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All babies have, due to their physiological immaturity at birth, a great need for touch
Without touch an infant will die
TOUCHfirst sensory input in life comes whilestill in the womb
primary means of learning about theworld
critical for children's growth,development, health, mental well-being
What is Infant Massage?
an ancient tradition
a way of communicating
a way to foster mutual trust & understanding
Benefits of Infant Massage
Massage of healthy babies by parents, especially mothers, greatly enhances the bond between parent(s) and child (Underdown, et al., 2006; Serrano et al., 2010).
Massage improves the psychological state, mental and physical development of the child.
Massage greatly helps mother to reduce stress and anxiety especially after labor (Livingston et al., 2007).
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psychological & physiologicalelements of bonding
BondingOngoing process
requiring
nurturing & time
Never too late to
enhance &
promote
Bonding
A unique relationship between two people, this is specific and endures through time
A lifelong process beginning with a reciprocal, interactive system between parent and infant
Attachment
Attachment is an inborn system in the brain that evolves in ways that influence and organize motivational, emotional and memory processes
Intimate attachments to other human beings are the hub around which a person’s life revolves throughout life and into old age
Importance of Bonding & Attachment
Psychological Importance/Benefits for Baby:
learns to trust and will trust more
feels more competent/has more self worth
learns healthy independence
learns intimacy
learns to give and receive love
feels secure and safe
Importance of Bonding & Attachment
Physical Importance/Benefits for Baby:
has healthy development of the nervous system and brain
is better organized learns language easier physically grows better is more receptive to tactile stimulation is able to self regulate, emotions, self-soothe
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Sensory Integration
neural organization of the senses of sight, hearing, touch and balance.
TOUCH is part of this
process
Sensory Integration
ability of the brain to organize these impulses varies from child to child
automatically done in most children and therefore the ability is taken for granted
not all children’s brains manage to localize and sort sensory impulses correctly
Sensory Integration
dysfunction may lead to learning disabilities, even though the child has normal IQ
Behavioral disturbances may also occur in some children, despite good parents and a healthy social environment
Sensory Integration
Senses integrate in four floating levels
continuingprocess frominfancy throughthe preschool years
Integration of Senses
First Level Integrates balance
Second Level Tactile senses are interpreted and correctly
organized in the brain
Integration of Senses
Third Level The prerequisites for learning to speak and
understand language should be formed
Fourth Level The eye and hand specialize
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Infant/Toddler Development
Through relationships infants and toddlers learn what people expect of them, and what they can expect of other people.
Nurturing, protective, stable and consistent relationships are essential to young children’s mental health and development.
A developing
sense of oneself
as competent to
engage in
relationships and to
act in the world is an
Important aspect of
infant mental health.
“Keeping the Connection”, nurturing
touch is beneficial for open and healthy
communication between caregivers and
children.
Massage can be a forum for awareness of
children’s physical, psychological well
being, social status, and spiritual
development, to really “know” their child.
Caregiver & Child Connection:Touch can continue to keep the connection between parent and child.
Establishes a family tradition
Mutual time for parent and child to “talk”
What does Research Tell Us?
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ResearchResearch studies have shown many positive that
touch therapy has many positive effects, including:
facilitates weight gain in preterm infants
reduces stress hormones
aids in length of sleep and decreased latency
alleviates depressive symptoms (for parent)
reduces pain
improves immune function
Does Massage Make Babies Smarter?According to Dr.Tiffany Field, PhD,studies show that afive-minute massageenhances theperformance of babies &children on tasks thatrequire attentiveness
When, Where & How
When to Massage
nurturing touch can be started as soon as caregiver and child become acquainted with each other.
it is always best not to force the start but begin when the time feels right.
it is common to start infant massage when the baby is about 3 weeks to one month old.
The best time to do massage
this is up to every individual to decide however, the best time is that which suits the caregiver and the child.
for some it might be in the morning after finishing the morning routine.
others prefer a quiet moment in the afternoon or before bedtime.
Where
• a warm room
• quiet and calm atmosphere
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Remember that it is
not the massage
technique that is most
important but rather
that the giver of the
massage is touching
the child with warm,
loving hands and with
a total presence.
How often Massage can be done
in principal a child may be massaged everyday.
once the caregiver is aware of the child’s preference, they’ll know when to shorten the session or when to rest for a day.
it is essential to remember massage is done with a child, not to a child.
Massage Adaptations Ages & Stages
Massage Adaptations | Ages & Stages
Active Crawler:
beneficial to have a variety of familiar objects to keep baby busy during the massage
important to expect them not to be still child may need to be positioned so he/she can
see what is going on around them make massage playful and fun adapt the strokes to meet the child’s size and
position
Massage Adaptations | Ages & Stages
Toddler:
child may be quite active
massage at naptime, bedtime, after bath or to soothe child
limit number of strokes, due to shortened attention span
play, sing songs and rhymes, tell stories and other quiet activities
wonderful imagination can be encouraged by introducing fun massage techniques
Massage Adaptations | Ages & Stages
Pre-School Age: child’s growing limbs may need to be supported
strokes may need to be done in sections
child may be experiencing growing pains, slow relaxing strokes may ease this discomfort
child is becoming more independent and selective of how and when he/she wants a massage
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Training in Infant Massage
Certified Infant Massage Teacher
Training offered by Liddle Kidz Foundation
CIMTs may teach parents/caregivers how to massage their infants
Massage Therapists, nurses and other healthcare staff who wish to teach parents/caregivers, or practice infant massage, should become certified
To become a CIMT®
Attend a Liddle Kidz Foundation Certified Infant Massage Teacher Training
Complete recommended reading before the training.
PRACTICUM: Teach Infant Massage classes with parents and obtain written participant evaluations.
When the certification process is complete, the student will obtain certification as a Certified Infant Massage Teacher (CIMT®).
Course Schedulewww.LiddleKidz.com
Video Channel:
www.youtube.com/LiddleKidz
ReferencesAuckett, A. Baby Massage: Parent-Child Bonding Through Touch.1982
Barker, S.E. 2005. The cuddle hormone. Located on the World Wide Web at www.oxytocin.org. Retrieved on July 16, 2008.
Blackwell, P.L. 2000. The influence of touch on child development: Implications for intervention. Infants & Young Children 13: 25-39.
CIMT, Liddle Kidz Foundation, Certified Infant Massage Teacher Manual
Field, T. 2001. Touch. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Field, T., Grizzle, N., Scafidi, F., & Schanberg, S. 1996. Massage and relaxation therapies' effects on depressed adolescent mothers. Adolescence 31: 903911.
Field, T., Grizzle, N., Scafidi, F., Abrams, S., & Richardson, S., Kuhn, C. and Schanberg, S.1996. Massage therapy for infants of depressed mothers. Infant
Behavior and Development, 19: 109-114.
Field, T., & Hernandez-Reif, M., 2001. Sleep problems in infants decrease following massage therapy. Early Child Development and Care 168: 95-104.
Field, T., M. Hernandez-Reif, M Diego, L. Feijo, Y. Vera, & K. Gil. 2004. Massage therapy by parents improves early growth and development. Infant Behavior & Development 27 (4): 435-42.
Field, T, M. Hernandez-Reif, M. Diego, S. Schanberg, & C. Kuhn. 2005. Cortisol decreases and serotonin and dopamine increase following massage therapy. International Journal of Neuroscience 115 (10): 1397-413.
Furman, L., & J. Kennel. 200. Breastmilk and skin-to-skin kangaroo care for premature infants. Avoiding bonding failure. Acta Paediatrica 89: 1280-83.
Heath, A. Baby Massage: The Calming Power of Touch. 2000
Honig, A.S. 2004, September. Read your baby’s body language. Scholastic Parent & Child, 25 – 26.
Jelveus, L. Swedish Child Massage. 2004
Johnson & Johnson, Inc. 1995. Touch in labor and infancy: Clinical implications.
Jones, N., & Field, T. 1999. Right frontal EEG asymmetry is attenuated by massage and music therapy. Adolescence, 34: 529-534.
Moberg, K. 2003. The oxytocin factor. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press
Montagu, A. 1986. Touching: The human significance of the skin. 3d ed. New York: Harper & Row.
Shore, R. 1997. Rethinking the brain: New insights into early development. New York: Families and Work Institute.
Uvnas-Moberg, K. The Oxytocin Factor.
Contact:
Tina Allen
Founder & Director
Liddle Kidz™Foundation
www.LiddleKidz.com