Infant Massage Inspires Parental Confidence Phyllis HanlonMay 11, 2015 MASSAGE Magazine | The arrival of a new baby can provoke both excitement and a bit of fear in even the most confident mom and dad. But in some cases, that confidence may begin to erode as baby cries, fusses, refuses to nurse or demonstrates some other upsetting behavior. While studies have shown that massage can help calm a stressed infant, they also indicate that parental confidence can realize a boost from touch therapy with their baby . Decades-Long Tradition Vimala Schneider McClure, founder of the International Association of Infant Massage (IAIM), witnessed infant massage in an orphanage in India in 1973. The incredible benefits she saw prompted her to found her specialized organization to promote the practice. She points out that infant massage has been an integral part of caregiving tradition in many countries around the globe for decades—and for several good reasons. She asserts
Massage for Infants, Toddlers, and Teens (MITTS) is a program developed by the Village Academy for Families, LLC. Our goal is to help build healthy relationships through positive touch. If it takes a village to raise a child, that village needs to be equipped with the appropriate tools to do so. Massage services that include the needs of the whole family provide tools that help the individual receiving the massage and helps build and maintain healthy relationships.