People are often surprised at the benefits of infant massage training.  People I have instructed generally are looking for a way to develop better communication and deepen the bond with their infants.  And while they certainly get these benefits, very often they also find it can change the way they interact with people of all ages, including babies and children.  The skills of infant massage offer the ability to truly listen to someone by watching the whole person.

The purpose of infant massage is to deepen the bonding and communication skills between baby and parents, not to apply a set of massage techniques to the body of the child.  Touch is our first language.  Infant Massage helps fine-tune the expression of this language and wonderfully supports the process of bonding and attachment between parents and their babies.  It will enhance bonds that already exist, and will help create ones that are developing.  Infants who are massaged also thrive.  Massaged infants and preemies have better weight gain, more advanced motor skills and mental development, better sleep behaviors, less fussiness, higher tolerance for and enjoyment of social interactions and are usually easier to soothe.

In a typical Infant Massage class several families (including other caregivers) come together to learn and communicate:  parents learn about how to listen to and watch communication signals from their babies, and babies learn to communicate with their parents through simple cues.  The massage strokes are simply a vehicle for this deeper communication.  The strokes are very simple, and are often identical to instinctive touching that parents already offer their babies.  There are four simple guidelines when learning and doing massage with your baby:  always ask your baby permission before starting the massage, get yourself and your baby comfortable, watch your baby’s cues throughout the massage, and feel free to modify anything you learn in class in order to do what works for you and your child.

More than the techniques themselves, infant massage stresses the importance of watching for your baby’s cues.  Getting “yes” cues from your baby is important before starting the massage.  As time goes on, your awareness of even more subtle cues from your baby will most likely grow even stronger.  Infant massage is not necessarily an end to itself – it is also a means by which you and your baby can deepen your communication with each other. 

Regarding bonding and attachment, behavior is an integral part of the process for both the infant and the parent.  Such behavior includes touch, prolonged gazing, recognizing the scent of the other, enjoying body heat of the other, and mirror-like engagement.  For infant massage to be done well, it is important that many of these necessary behavioral bonding elements are used.  Parents can start to deliberately integrate these important behavioral elements of bonding into daily interactions with their child.   

Parents are sometimes hesitant about taking an infant massage class because they are worried their baby will cry throughout the class.  Crying babies (even chronic criers) are very welcome in most infant massage classes.  The idea of crying as a means of communication is usually a big point that is covered in class.  Also the main goal for most infant massage classes is to provide a welcome space for all forms of baby’s communication.

Infant Massage is a wonderful set of skills that can enhance the parenting experience.  A deeper bonding with your child and skills to apply broadly in your life are a few of the key benefits that make it a worthwhile investment in time.

Kala Spangler is a Certified Massage Therapist, a Certified Instructor of Infant Massage, and a Certified Neuromuscular Massage Therapist.  She is a faculty member of the Boulder College of Massage.