About me

The practice of massaging babies is not a new phenomenon for modern mums; it is an art passed down from generation to generation in many cultures for hundreds of years. It started to become popular in the western world in the 1990’s.

Baby massage is when a parent or primary carer lovingly strokes or holds their baby.  Using a high-quality non-fragranced vegetable oil, soothing holds and rhythmic strokes are applied to certain areas of the baby’s body, following a sequence that has been developed over many years. 

The massage offers a wonderful experience and a special time to communicate both verbally and non-verbally with babies so that they feel loved, valued and respected. The classes are beneficial for parents as well as babies, and really help you to get to know your baby, and understand their cues and behavioural states. The sessions are very relaxed and are led by your baby. There is plenty of time for discussion, we talk about the most common obstacles in the early weeks, such as feeding, sleep, developing routines and wellbeing.

The benefits of baby massage for your little one are endless, and there are even some benefits for you too.

It is known to be a great way to bond with your baby, but research also shows that the regular practice of baby massage can ease the symptoms of reflux, constipation and teething and is even shown to help mums suffering with postnatal depression.

• Interaction: this is a focused time where you are bonding with your baby by lovingly touching them and talking or singing to them. 
• Stimulation: The specific strokes focus on different areas of the body. Touching your baby helps him to make sense of himself and start to work out how different parts of the body move and work.  Massage stimulates the nervous system which regulates our organs so it can help to keep the heart beat steady.
• Relief: Research shows that baby massage can help to alleviate symptoms of colic, reflux, constipation and even teething. Special strokes around the cheeks, ears and jaw can help with teething grumbles, while movements around the tummy and legs can aid digestion and wind. 
• Relaxation: This is demonstrated by improved sleep patterns, helps to normalise muscle tone, increased flexibility, increased environmental coping mechanisms, regulation of behavioural states, being calm, reduction of stress levels and stress hormones such as Cortisol and Norepinephrine and higher levels of relaxing or anti-stress hormones such as Oxytocin and Serotonin.