Infant Massage:
 

HISTORY Infant massage has been practiced in many countries for centuries. In America, this parenting skill was introduced by Vimala Schneider McClure. In 1973, while studying and working in India, Ms. McClure became acquainted with the traditional Indian form of infant massage. In 1976 after her first child was born, Ms. McClue massaged him every day. Using information on reflexology and the knowledge she gained in ten years of teaching yoga, Ms. McClure created a massage routine. The basis for the routine was a combination of Indian and Swedish massage strokes. When her son was seven months old she began to develop a curriculum to teach infant massage to other parents. Since then, infant massage has become important to childbirth educators and hospital staff, especially in the intensive care nurseries. The International Association of Infant Massage Instructors, formed in 1981, has trained many hospital staff members. Staff members then train parents to use massage with premature babies to promote bonding, to facilitate weight gain and to ease discomfort. The spiritual, physical and emotional foundation that is built through daily infant massage lasts a lifetime and reaches into the next generation.
BENEFITS FOR INFANT
INCREASES: sense of love sense of accomplishment sense of respect sense of trust sense of self-esteem IMPROVES: communication body awareness relaxation/release of stress muscle tone coordination hormonal function digestion and elimination circulation and respiration	PROMOTES: healthy bonding and attachment body/mind connection beneficial sleep pattern hormonal functioning weight gain REDUCES DISCOMFORT: from teething from congestion from gas from colic from emotional stress
BENEFITS FOR CAREGIVER
INCREASES: confidence in parenting verbal communication non-verbal communication self-esteem   IMPROVES: knowledge of infant's cues relaxation sense of well-being harmony between care giver and infant's overall health	PROMOTES: bonding valuable parenting skills self-knowledge quality time sharing time REDUCES:   feeling of frustration stress blood pressure
STAFF WIC Program Director Nancy J. Bangs, B.S. Certified Infant Massage Instructor Betty A. Gosselin, MSW, LCSW

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