The Benefits of Infant Massage

At Davis Early Intervention, we have two certified infant massage trainers.  They each took a four day class and then completed the training by conducting infant massage trainings for parents, taking tests and completing written essays.  The training was through Infant Massage USA and was a great training!  We now offer infant massage classes to interested parents and their little ones who are not yet mobile (usually).  If you are interested in attending a five week infant massage training, please let your service provider know.

Some of the benefits of massaging your infant correctly are:

• Improved Sleep Patterns.  If your little one is experiencing difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep or getting on a sleep schedule, infant massage can help.
• Reduction of Stress.  Massaged pre-term infants showed fewer stress behaviors and significantly lower cortisol levels, a stress indicator.
• Enhanced Motor Development.  Infants who received infant massage regularly and consistantly showed increased development of motor skills.
• Improved Interaction in Family.  Infants will respond to massage with more eye contact, smiling, vocalizing, and reaching.  This will aid in developing a bond between the child and other family members.
• Help for Depressed Babies and Mothers.  Infant massage can improve sociability and sooth-ability of infants and also facilitate the mother-infant interaction - all concerns of postnatal depression.
• Increased Weight Gain for Premature Infants.  Regular massage can result in higher daily weight gain and increased motor activity.
• Improved Immunity.  When babies are regulated their immune systems are functioning better.  Massage helps them to learn to regulate themselves.
• Safe for Medically Fragile Infants.  Infants receiving massage therapy demonstrate fewer stress behaviors and increased immunity.  Infant massage is soothing to little ones.