Children’s of AlabamaInfant Massage Education“Communicating Love through touch”

Tasha McMillian CLA,CIMIKimberly Dickinson CLA, CIMI

Definition

“Infant massage is a positive interaction between caregiver and infant using systematic manual manipulation of soft tissues of the body. Techniques include movements such as rubbing, kneading, pressing and rolling for therapeutic purposes.”

Touch “Touch, is the oldest of all senses, it is the foundation of our existence. Our whole conception of what exists outside us, is based upon the sense of touch.”

History• Ancient Greece and Rome used massage for

healing • Hippocrates: Father of Medicine• Arabs continued to study and develop

techniques• Swedish massage developed in the 19th century• Cultural Parenting practice• Indian Mothers

Benefits• Infant massage provides stimulation, that fosters growth,

development, emotional well being, and attachment while reducing stress, anxiety, and pain. In addition, there are multiple medical benefits, such as, reducing colic, gas, constipation, improving circulation, promoting weight gain, enhancing the development of the nervous system and improving immune functions.

• Studies have shown that massage and touch therapies also increase cognitive development and IQ.

Five Aspects of Early Development Influenced by Touch• Communication• Motor skills• Socialization• Self-Help• Cognition

Communication

• Infant massage is a form of communication not something you do to your baby

• Eye contact• Seek baby’s permission before proceeding • Pay attention to infant cues (engagement

or disengagement)

Engagement Cues

• Babbling• Facing Gaze/ Turning Head• Feeding Sounds• Giggling• Mutual gaze• Reaching toward caregiver• Smiling

Disengagement Cues

• Back arching• Choking• Crying/Fussy• Head shake• Pulling/pushing away• Saying no• Spitting

Special Needs• Premature Infants• Medically Fragile• Sensory Impairments• Cerebral Palsy• Toddlers• Older Patients• Adaptive• Palliative Care/Hospice

What is Needed

• A quiet and warm room/area• Soft music• Low lights• Natural oil (almond, grape seed, sunflower

and coconut) NO PEANUT OIL• A pillow/ blanket• Patch test

Services• Infant Massage is provided to all inpatients at no

cost• Teachings will be done in either the patient’s

room or in the unit’s activity room• A physician's order must be written• Monday through Friday

How to Request a Teaching

• Call the Child Life Office at ext. 89651• Call Kimberly at ext. 89276 or email

kimberly.dickinson@childrensal.org• Call Tasha at ext. 86832 or email

atarsha.mcmillian@childrensal.org• Infant massage can be requested as a

Child Life Consult through I-Connect