Daytime courses for parent/s and baby, following the International Association of Infant Massage programme.

Why do baby massage?

Baby massage is a wonderful way to connect with your baby.

The benefits of baby massage are well researched, and include:

• stimulation (of all the big systems: circulation, digestion, respiration, immune, skin, language, nervous)

• relaxation (releases stress, produces calming hormones, helps to regulate sleep patterns)

• relief (sinuses, growing pains, teething, colic, constipation, excess mucous)

• interaction (bonding, communication, eye contact, one to one activity).

It can be performed by the baby’s parents or grandparents or anyone involved in the care of the baby.

What is the best age to learn baby massage?

Classes are most suitable for babies from eight weeks to six months old, with the optimum age for starting to learn it being from ten to sixteen weeks (i.e. before the babies are on the move!). You are welcome to come with a younger baby, but sometimes the very early weeks can all be a bit intense and overwhelming, so it can feel a bit daunting to have to get to a class at a specific time each week. Also, we don’t massage babies who are sleeping or crying, and very often in the first eight weeks that is largely what babies are doing when they aren’t feeding! So you may feel you’ll get a bit more from the course if you wait till your baby is slightly older before starting. But at the end of the day, it is up to you when you want to begin.

What happens during a baby massage course?

As an IAIM Certified Infant Massage Instructor, I run six week courses. The sessions usually last about one and a half hours (depending on how chatty the group is!), and that time is divided between learning the massage strokes and having a cuppa and a chat. Each week we will focus on a new body part, building up to massaging the whole body by week four. This means it is not too overwhelming for the baby at first, as they gradually get used to having more of their body massaged. Towards the end of the course we will also learn some simple yoga inspired stretching exercises for your baby and how to do a short whole body massage routine for when you are short of time.

Each class includes time for a guided discussion on a postnatal topic, which is a great opportunity to share ideas together!

It doesn't matter at all if your baby cries, needs feeding, is asleep or needs a nappy change during the class - all these things happen all the time, and are just part of having a new baby! Each week we recap everything we have done the previous weeks, so if your baby doesn’t want to be massaged that day, or you can’t make a session for any reason, you will always have a chance to catch up on anything you have missed.

I will not be massaging your baby for you, and my role is not that of a massage therapist.

The course is open to a minimum of six and a maximum of twelve parents and babies. Fathers are always welcomed at the classes, as are grandparents and other adult family members.

Testimonials

Click here to read testimonials from previous class attendees.

Venue

The course takes place in Witney at the Yoga Room, a lovely, sunny, spacious room situated within the Balance Studios complex, underneath Pirates Fitness. There is plenty of space to bring buggies and car seats into the building, and free parking directly outside.

Is it possible to bring twins to a baby massage course?

I love having mums with twins in class! I have even once had a mum with triplets come along. There is no additional charge to bring two (or even three!) babies rather than one, and you are welcome to bring along another adult if you feel that an extra pair of hands would be helpful. Very often, it turns out that one twin sleeps through the class, giving the mum time to massage the other twin, or if they are both awake at the same time, she might choose to massage them in turn. There is so much to see, with all the other babies and mums in the room, that the baby who is having to wait their turn has plenty to look at and keep them occupied!

Can I bring my partner?

Yes, absolutely! Baby massage is a lovely thing for either parent to do, and if your partner is around at the time of your class and would like to come and join in, then they will be most welcome. There is no extra charge for bringing another person, but please let me know if they are coming so I can put out a mat for them to sit on. You are also welcome to bring your mum, your sister, a visiting friend, or anyone else who wants to come.

Can I arrange a baby massage course for me and my friends?

As well as my scheduled courses in Witney, I can also run courses tailored to your dates and locality, for example if you have an NCT or postnatal group who would like to have a course together. If you would like me to run a course for you and your friends, please contact me to make arrangements. I need to have a minimum of 6 parents in the group. If you live further than 10 miles from Ascott-under-Wychwood, there will be an additional mileage charge added to the cost. 

Course dates 2024

BM186, Thursdays 27th June - 1st August 11.30-1.00 Spaces available

BM187, Thursdays 27th June - 1st August 1.30-3.00 Spaces available

BM188, Thursdays 29th August - 3rd October 11.30-1.00 Spaces available

BM189, Thursdays 29th August - 3rd October 1.30-3.00 Spaces available

Price

£90.00 for the 9 hour course, which includes a bottle of organic massage oil, an illustrated booklet and refreshments.

Venue

BM185a is held at The New Beaconsfield Hall, Station Road, Shipton-under-Wychwood, OX7 6BQ. There is parking directly outside the building.

All other courses are held at The Yoga Room, Balance Studios, Bridge Street Mill, Bridge Street, Witney, OX28 1YH. There is parking directly outside the building.