While there are plenty of how-to videos, articles and books about infant massage, some parents may be more comfortable taking a class before performing the ancient art on their little ones. This is perfectly natural, especially for first-time parents; after all, you can’t be too careful when it comes to the care of your baby.
There are many infant massage classes out there for parents. Here are just a few of them.The Liddle Kidz Foundation, a program recognized worldwide, includes Infant Massage Teacher Certification, Pediatric Massage Therapist Certification, and group, as well as individual, massage classes for parents.
The program is dedicated to helping caregivers learn the benefits of nurturing touch, and how to use that touch in their families or practices. Parent classes include massage oil, handouts and weekly training sessions.
The International Institute of Infant Massage offers a program in Infant Touch and Massage Instruction. It is particularly useful to professionals who will be using massage to provide in-home care, community-based instruction, or a hospital practice. The instruction is in a family-based approach, ensuring that instructors can cater individual needs on a family by family basis.
The International Loving Touch Foundation, one of the first infant massage programs ever established, is a source of training, courses and resources for baby massage. Their main method of instruction is the 2 and 3-Day Evidence-Based Practice course, which results in certification as an Infant Massage Instructor. Parents are encouraged to become certified through this process in able to reap the benefits of massage with their own babies.
