What is the infantmassage?

Infant massage, according to the method we teach, has been developed by Vimala McClure from the USA. She is also the founder of the International Association of Infant Massage (IAIM). This is the mission statement of both IAIM and FIS (Föreningen för spädbarnsmassage) are:

"The purpose of the International Association of Infant Massage is to promote nurturing touch and communication, through training, education, and research so that parents, caregivers and children are loved, valued and respected throughout the word community"

• Infant massage is a loving touch on the skin, the body's largest sensory organ.
• Infant massage is an experience of contact, communication, joy and inner happiness.
• Infant massage is an opportunity to deepen and develop the parent-child interaction.
• Infant massage is something to do with one's child rather than for one's child.
• Infant massage Infant massage provides relief from stomach pains/gases with the colic massage routine.

The parent learns to read their children's signals, thereby becoming more confident.

• The child is the teacher,
• The parent is the expert,
• The IAIM Instructor supports the wonderful interaction between parent and child.

Those of us who work with parents, usually as experts, whether in open preschool, child healthcare or in some other professional context, it can be difficult to leave our expertise behind. Without a doubt, becoming skilful in teaching infant massage is an invaluable increase to the competence level of the professional as well as on a personal level.

One can wonder why we need to take a course in learning how to touch our children when we have always done this.

In my world (the medical), the following question almost always comes up: "Has research been done on infant massage"? It is not so strange in that one works with scientific and proven practices. Infant massage has been in existence for several generations, it strengthens the loving relationship. Is there a need for research into this? Why?

A few years ago I read an article in the Danish Journal for Nurses  "Sygeplejersken". It was about touch and closeness to the patient, entitled, "Can quality assurance be done on shaking hands with patients?( my translation). Of course, my thoughts focused on infant massage and the question of whether something so simple actually needed to be researched.

There is research on: bonding/attachment , touch and the effects of oxytocin, but what Vimala McClure so clearly saw was how parents and children interacted, the incredible connection. The shared joy is almost impossible to describe.

Today, we know that infant massage can have a therapeutic effect, but it is not a treatment, it is part of the positive side effects you get for free.