In countries like India, China and Thailand massage has been used for thousands of years and continues to be popular as the art is passed down from mother to daughter and baby will be massaged every day. Touch is one of our most important senses and it is a primordial instinct to touch one another. Integrating massage into the parent/child relationship offers the parents a way to get to know and understand their baby. Massaging your baby is a gentle and nurturing gift to give to your baby. There are so many benefits to massage and some are listed below.

• Smoothes transition from womb to the world
• Develops baby's first language: touch
• Develops a feeling of being loved, respected and secure
• Develops body, mind, awareness and coordination
• Can help to relieve colic, wind and constipation
• Helps to regulate and strengthen baby's digestive and respiratory systems and stimulate circulatory, lymphatic and nervous systems
• Promotes relaxation
• Can aid and improve quality of sleep
• Improves skin condition
• Improves babies immune system

• Increases bonding between parent and baby
• Helps parent to understand baby's non-verbal communication
• Enhances parent's confidence and competence in dealing with baby
• Can help with postnatal depression
• Both parents and baby relax together
• Promotes lactation in breastfeeding mums (through stimulation of hormones)
• Promotes nurturing instinct (through stimulation of hormone oxytocin)

The baby massage course can be taken within a group over 4 weeks (Felpham) or one to one either in your own home or here at freedom therapies premises (Bognor Regis). The environment is always warm, relaxed and fun. I teach on a life size baby doll whilst you practice on your baby. There is plenty of time to practice the routine and then have discussions on baby related topics over a cup of tea and a biscuit! The routine lasts from 10-20 minutes. Babies from 5 weeks old are welcome up to toddler age. Please bring baby changing mat, towel and spare nappy. Massage oil is supplied with a detailed picture manual and certificate of attendance. The outline of the course is as follows:

• Benefits of baby massage to parent and baby
• Massage oils
• Contra-indications to baby massage
• Conditions for massage
• Positioning
• Relaxation exercise for parents
• Asking permission
• Relaxed touch
• Massage routine for legs
• Discussion: Interpreting baby cues during massage
• Identify the best time in the day to massage
• Questions & Answers

• Share experiences
• Relaxation exercises for parents
• Massage routine for: legs
• stomach
• chest
• colic routine
• Discussion – colic, over stimulated/high needs babies
• Questions & Answers

• Update on babies progression
• Relaxation for parents
• Massage routine for: legs
• stomach
• chest
• arms
• face
• Discussion: crying
• Questions

• Update on babies progression and how babies are benefiting
• Relaxation for parents
• Massage routine for: back
• legs
• stomach
• chest
• arms
• face
• Yoga moves
• Certificates
• Questions & Answers

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