Baby Massage

Our Infant massage courses are currently suspended until further notice becuase of the current Covid-19 Pandemic 

The purpose of the International Association of Infant Massage is to promote nurturing touch and communication through training, education and research so that parents, caregivers and children are loved, valued and respected throughout the world community.

Our infant massage classes are about more than just the practical aspects of baby massage. We aim to create a relaxed environment where parents can enjoy protected time where they focus only on their baby without the distractions of everyday life. Hopefully this will result in a deeper bond between parent and baby and an increased enjoyment of parenthood. We also provide the opportunity to discuss parenting difficulties and for parents to offer support and advice to each other.

If your baby is aged from birth to 1 year you are invited to come along to Fiona’s baby massage classes in Hemsworth, West Yorkshire. One or both parents/care-givers are welcome.

The programme is also suitable for children up to 7 years of age where there are additional needs such as physical or mental disability, adoption and/or foster care, recovery from abuse etc. Please contact Fiona to discuss further how she can help you to introduce massage to your family where there are special circumstances present.

What is Infant Massage?

The international association of infant massage has developed a baby massage programme using a combination of Indian and Swedish massage, reflexology and gentle movements inspired by yoga. Indian massage and reflexology help with tension release and Swedish massage promotes circulation. The gentle yoga movements are a fun routine to help with baby’s range of movement, supporting coordination and balance, particularly valuable before baby is able to crawl or walk.

Benefits of Infant Massage

There are many ways in which you and your baby will benefit from attending the baby massage classes. Some of them include:

Introducing Fiona Witt

Fiona has been working as a midwife since 2010. She began her career in the UK then worked in Auckland for five years. She trained with the International Association of Infant massage in 2017 to be able to teach parents how to nurture their babies through loving touch. One year after giving birth to her daughter she moved home to the UK in 2021 with her family. She is offering baby massage classes in Hemsworth. More about Fiona

What to expect from the classes

Over the course of five weekly sessions of approximately 90 minutes you will gradually learn how to give your baby a full body massage. Babies’ immature nervous systems can make massage difficult to tolerate to start with so the strokes will be gently introduced in small manageable sections. This will also make it easier for you to learn the strokes. As well as learning the mechanics of baby massage, you and your baby will experience many benefits of this intimate interaction and communication, deepening your bond.

Only you or your partner will massage your baby while Fiona demonstrates the strokes and movements on a life-sized doll. You will have the opportunity to ask questions throughout the sessions and meet other parents while enjoying a delicious morning tea made to nurture you as you nurture your baby.

The classes will be held at Hemsworth Methodist Church.

Pricing

£50 for a 5 week course which includes practical tuition, handouts, oil to use during the sessions and morning tea. 20% of course fees will be donated to Comfort International to help mothers and babies in Democratic Republic of Congo, you can find more information about the charity here.

Please contact us for course dates and more information; or email Fiona fiona@nurtured-wellness.com