Sharon's new class, Loving Hands for Expectant Parents, is a one-day workshop on Saturday, March 10, 2012. Geared specifically toward soon-to-be parents, this workshop focuses on the importance of and skills for massage in the first three months of a baby's life. What's so important about the first three months? The pre-verbal infant receives up to 90% of its messages from the world through touch, and a parent's ability to maximize those receptors sets the foundation for lifelong communication.

 To register, drop by the store, or call Sharon Melvin at (780) 288-2004.

Infant massage has become quite popular. Teaching it to new parents over several years, I’ve seen interest grow and classes double in size. New parents want the best for their babies, are hungry to learn all that they can, and are willing to share experiences with other new parents. 

I often ask new parents if they’ve been doing some baby massage, and I see heads quickly nod and often hear “yes, I’ve been rubbing my baby, and she really seems to like it.”  Over the years, I’ve come to think of infant massage as just getting very comfortable and confident with our touch skills for new babies!

Touch, often called our mother sense, is the first sense that we have. In our oftentimes high-tech, low-touch society, we need assurance of the value and necessity of loving, nurturing touch with infants. Touch does indeed help calm and soothe a baby, it helps parents feel closer to their infants, and it includes a variety of benefits such as better sleep patterns and relief of digestive discomfort.  Also, touch is a communicator: a baby receives 90% or more of its communication from the world through touch.

Today's infant massage programs includes both cultural background and information and modern-day touch research. Researchers assure us that touch boosts growth,  and reduces stress in infants. So, touch skills (including massage) are an important part of parenting. It’s valuable for expectant parents, as well, to start learning about, and getting acquainted with   comforting and calming techniques through touch.

The gentle, reassuring touch you do now with your baby --- the touch that calms and soothes, and supports growth and development --- will indeed last a lifetime!

Sharon Melvin, Certified Infant Massage Instructor, R.M.T.
www.babymassage.com