Three and a half years ago I took my training to become an infant massage instructor with IAIM (International Association of Infant Massage) and I’ve been a member since. When I started writing my book in June I contacted the association for research and was excited to hear about which direction they’re going in. Their focus has expanded from massage for infants to nurturing touch for the growing child. Besides massage they promote loving touch and communication for infants, baby’s, toddlers, etc. Therefore they’ve changed their name to World Institute for Nurturing Communication.

I’m fascinated and excited about their new focus and all the work that they’re doing. Please check out their website www.winc.ws to learn more about them.

Love, Martine

With so many books about infant and baby massage on the market, there’s always one in the bookstore or online that you can buy. You don’t have to take a class to start massaging! If it’s hard to find a class at the right time or the right location, buy a book and start massaging your baby. Read the basic principles about massage in the book, try some of their strokes and discover a few new ones of your own. The idea is to be creative, have fun and not to be affraid to touch your baby!

Love, Martine

In the study “Vagal (nervous system) activity, gastric motility, and weight gain in massaged preterm neonates,” published in July in The Journal of Pediatrics, the TRI team revisited a 1986 study that first revealed that massage therapy facilitates weight gain among preterm infants. Additional studies have yielded the same result. This time, researchers wanted to find out why. They set out to test whether moderate-pressure massage stimulates vagal (nervous system) activity, leading to more efficient food absorption through increased gastric motility and the release of food-absorption hormones, such as insulin.

In the study, which was conducted through the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, 48 hospitalized preterm infants were randomly placed into a control group, a massage-therapy group, or a sham massage-therapy group. The massage-therapy group received three 15-minute periods of massage per day for five days.

The sham group received the same protocol, except light pressure was used during the massage strokes.

Measurements taken during the study included mean weight gain and calories consumed per day, heart rate, automatic nervous system function and gastric motility.

Data analysis revealed that weight gain was significantly related to changes in vagal (nervous system) tone during the massage, and changes in gastric motility after the massage. The massaged preterm infants gained 27-percent more weight than infants in the control group, even though they did not consume more calories. Their vagal (nervous system) activity peaked during the massage and remained higher than baseline through the 15-minute post-stimulation period.

“The change in vagal (nervous system) activity elicited by massage therapy was significantly related to weight gain during the 5-day treatment period. “

This is so great because it’ll give me the opportunity to write about baby and child massage on a national level! It’ll also create more awareness about infant and child massage with other massage therapists.

I’m currently also in the process of writing a book about infant, baby and child massage. It is planned to come out in 2-3 months.

Please stay tuned for more info!

Love, Martine

One book that I really love is “Swedish Child Massage, a family guide to nurturing touch” by Lena Jelveus. It is filled with great and sweet pictures that show the strokes in a very easy way. But what I like most is that it is a massage book for the growing child. The first few chapters are about infant/baby massage and the following chapters are about child massage. It shows how you can do a massage for a child and explains why child massage is such a great thing to do.

I like this so much, because I don’t come across many books that talk about child massage in an easy, parent-friendly way. Most books about child massage are geared towards professionals and too serious for parents. Also, most books about infant/baby massage only cover the infant/baby phase and make it look like that is the only period that you should do a massage with your child.

Lena Jelveus’ book “Swedish Child Massage, a family guide to nurturing touch” is a great massage book for the growing child.

Love, Martine

Love, Martine

Love, Martine

Love, Martine

So, we’re always looking for new games to do and stories to tell for our massage. The other day I was searching on internet and found a simple, but cute rhyme that would make a fun child massage rhyme. I tried it with Wies and Sara and yes, it was a winner. I’d like to share it with you.

Five little blue birds (on back, tummy, legs or arms)

* Five little blue birds hopping by my door

put the tips of your fingers and thumb on your child’s skin; arms and wrists higher, like you’re playing piano. Bring fingers and thumb together in a quick, but light movement, while you lift up your hand and wrist, like in a hopping movement. Do this going up and when you reach the top, slide down with your full hand over your child’s skin.

* One walked away, then there were four

with both hands, walk two fingers up and slide down with a full hand

* Four little blue birds hopping by my door

repeat “hopping” movement

* One walked away, then there were three

repeat the “walking” movement

* Etc. till there were none

Kids love to participate, so during the rhyme you can do “fill in the blank”. Wies loves to count down, so with her I say “One walked away, then there were………how many?”. This would be great for kids that can count backwards or are learning. Sara isn’t able to do that yet, so with her I say “Five little blue birds hopping by my door, one……….what did he do?” and she’ll say walking and do “walking fingers”. If your child is still a baby he/she’ll love the sound of this rhyme and the repeating words.

If you have any games/stories that you do with your baby/child during a massage, I’d love to hear about it!

Love, Martine

Thank you for visiting my blog! On this blog I’ll write about infant, baby and child massage news, events and interesting happenings in Los Angeles and surrounding areas. Please feel free to write comments!

Love,

Martine