Most parents would love to be able to instantly calm and soothe their baby and although there is no magic switch that can turn off the tears, an increasing number of parents are switching to the therapeutic benefits of infant massage techniques.

Baby massage is an ancient tradition in many cultures, which is now being rediscovered in the West, and clinical evidence shows that loving, touching, nurturing contact between a care-giver and infant has an important and lasting impact on their development.

Baby massage is something which everyone in the child's life can learn and practice. Using a carefully balanced combination of Swedish, Indian and reflexology techniques, baby massage combines all the elements of bonding, including eye-to-eye contact, smiling, facial expressions, soothing sounds, touch, smell and interaction. So it can help parents develop a closer bond with their children.

As well as being able to help calm babies and relieve stress, it can also help them to sleep better, as soothing massage will make them more relaxed. There are some interesting physical benefits, as regular massage can help develop muscle tone and co-ordination, aid digestion and even relieve colic, wind and constipation.

Other benefits include:

  • Helping babies to develop awareness of their body;
  • Enhancing parents' ability to understand their baby;
  • Strengthening the immune system;
  • Regulating breathing and relieving nasal congestion;
  • Relaxing the parent/care-giver infant massage has been proven to reduce the effects of post-natal depression.
  • Danine Irwin is a qualified CIMI (certified infant massage instructor) and mother of three young children. She offers parent and baby massage courses endorsed by the International Association of Infant Massage from her home in Enfield.

Describing herself as a parent educator who is passionate to share the wonderful art of infant massage', she brings with her a wealth of knowledge in all areas of infant massage, offering inspiration and ideas to parents and care-givers.

With an active interest in health, fitness and children, Danine's classes teach simple techniques that can benefit babies and infants, with results that can be seen through each stage of childhood, from birth to young adulthood.

Danine's classes are one hour each week for five consecutive visits. Groups are designed for newborns to crawlers, and the cost of the five-week course includes tuition in all aspects of baby massage, oil and various interesting hand-outs. There is plenty of time to discuss many aspects of baby care with other parents and to share information.

If you want to know more or are interested in attending one of Danine Irwin's classes, contact her on 07989 743 357.

To get you started, Danine has suggested some simple massage techniques to try at home with your baby:

  • Begin by focusing on your baby. Ensure that they are in a happy, relaxed state before you begin and that you, too, are stress-free. Take a few minutes to relax yourself and shake away your worries (your baby will pick up how you are feeling);
  • Position yourself and your baby comfortably on the floor, snuggle your baby up if they are very newborn;
  • Ask your baby for their permission to massage them, allowing them the right to refuse if they don't feel like it (you will recognise baby's positive and negative cues indicating their feelings);
  • Warm a little organic vegetable-based oil in your palms.
  • Massage one leg at a time; first hold the ankle with one hand and with other hand gently glide down the length of the leg from the thigh to the ankle. Alternate this with the other hand and continue for three-to-four strokes.
  • Stroke the sole of your baby's foot with your thumbs in an upward sweeping motion from their heel to toe. Repeat three-to-four times.
  • Wiggle each tiny toe gently from base to tip, singing This Little Piggy as you go (this nursery rhyme needs to be relaxing so change the last line to " and baby piggy went to sleep", cupping your hand over the toes and gently making a shhhh' sound);
  • Again hold the ankle of the leg and this time gently glide up towards the thigh with the free hand, repeating three-to-four times, alternating hands.
  • Change legs and repeat the routine above.