Why infant massage?
Infant massage or baby massage is a lovely way for parents to express their love for their baby. Massaging your baby has many physical benefits like better sleep, reduce crying, improving weight gain, digestion, circulation, colic, constipation and easing teething. These benefits trickle down to the parents as we always say "Happy Baby, Happy Parent".
However, the benefits of infant massage are not just physical. Parents have realised that through the use of infant massage, they gain confidence in understanding and making sense of their baby's communication cues and social needs.
This sets the foundation of a child's mental health development.
Research are starting to show that in several years, many children will start their first day of school showing signs of mental health vulnerability, simply because we live in a stressful modern society. What we need to know is that our mental health is shaped by our earliest relationships in the first year of life. Specialists say that if a child establishes a strong and secure relationship with his/her parents within the first year of life, this child's future will be better.
This is why building the foundations of life-long mental health needs to start as early as possible, at the time where brain development is most rapid and when prevention has its greatest impact.
It is through our hands that we speak to the child. That we communicate. Touch is a child's first language.
Understanding comes long after feeling.
"The symbol of Quality"
Why IAIM?
The International Association of Infant Massage (IAIM) founded by Vimala McClure is the first and the "original" infant massage programme in the world. Unlike remedial or therapeutic massage treatments for adults that we may be familiar with, the IAIM programme is not looking to treat or fix any particular problem with the baby. It is also not a "day spa" treatment for babies.
The programme respects babies as a unique entity with feelings and cues who should only be massaged by his/her parents. Rather than merely teaching mechanical massage strokes, IAIM Instructors are trained to guide parents to provide nurturing touch to their babies based on the babies' cues through the use of a massage routine or various positive touch techniques, coupled with the use of the voice, eye contact and movement.
The purpose of the programme is not to "force" massage on the baby, but to give parents the knowledge and skills they can use at home to create a "space and time" to bond with their baby.
Taking the IAIM Infant Massage Programme
The programme is designed for parents with babies 0 - 12 months.
We do encourage both parents to participate in the classes. This gives your baby a chance to bond with each parent in his/her own way. Fathers and mothers often develop different styles and unique ways to interact with their babies, and these classes are a great opportunity for both parents to form a life-long bond with their child.
The IAIM Infant Massage Programme is made up of 5 sessions, once per week. The duration of each class ranges from 1 to 1.5hrs, depending on whether it is a private or group class.
Why not just complete it in 3hrs? ~ That's because your baby is very much a participant in the class as well and we introduce massage at the baby's pace, not the adult's. Your baby is learning to receive massage from you as much as you are learning to give massage to him/her.
Instructors will guide you to watch their cues and introduce new strokes gradually and build on previously taught techniques each week, allowing you and your baby to practice at home during the week. Classes are designed to build relationships between parent and baby as well as between parents! Multiple sessions encourage engagement between parents and provide opportunities for ongoing support and friendships long after classes are over.
ALL babies and families are welcomed in the IAIM Infant Massage Programme.
Do not worry! IAIM Instructors are trained to welcome all types of babies and situations in their infant massage classes, i.e. sleepy babies, fussy babies, premature babies, babies with special needs and disabilities etc. In fact, infant massage can be very helpful for babies who have experienced challenges in their lives!
Trial Class
S$150
If you are still hesitating about signing up for the full programme.
Experience the first session as a trial class.
+ S$50 discount if you sign up for the full programme
The IAIM Infant Massage Experience
The IAIM Course Curriculum taught over 4 - 5 sessions
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Massage stokes for legs, feet, stomach, chest, arms, hands, face and back
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A short colic routine
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Gentle movements
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Touch relaxation
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The best time and for how long to massage
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What massage oils to use
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The importance of good positioning
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How to adapt the strokes for your baby's individual needs and the growing child
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Parents discussion of various parenting topics
We offer the IAIM Programme in Chinese as well!
我们也提供中文的IAIM婴儿按摩班！
请电话咨询。
All sessions are conducted by a Certified Infant Massage Instructor.
Class handouts will be provided after each session.
If you are interested to teach this programme, check out our Training page