-Mothering Touch-

Infant Massage

Learn about touch and all its remarkable benefits as a natural and enjoyable way to promote infant health, attachment parenting, bonding, relaxation for parent and child and a special remedy for slow weight gain infants.  Mothers and fathers enjoy this great way of bonding with their baby.

Infant Massage is a parenting tradition practiced in many cultures for centuries.  Vimala McClure, the founder and president of the International Association of Infant Massage, encountered Infant Massage in 1973 while working at an orphanage in India.  After returning to the United States she practiced the massage strokes on her own baby.  She later wrote the pioneering book, Infant Massage, A handbook for Loving Parents and developed a curriculum for massage classes focusing on parent-infant communication and bonding.  Sessions provide parenting instruction and act as a parent support group.

Numerous research studies have shown the positive impact on emotional and physical growth, development and well-being from skin-to-skin contact early in a baby's life.  Infant Massage is one of the most natural and enjoyable ways of nurturing through touch.

Being on the receiving end of loving hands helps babies develop a feel for their body parts by learning which areas of the body are most sensitive and which need relaxing.  This loving touch can lessen fussiness, irritability, help baby to sleep better and decrease tension for parents and baby.  Massage can also aid digestion and provide some relief of colic and gas.

Both mothers and fathers can use this special tool to experience quality time with baby.  Even fathers who are novices in baby care get a hands-on course in baby handling.  Through massage, parents become more aware of baby's nonverbal cues or body signals and begin to feel more "in touch" with the "whole" baby.

As a unique form of one-on-one parent-infant communication, infant massage promotes a connection or bonding which sends a message of mutual love and respect and builds self-esteem for both.  Babies become more content and parents more confident in caring for the baby.

Join an Infant Massage Class at Mothering Touch Mother Baby Services taught by our Certified Infant Massage Instructor.   It is great fun to watch the babies smile and coo at each other!