Blog
Why I teach baby massage to new parents
Once a month I sit on a play mat with parents and their babies. We sing, do tummy time together, learn massage and make footprints. The point is not the technique: it is learning to be present.
Once a month, on a weekday evening, I sit on a play mat at our office with a room full of parents and their babies. Some babies look around at everything. Some make it clear they would rather be anywhere else. Both are fine. The workshop is free, and you do not need to be a patient to come.
What we do in two hours
- We settle in. Babies get comfortable on the mats before anyone touches them.
- We sing lullabies in different languages. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is one of my favorites, although a few babies find it frightening.
- We do tummy time together. The babies watch each other, look at their own faces in a mirror and reach for rattles. We stop for bottles and breastfeeding whenever a baby asks.
- We massage. Coconut oil, olive oil or an unscented healing ointment all work. We go through each group of muscles in turn.
- We finish with hand and footprints in non-toxic paint, for you to take home.
Why touch, song and eye contact
Touching each group of muscles in turn helps a baby’s body understand where it is. Song, touch and looking into your baby’s eyes are how the two of you get to know each other. Every baby reacts a little differently, and there is no wrong response. What I teach is less a technique than a habit: being present with your baby for a few minutes, without a phone in your hand.
Tummy time is part of it for a practical reason too. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends supervised tummy time 2 to 3 times a day, for 3 to 5 minutes at first, while your baby is awake. Doing it in a group, with other babies to look at, makes it easier to start.
Who comes
First-time parents, mostly. They are the most nervous, and they need guidance more than information. But every child is different, so parents of a second, third or fifth baby come too.
If your baby has eczema, a rash or very sensitive skin, ask us before you use any oil.
How to join
Sign up on our expecting a baby page. You can sign up while you are pregnant, and the front desk will tell you the dates. The page also has a three-minute video of me explaining the workshop.
