Bonding with your baby through massage - the critical importance of vitamin T (for touch!)

Kissing, tickling, blowing raspberries.... how can you resist that delicious baby fine skin or the precious giggles and chuckles as your little one responds to your loving touch?

Vitamin T – for touch, that is – is just as important a nutrient for your baby as the nutrition in the food he eats: touch is the first sense to develop, just days after conception and it is important to maintain health and well-being for a whole lifetime.

Stroking your baby's silky skin, meeting her trusting gaze and taking turns at listening to her 'coos' and 'goos' then responding, telling her, " your tiny toes are like little pink peas," or "your legs are growing so long and strong," is more than just a delightful way to enjoy your little one's company. Massaging your baby incorporates all the elements of parent -child bonding as it stimulates your little one's senses through skin contact, eye contact and your familiar smell as well as hearing your voice and experiencing a focussed response. This loving interaction and sensory experience is hardwiring your baby's immature brain for emotional and neurological development: as you touch and talk to your child and share eye contact, you stimulate the development of connections between nerve cells in your baby's brain that will form foundations for thinking, feeling and learning.

As well as being a trained and certified infant massage instructor, I was taught a traditional style of baby massage by a Sikh woman when my own babies were small.  I enjoyed many precious hours connecting and bonding with my babies through the gift of loving touch. And, just like many grandmothers in traditional and tribal cultures, I have passed on this ancient art in my family as I have been blessed with grandbabies.

As an infant massage instructor, I have witnessed the magic of baby massage in thousands of families – the joy and connection between mothers, fathers and babies, as well as grandparents and grand babies is absolutely priceless.

Whether babies and parents have an immediate connection or whether bonding takes more time, perhaps because of a difficult birth experience, breastfeeding difficulties, early separation, prematurity or health issues for mother or baby, baby massage is a delightful and non-intrusive way to support  and enhance bonding and attachment as well as optimum infant development.

I love to share my passion for baby massage with families who want to experience this beautiful process and gain the benefits of a useful addition to their parenting toolkit. This can be through a private session in your own home or a class with other parents (or grandparents). You can arrange your own class with friends or a mums’ group and I can come to you, or you can check out the availability of a small group class with other parents or parents-to-be.

You will learn ….

• How to give your baby a full body massage including specific strokes to help with discomfort such as tummy troubles, colic and constipation.
• When it is safe to massage your baby and when you must avoid massage
• How to create a loving, calm space to share positive energy with your baby, even when you feel stressed and exhausted
• How to read your baby’s body language and nonverbal cues and observe his responses with respect, so you can create a positive and joyful experience, as you gently introduce massage strokes. This will help you develop confidence in your own ability to interpret your baby's unique cues and meet his needs, without the stress of wondering ‘what do we do now?’ ‘Why is he unsettled?’
• Which oils are safe: how to test and select products to use on your baby’s skin and which products you should NEVER use to massage your baby.
• Natural ways to encourage sleep and settling through timing of massage and how to incorporate massage in your daily routine, no matter how busy you are (whether this is your first or fifth baby!).
• Stress management for parents and how to continue massage as your baby becomes mobile.

Group classes

Group classes are irregular and depend on Pinky’s schedule but will be announced here and in her email newsletter ‘Gentle Beginnings’ as they are available.

Private sessions

Private consultations in the comfort of your own home include: a 2 hour visit where I will teach you baby massage (as above).  PLUS, I am happy to answer specific questions you may have about caring for your unique baby: this could include breastfeeding advice and gentle sleep and settling support. Cost for private sessions is $320 for a single session and includes Pinky’s Baby Massage’ DVD, a book, plus the recording package ‘Early loving, early learning – Loving ways to Make Your Baby Smarter’.

Contact Pinky to reserve a session for your family.

03 86783928 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Invite Pinky to your Mums or couples group

I offer a limited number of sessions for mums’ or parent groups (I come to you). These two hour sessions cost $400 for a single session for up to 10 people. Includes one massage class plus discussion/ question time and a baby massage DVD for each family. Organiser receives a free copy of one of Pinky’s books.

Why not get a group of friends together and book a session (lovely to include dads too –limited weekend bookings are available).

Contact Pinky to book your session:

03 86783928 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.