Baby massage has been a longstanding parenting tradition in many cultures across the world, such as in India and Africa, being introduced to the western world over the last 30 years.

Baba & Belly supports the International Association of Infant Massage programme, a very well respected, thoroughly researched programme and has been endorsed to be an incredibly high quality parent education programme worldwide.

This beautiful therapy gently draws from both the Indian and Swedish traditions, as well as incorporating principles from yoga and reflexology. This offers a wonderful experience and a special time for you to bond, communicate and just ‘be’ with your baby, so that they feel loved, valued and respected.

In terms of how massage and nurturing touch can support your baby, we tend to look at four ‘benefit’ pillars, these include:

Interaction and bonding
Helping your baby to feel securely attached.
Helping your baby to feel more loved, valued and respected.

Relaxation
To help reduce crying and emotional distress.
Supporting increased levels of relaxation and longer sleep patterns.

Relief
To aid in relief from wind, colic, constipation and teething discomfort.

Stimulation
Development of body awareness and coordination.

However, there are many more areas of support that will not only benefit your baby, but will also support you and your family as a whole – and as a parent or primary caregiver, baby massage will support you in the following ways:
• Feeling closer to your baby
• Gaining a deeper understanding of your baby's behaviour, needs and body language
• Providing a wonderful opportunity to spend one-to-one bonding time with your baby
• Feeling the relaxing effects that giving your baby a massage gives you
• Increased confidence in your ability to care for and nurture your baby.
• Learning a wonderful life-long parenting skill.

Our baby massage courses offers a wonderful opportunity for you to learn how to communicate with your baby through nurturing touch and massage, in a relaxed, welcoming and nurturing environment – for both you and your baby.

Your baby is very welcome in all of their states (whether they need to feed, sleep or have a little cry), and the sessions will be very much baby led.

‘Mothering the mother’ is also very important here at Baba & Belly, so this is as much a time for you to bond with other parents and have the opportunity to be looked after and nurtured yourself during the course.

There are lots of teaching elements to the course, however the main aspects of your learning will include massage stokes for legs & feet, tummy, chest, arms & hands, face, back, a colic routine, along with gentle movements and touch relaxation.

An integral part of the programme is to discuss a little bit of theory each week. We will cover topics such as behavioural states, infant cues, the best conditions for massage, beneficial oils to consider, infant reflexes, how to adapt the strokes for your baby's individual needs and adaptations for your growing child, and much more.

Classes are intentionally kept small (up to 5 adults and babies together), so that you can learn, experience, bond and just ‘be’, together in a safe, secure and nurtured space.

Our baby massage course consists of one class a week for 5 consecutive weeks. Each class begins at 10am and lasts between 60-90 minutes (depending on the course content). Doors will be open at 9.45am, so you can get settled and have a cuppa!

REMAINING COURSE DATES FOR 2024

Course dates for the remainder of this year are currently on hold.

COURSE DATES FOR 2025

Course BM080125 (Wednesday's)

• 8th Jan • 15th Jan • 22nd Jan • 29th Jan • 5th Feb

Course BM260225 (Wednesday's)

• 26th Feb • 5th Mar • 12th Mar • 19th Mar • 26th Mar

Course BM230425 (Wednesday's)

• 23rd Apr • 30th Apr • 7th May • 14th May • 21st May

COURSE FEES:

£60 payable in total for the whole 5 week course.

Click on the button below to contact us and book onto a course.