The practice of baby massage dates back over 3000 years, and more recently this ancient art has been increasingly more recognised by professionals for being both beneficial and important when incorporated into a daily care routine in providing a baby with the best start in their life both physically and emotionally.
Baby massage is a wonderful physical bonding experience, where you and your baby just get to focus on each other and benefit from the power of positive touch. Baby massage is not only beneficial for the development of your baby it is also beneficial for your own wellbeing as a new parent.
Some of the benefits of this massage class to you and your baby:
- Aids restful sleep/deeply relaxing
- Reduces stress hormones for you and baby
- Bonding experience, helping to strengthen that bond between carer and baby
- Help in relieving common baby ailments such as abdominal gas, colic and constipation.
- Stimulates and aids your baby’s development i.e. co-ordination and language, it also aids major systems with digestion and respiration.
- Loving touch increases oxytocin and improves breast milk production
- The chance to meet other new parents
This is a relaxed class guided by your babies, suitable from 6 weeks old -12 months.
There will be two golden rules in this class, the first being that this is baby led massage and if your baby is not enjoying or wishing to be massaged then we will be guided by baby and the second is that Caroline will be strictly hands off your baby and all massage moves will be demonstrated on the massage doll in order to protect the precious bonding time for parent/carer and baby.
Massage oil and mat are provided for each session, just bring your usual changing bag in case baby requires changing or feeding which you can stop at any time to do, and if you’re uncomfortable sitting/kneeling on the floor bringing a pillow or cushion is advised.
For safety reasons, this is a floor-based massage class, please ensure you are able to get down to the floor and back up safely on your own. If you require any adaptations please let us know in advance and we will try our best to accommodate you, we will try wherever safe to do so to make reasonable adjustments, however, occasionally this is not possible.
Will it matter if your baby cries during the session? Absolutely not, babies cry, we’re good with that.
This group is also wonderful for grandparents and carers too.
Teaching is provided by Caroline our qualified RCM accredited instructor in a wonderful calm environment within our beautiful setting, bringing a deep sense of relaxation to you and your baby.
Baby massage will be offered as a 5-week course to the below timetable; this is to build up baby’s exposure and tolerance to baby massage and the strokes and physical touch.
How the Class will be made up:
Part 1 – 15 mins – Time to settle down and unwind and prepare both yourself and baby ready for the session, learning about which body area will be massaged in this session and the benefits and the cautions, and setting down the golden rules of baby massage.
Part 2 – 20-25mins – Actively massaging baby
Part 3 – 15-20mins – Socialising with the other parents/carers and a chance to ask Caroline baby massage questions
5-week block course £50.00 – Book in advance
This class is located in
’The Forge’ Crewe Hall Farm
Old Park Road Haslington CW1 5UE
Essential Kit – what you will need
1. Oil – Cold pressed, organic, massage grade sunflower oil 50mls, made by Tiddley Pom, as it of high quality as it is cold pressed, with no pesticides or chemicals as its organic, it has no fragrance or taste, is recognised as non-allergenic*, is a light oil that is easily and quickly absorbed into the skin. Oil will be provided for the class, but if you wish to continue practicing baby massage at home we have bottles available to purchase priced at £6.00 (50ml bottle)
2. Soft Mat – A changing mat will be provided by Serenity Neonatal Clinic for the session
3. Towel – please bring your own as it will be reassuring for baby as it smells familiar for them, however, please don’t worry if you forget as Serenity Neonatal Clinic will have some spares just in case!
We politely ask parents not to bring any nut-based oils to class due to the allergy risk to both baby and to others in the room.
*We recommend that you conduct a patch test of the oil on baby, this can either be done by purchasing our massage oil prior to the course through us or can be done on the first session. Please feel free to contact us for more information on this*
