Totally Kids Rehabilitation Hospital is offering infant massage training for families whose child is in the hospital’s acute rehabilitation unit, including those who are part of the hospital’s unique Totally Infants Program. This hands-on training is designed to empower parents and caregivers with techniques to comfort, connect with and support their little ones.
“For centuries, infants and their parents have enjoyed the quality time and deep connection inherent in infant massage,” said Julie Lindemann, recreational therapy supervisor at Totally Kids. “As part of our comprehensive approach to care, our team loves guiding parents and caregivers in this practice, helping them develop skills that benefit their baby both while in the hospital and once they return home.”
Lindemann explains that infant massage has been shown to promote parent-child bonding as “the loving touch releases oxytocin, often called love hormone, fostering a deeper connection with the baby and encouraging the development of empathy and confidence in children.” Beyond the nurturing benefits, infant massage provides a variety of health benefits for the baby such as:
§ Encouraging relaxation by helping to calm the nervous system, reduce fussiness, and promote better sleep.
§ Supporting physical development by improving circulation, strengthening muscles, improving feeding, and supporting joint health. Babies may experience improved body awareness, leading to better coordination and balance.
§ Relieving discomfort of common issues including gas, colic, constipation, teething discomfort and growing pains.
§ Enhancing communication by building trust and encouraging non-verbal communication through touch, eye contact and responsiveness.
“Touch is a baby’s first language, and infant massage is one of the most natural and pleasant methods of providing this early nurturing contact,” said Lindemann. “The training we offer encompasses the skills needed to achieve a mindful, caring touch that supports the mental and physical health of the newborn while providing a sweet way to pamper your little one and sneak in some extra snuggles.”
Infant massage is part of the overall family-friendly environment for which Totally Kids is known, including encouraging parent and sibling participation in the care of the child every step of the way. By blending this personal tenderness with the latest technologies usually only found in major medical centers, the acute rehab program at Totally Kids -- provided on both an inpatient and outpatient basis -- has been shown to surpass industry standards for clinical outcomes and shorter length of stay when benchmarked against other pediatric rehab facilities across the country.
For more than 50 years Totally Kids has been a national leader in providing personalized rehabilitation and habilitation services for children with a family-centered emphasis. Programs include acute pediatric rehabilitation, subacute care for children with clinically complex conditions, the innovative “Totally Infants Program” for the care of infants who are ready to transition from a NICU but not yet ready to go home and Circlebrook Intermediate Care for medically fragile children. totallykids.com.
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