Frequently Asked Questions
Pampering Baby Showers-what do they entail?
Carly a qualified beautician comes to your or your friends home if you live between Cheshunt and Buntingford
Whilst you relax Carly offers the following treatments:-
- Nail shape and revarnish (25 minutes per person time permitting) or
- Back and shoulder massage (25 minutes per person time permitting)
- Penny offers a half an hour demonstration on baby massage and baby yoga
- Information on how to run a baby shower provided, cakes www.photobox.co.uk/album/23073206
and gifts can be provided at additional cost
Cost-£15 per person
Baby Massage Courses
What is provided on the course?
On the course you will receive:-- Instruction on the massage strokes
- Complementary massage oil (organic, cold pressed, sunflower oil with vitamin E)
- A full set of notes including diagrams of the strokes
- Refreshments including home made cakes and biscuits
- Weekly discussions with other parents on child related topics
- Spare towels, nappies, toys and other baby essentials
How much are the baby massage classes?
For small groups 4 plus people £60 per child for 4-5 weeks
2-4 people (private groups) £80 per child for 4 weeks
One to one £100 per child for 4 weeks
Prices differ for Children's Centres
Follow-on courses £40 for 4 weeks for small groups
Follow-on courses £75 for 4 weeks for one to one
Prices include massage oil (cold pressed organic sunflower oil with vitamin E), course handouts and refreshments.
For Baby yoga prices-see baby yoga page
What type of massage is taught?
You will be taught both elements of swedish and indian massage and principles from reflexology and yoga.
What age of baby can attend?
Baby massage is for parents and their babies newborn to crawling.
Baby yoga is for parents and their babies 3 months old to walking
I have a premature baby, can I attend?
Research has shown the benefits of infant massage on premature babies. Penny will find out more about you and your child before the class begins. Strokes can be adapted if required for premature babies and these will be shown on the course. There is a premature baby doll to practice on should your baby be asleep or not in the mood during a class. 1:1 sessions can also be arranged. Please see the research page also.
What will I need to bring?
- Yourself and your baby
- A towel for the baby to lie on
- Spare clothes and nappy if required
- Bottle if baby is bottle fed; massages can make the baby thirsty
- It is advisable to wear loose clothing for your own comfort
Where will you travel to to run massage classes in parents homes?
Anywhere within reason. Areas include:-Buntingford, Royston, Ware, Hertford, Bishops Stortford, Great Amwell, Harlow, Cheshunt, Broxbourne, Hoddesdon,Wormley, Baldock, Saffron Waldon, Welwyn, Letchworth, Stevenage, Hitchin and all surrounding villages. I also travel to neighbouring counties for parent hosted classes. If your area is not included, please still call to enquire.
Why run the infant massage classes in a home environment?
A home environment has all the right conditions to ensure both parent and baby can relax and enjoy this wonderful ancient art. I ensure in my own home that the temperature and lighting relax, there is background music on arrival and home comforts are there in a quiet and relaxed settting.
Why run the infant massage classes in Royston Complementary Health Centre and Studio?
There is a lovely fully equipped warm and bright studio for the baby massage. Bookings for baby massage here should be made by calling the Health Centre on 01763 247440. For further information on the Health Centre and other therapies and yoga and pilates please also use this number of visit the website at www.rchc.co.uk
What if my baby sleeps during the class?
Don’t worry if the baby is asleep or not in the mood for a massage, the strokes are taught so you can practice them at home and there is a spare doll should you wish to practice in the class.
The classes are very baby friendly, parents are encouraged to see to whatever their baby needs during the class.
What oils do you use and should I use?
The International Association of Infant Massage recommends that babies be massaged with a high quality (preferably organically grown), unscented, cold pressed vegetable oil
Should I attend if this is not my first child?
Absolutely, the programme teaches parents not only the strokes that may aid children physically but also offers parents that valuable one to one time with their child which can be increasingly difficult the more children someone has. Every child is different and the child related discussions allow parents to discover more about the beauty of each child and their own unique ways. The programme also shows how siblings can get involved.
My baby has colic will massage help?
On the course massage strokes are taught that parents over time have said has aided babies with colic
My baby has reflux will massage help?
Massage on any area of the body is able to assist a reflux baby by stimulation of the vagus nerve and thus an increase in effectiveness of muscle control and regulation. It also relaxes a baby to help with the pain.
I am a father, can I attend?
Definitely, baby massage allows wonderful quality bonding time for fathers and their children. Massage allows fathers to get to know their children in an extraordinary way and take part in the child rearing.
Class times can be arranged to suit fathers that wish to attend.
I am suffering from post natal depression can baby massage help?
All classes respect the privacy of those that attend. Studies have shown that by attending regularly infant massage classes it may improve postnatal depression which about 70,000 women in the UK suffer with each year. In addition classes can may improve the quality of mother-infant interaction women by attending the classes. The classes provide an opportunity to meet and share experiences with other parents, no one is ever alone. Please see the research section. One to one courses are also available.
Can infant massage continue when my child gets older?
Infant massage has many advantages in being continued as the child matures. Before the age of twelve, children are very tactile-kinesthetic i.e. they use feelings more than hearing or sight for information on the world. Touch can produce more feelings than words. A child who is praised with just words, registers this fifteen percent of the time whilst a child who is praised and touched absorbs this eighty five percent of the time. Massage can not only help with relaxation and also that close relationship between parent and child can benefit by enhancing the child’s self-esteem. Part of the programme discusses adapting strokes as the child gets older.
The instructor
Penny Constantinou is a Certified Infant Massage Instructor through the International Association of Infant Massage which has been operating for over 30 years around the world. She is also qualified through Birthlight to teach baby yoga (including post natal yoga) She adores babies, has a keen interest in child development and is happy to recommend any books or research articles to parents. Penny is CRB checked and also works on a consultancy basis in a safe staffing role being a national lead in safe staffing with a background in both social care and education in this field.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Penny Constantinou
For further information on the International Association of Infant Massage please visit their website at http://www.iaim.org.uk
Can I bring an older sibling along to the class?
Siblings are welcome provided they will not distract the parent and the rest of the class. There is a doll they can practice baby massage on should they wish to join in and there are colouring pencils.
