Infant massage offers many benefits

By Heather Latter, Staff writer

Infant massage classes are again being offered at the Best Start Hub here and instructor Audrey Tyrvainen explained it is a practice that benefits the parents as well as the baby.
“An infant’s first communication is touch, so massage helps to foster a healthy touch and promotes bonding and communication between child and parent,” she voiced.
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Tyrvainen, who has been certified in infant massage instruction, has offered the classes here since 2005.
And she indicated local parents have seen the benefits firsthand.
“I know many of the previous participants noticed an improvement in the infant’s sleep patterns,” she said, citing infant massage can help a baby get a sounder, deeper sleep.
“And that definitely benefits the infant, as well as the parent,” she voiced.
Tyrvainen also discovered parents found their child to be less cranky and they developed closeness and communication.
“Parents are able to better read their baby’s cues and learn what their needs are,” she explained.
In addition, Tyrvanien said there are studies that show infant massage can help increase the weight of a premature baby.
Other benefits for the baby include improving the immune system, helping to regulate digestive, respiratory and circulatory systems, and helping to relieve discomfort from gas and colic, congestion, and teething.
Meanwhile, infant massage can benefit parents by promoting feelings of competence and confidence in caring for baby and increases their ability to help their child relax in times of stress.
Tyrvainen teaches strokes and techniques developed by Vimala McClure, one of the first pioneers to introduce the concept of infant massage to parents in the United States.
The massage she introduced used strokes based on the principles of Indian and Swedish massage, as well as techniques of yoga and reflexology.
McClure is recognized as the author of “Infant Massage: A Handbook for Loving Parents” and is one of the founders of International Association of Infant Massage.
Tyrvainen indicated the infants that she has worked with here have been very receptive to the massage.
“They are just the best participants. They just lay there looking around and seem quite content,” she said, citing that if a baby needs to be fed or changed during the class, that’s not a problem.
She added the best age to learn infant massage is when the child is newborn until about five months, or before they start crawling.
“And the best time to do it is when they are most alert, like after bath time,” she noted.
Tyrvainen runs the infant massage classes in a four-week session. This season, they will run Thursday evenings from 6-7 p.m. (roughly about 45 minutes).
“The first class, we start by doing the strokes on the baby’s legs because that’s the most receptive area,” she expressed. “Then we allow the parents to practice over the week and move onto the next thing the following week. We don’t want to do too much right away until the baby gets used to the touch and the new routine.”
The classes are kept small, about five people, and are taught in a warm, quiet room with soothing music.
“We also start with a few breathing exercises because it’s important for the parents and the baby to be relaxed,” she said.
This is the first time Tyrvanien is offering evening classes, since she wants to make sure both parents are able to attend if they want.
“Bonding is as important for the daddy as it is the mommy,” she stated.
The sessions are also free, which Tyrvanien is quite proud of since it is something that if offered in the city would be expensive.
Those interested can call 274-8588 to register. Participants will be notified of the start date once there is a full class.
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