Learning and practicing the art of infant massage offers many benefits for caregivers & babies alike, including:

• Both moms and dads report feeling more confident in their roles as caregivers.

• Promotes bonding and healthy attachment.

• Babies cry less, sleep longer and deeper.

• Offers relief from gas, constipation and colic.

• Allows parents to become more tuned in to baby's cues.

• Stimulates brain development and circulation.

• Eases stress and increases relaxation for babies and parents.

• Creates a calm, soothing routine for caregivers to pause, observe and deepen their connection to their babies.

• Can help decrease depressive symptoms for moms experiencing postpartum depression.

Read this article from Massage Therapy magazine for more information about the healing benefits of infant massage. (Note of clarification: infant massage classes and lessons involve the parent massaging the baby and the instructor demonstrating on a doll.  This differs from some of the information in this article which was geared toward massage therapists.)

I offer private infant massage lessons for parents and caregivers via video. Sessions can be tailored to the unique needs and preferences of baby and caregiver. It is usually best to have 2-4 sessions to be able to learn and practice strokes for each area of the body as well as strokes specifically for digestive discomfort and other special concerns.

Gift certificates are available and make a wonderful baby shower or welcome home gift for new parents!

Jeri Lea Kroll is a psychotherapist and parent coach specializing in infant and early childhood mental health, parenting, trauma, attachment and adoption using a lens informed by attachment theory and the relational neurosciences. She is also an adopted person and adoptive parent. She provides relationship-focused therapy and coaching to individuals, parents and families virtually and from her offices in Brighton and Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Jeri Lea offers a free 30 minute discovery session to those considering parent coaching, child counseling or family therapy. You can request a discovery session at the link below.