage being given to babies and children there.  She has combined these strokes along with Swedish Massage, reflexology and yoga to recreate these moves with her own children.

Massaging a baby is such a lovely way to build up those very important brain connections so important for brain growth, performing these simple strokes on a baby gives both adult and child that one-to-one time, which is relaxing for both of them, making good eye contact and reinforcing good attachment. The child feels loved and safe and is something that can be repeated daily as a special time just for them.

Baby Massage has many benefits for babies it can help with sleep, colic, teething, and congestion and can improve muscle tone. For the parent, it can reduce stress, and blood pressure and improve a sense of wellbeing.

Cross-cultural studies have found that societies where infants are held, massaged, rocked, breastfed and carried are less aggressive and violent, and more cooperative and compassionate adults.

If delivering Baby Massage can help towards this, how lucky am I to be the one delivering it?