Best Infant Massage Therapists and Classes in New Jersey

8/1/14 - By Rachel Sokol

The power of touch strongly comes into play when it comes to babies. Gentle, soothing infant massages are a great way for mommy and baby to bond. Infant massage is delicate, loving, and tender—an action that truly speaks louder than any words. Some of New Jersey’s infant massage experts weigh in on the power of touch—and offer classes on infant massage for those moms who want to learn more.

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Tina Allen, Founder and Director, Liddle Kidz Foundation, who has taught Infant Massage throughout the tri-state area, advises mommies to begin a baby’s gentle massage with their legs and feet, which is less intimidating. Make sure there are no distractions at home when engaging in an infant massage—no cell phone, no television… just silence. Mood is just as important as the massage itself!

Communicate with your baby and whisper to him or her that you’re going to giving them a massage—don’t forget to smile and make eye-contact with your baby.

Show baby your hands--the ‘instruments’ you’ll be using for their massages. If you choose to use baby oil, be sure the oil is edible, because babies—as moms know best!—like to stick their hands in their mouths.

Using light strokes, move from the center of the body, outward—go from upper leg to foot, for example. Make sure your touch is very gentle and delicate.

“Children need physical contact for healthy growth and development.  Normal affectionate touching is important, however, a regular routine of infant massage can offer additional benefits to both the caregiver and child,” says Allen. “Nurturing touch promotes physiological, neurological and psychological development and function.”  

Kelli DeFlora of Montclair says that infant massage helps promote better sleep, aids in digestion, enhances an infant's immune system, and helps a baby become more responsive to their environment.

 “I love teaching new parents infant massage because it provides them with tools for communicating on a nonverbal level with their babies,” she says.

DeFlora explains that during a massage, a baby “tells their story” as the parent “listens to the story” being told. “Learning to read their infant's cues through massage gives parents a tangible sense of their own powers to help soothe, comfort, and nurture their babies.”

According to Jill Ryan, of Point Pleasant, infant massage contributes to development, massaged babies gain healthy weight better than babies who do not receive massage.

"The systems of the body are stimulated during massage, which assists in the absorption of nutrients and elimination of what is not needed," she says, and explains an amazing study.

"The Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine conducted a study on premature infants. Each group was fed and attended to the same exact way, except massage," says Ryan. "They found when newborns were massaged three times a day for 10 days, they averaged a 47 percent greater weight gain. They were also more active, alert and developmentally mature and left the hospital on an average of six days sooner."

Hoboken-based Mollie Bollers, CMT and doula, explains that touch is the first sense to develop in the womb, predating cognition by 3 to 5 years.

“The philosopher Descartes said ‘I think, therefore I am," but since cognition develops at a later stage wouldn't it be more accurate to say "I feel therefore I am"? Babies certainly ARE, aren't they? Interacting with babies, lovingly and respectfully, via their sense of touch, helps them develop their individual sense of self."

Photo: Liddle Kidz