BABY MASSAGE INSTRUCTORS COURSE

Accredited by the Guild of Infant and Child Massage

Massage has been used for thousands of years; a simple rub to a sore area on a child or adult to ‘make it better’ is a form of massage. Mothers have known how to massage babies for years with the tradition being passed down through the generations.

In the Western world we often see touch as wrong, find it uncomfortable to carry out and no longer hug each other as much as we should. Babies who are starved of hugs and affection do not thrive, they are more aggressive and violent than those whom are given plenty of hugs and positive touch/love.

Baby massage is simple, free to do and it will benefit both the parents and the child.

Research in Miami has shown massage to be of great benefit in preterm babies helping them to gain weight faster, lowering stress hormones, aiding sleep and giving the parents more confidence when handling their child.

Baby massage helps with bonding, relaxation, colic and constipation, sleep, pain relief, strengthening primary systems, confidence, support and postnatal depression.

INSTRUCTORS COURSE

This course will enable you to safely teach baby massage to parents and other carers, have evidence based knowledge through reading the research articles that can be accessed through the NHS e-library and carry out individual and group sessions with parents and babies, you will also keep a reflective diary of these events.

The course is four days and includes the learning of the theory and practice of baby massage and there will be three sessions with ‘live’ parents and babies.

The course includes:

• An introduction to baby massage
• Attachment theory
• Infant cues
• Massage
• Different types of massage strokes
• The benefits of baby massage for both baby and parents
• Contra-indications
• Running group or individual sessions
• A 5 week course plan
• Massage strokes
• Toddler massage
• Reflexology points
• Songs
• Carrier oils used for massage
• Evaluation form
• Insurance and Membership details
• Working for yourself
• Marketing classes
• Introduction to reading research papers
• Reading List
• Research abstracts and articles
• Baby massage sequence with pictures

Homestudy will include reading research articles and books on baby massage.

A portfolio to include a reflective diary (1500 words) of your teaching of baby massage to a minimum of 5 parents and 5 babies over 5 teaching sessions and at least 3 sessions as a one to one with the same family. Preparation of teaching sessions and materials, scheme of work, weekly lesson plans, marketing materials and completed evaluation forms.

The assessments will include the portfolio, a workbook containing the answers to the 10 questions set and a practical assessment.

The cost of the 4 day course is £400.

The entry requirements are a qualification in Anatomy and Physiology and have a current Enhanced Disclosure. (If there is not an Anatomy and Physiology qualification a course is available to home study for an extra fee of £150).

A soft bodied doll will be required for the course and can be obtained from a toy shop or Touch-needs at www.touchneeds.com or 08456 123226.

The course can be run locally to you if you have 10 to 12 people to attend it.

For more details contact Karen on 01875 823030.

NEXT COURSE: SATURDAY 22 AND 29 OCTOBER AND 5 NOVEMBER 2011 IN MIDLOTHIAN.

Photo Credits: Baby Massage by valentinapowers and Baby Massage by sami keinanen (Creative Commons License)