Top 5 Baby Massage Groups in the UK

Baby Massage helps you soothe and comfort your baby. It has health benefits for them and can relieve stress and postpartum difficulties, strengthening the bond between you. Joining a Baby Massage Group lets you learn and gain confidence from a trained professional. It’s also a great way to meet other new parents and exchange tips and experiences. There are usually 5 or 6 sessions. Some run private groups, dads only groups and online classes. The following organisations have groups throughout the UK. 

International Association of Infant Massage

This organisation has trained over 10,000 practitioners since 1997 including neonatal carers. It is the only international Baby massage organisation. Trained individuals set up groups as a small business. They provide a welcoming environment.

The comprehensive courses they provide teach:

• Massage strokes for legs, feet, stomach chest, arms, hands, face and back.
• A short colic routine.
• Gentle movements and touch relaxation.
• The best time and for how long to massage.
• What massage oils to use.
• How to adapt the strokes for your baby’s individual needs and the growing child.

NCT

The National Childbirth Trust offers training in Infant Massage. Parents can attend a 5 week course to learn to soothe their baby and connect with them. The aims are:

• to help you become more confident in handling Baby and better at addressing their needs.
• improve positive interaction with Baby.
• find a great way for partners, family members and carers to bond with Baby.
• improve sleep for Baby.

The courses are a chance to socialise. Many new parents feel trapped and isolated at home with a new baby so sharing experiences is hugely beneficial. There’s plenty of time to chat and help each other through the early days. You can find a local group on the NCT website.

SureStart

Your Health visitor or midwife can put you in touch with local SureStart Centres which often offer Baby Massage. These are part or fully funded so there is often no charge for participants. SureStart is there to give advice and support to the least advantaged families.

Ayurvedic

Baby massage is an intrinsic part of Indian culture and Ayurvedic tradition. It focuses on the health benefits. Using herbal ayurvedic oils massage improves circulation, digestion and the expulsion of toxins. Sesame seed oil and coconut oil feature and there may be aromas in the room to help create a calm and soothing atmosphere. Techniques like pressing gently on the hands in a circular motion use acupressure points; similarly the feet. Practitioners can be found through the International Association of Human Values UK which offers full support for mothers postpartum.

Physiotherapists

Physiotherapists recognise the benefits of baby massage and some run classes teaching anatomy as well as massage techniques. Baby Physio in London has paediatric physiotherapists that teach baby massage in class and online. There are 4 sessions. Physiotherapists can also be booked to perform massage on your baby themselves.

Photo by Khoa Pham on Unsplash