All about the role of ... Infant massage instructor

It was taught in ancient India and China and is still a part of traditional childcare in South Asia, some African countries and areas in the former Soviet Union. In western culture, infant massage has gained in popularity during the past 30 years and is increasingly used by parents and neonatal intensive care units.

A number of research studies have investigated the benefits of infant massage. In 2006, researchers at the University of Warwick reviewed nine infant massage studies and found indications that babies who were massaged cried less, slept better and had lower levels of stress hormones such as cortisol, compared with infants who did not receive massage.

Many parents have reported that massaging their babies seems to develop their ability to read their babies' cues, helps with bonding and generally supports their parenting skills. It seems that the practice enables parents to engage and relax their babies in a mutually pleasurable way.

Infant Massage instructors generally work on a freelance basis, teaching parents individually or in small classes. Some provide services for professional groups and conferences. In a series of classes using a doll, instructors demonstrate the positioning of a baby and the pressure, rate, rhythm and length of massage sessions. They discuss how to show respect for babies and read their body language.

The International Association of Infant Massage (IAIM) provides full details of infant massage instructor training and where classes may be accessed. It also offers a further course for experienced practitioners to progress to being an instructor trainer.

The Guild of Sensory Development is an independent regulatory body that sets the standards for the safe, professional practice of positive touch and developmental movement with infants, children and young people. It promoted a National Baby Massage Week between 14 and 15 May and hosted a series of countrywide events.

QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING

The IAIM offers a four-day Infant Massage Instructor course in venues around the country. There are no academic prerequisites but an applicant should be at least 18 years of age and have had a CRB check. Costs vary from around £450 to £610.

The course is a combination of theory from an international core curriculum and the practical experience of learning massage strokes on a doll and the teaching part of a parent/baby massage class.

The students must then complete three types of coursework within four to six months.

Theoretical components of the course include:

• handling and positioning the demonstration doll

• the IAIM sequence of infant massage strokes

• observation of the trainer teaching a parent and baby massage class

• infant behavioural cues

• guidelines for the safe use of massage oils

• adaptations for babies born prematurely, with additional needs and for the growing child

• valuing and supporting parents.

After the four-day course, the student completes seven essay questions and multiple-choice questions, teaches the five-week baby massage course to the five parents and babies, and submits brief parent evaluation forms.

On satisfactory completion of the coursework, the student becomes a Certificated Infant Massage Instructor (CIMI). From this date, there is complimentary membership to the UK Chapter of the IAIM for a year.

Further training to become an instructor trainer takes around two years. To meet the entry requirements practitioners must have been a qualified IAIM CIMI for at least five years, taught infant massage to at least 100 families and be an active member of an IAIM Chapter.

CASE STUDY: KATRYN MAX

I qualified with the International Association of Infant Massage in 2002 and work in central Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, fitting my schedule in with caring for my two pre-school children. I either travel to whichever venue I am teaching at or I will get my treatment room ready at home. I always arrive 15 minutes before classes start to allow me to make sure that the rooms are nice and warm for the babies. Each class runs for about an hour and a quarter.

The first part of each session is focused on teaching new massage techniques and the last 15 minutes allows time for the mums to have a general chat or for me to cover one of the many topics we might discuss on everyone's needs or interests.

I get many first-time mums coming to me for help with babies who have colic, sleep problems or skin complaints. I'm also very lucky to see mums coming back with second and even third babies. I've built a good network with local midwives and health visitors and advertise on Netmums and my local NCT magazines. The classes are great for meeting other mothers - so many people come along for the social contact they offer.

I've been teaching for ten years now and find the work very satisfying. Sometimes keeping up with the admin can be demanding, especially as I have two small children but it's not overly difficult. I feel privileged to be able to work with mums and babies at such a special and important time in their lives. I often see a real transformation in their relationships and it's always lovely to know that babies are suffering less from colic or sleep problems if they have been having a massage.

FURTHER INFORMATION

• International Association of Infant Massage: www.iaim.org.uk

• The Guild of Sensory Development: www.gicm.org.uk