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FirstPlay® Infant Storytelling Massage

8 Ways play-based connection can benefit your baby

How parents can play, connect, and bond with their baby

Respectful and playful touch is crucial to every child's emotional development. We all need loving, safe, connection with others, and babies especially need safe, playful connection to cultivate healthy attachments in life.  Taking time to engage in some first play with your infant and give your baby a storytelling massage can be a wonderful way to connect and bond with baby. 


What is a FirstPlay® Storytelling Infant Massage?

FirstPlay® combines simple, playful storytelling (Baby Tree Hug), with infant massage techniques. 


FirstPlay® Infant Storytelling Massage

Learn the "Baby Tree Hug story" with infant massage!

(Birth to 2 years of age)



Who is FirstPlay® Infant Massages for?

Infant Massages are ideal for parents and infants (ages birth to two), however, FirstPlay® Infant Storytelling Massage techniques can be utilized by any trusted adult within the baby's support community, such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, daycare providers, nannies, and babysitters!

While FirstPlay® is a wonderful way to introduce gentle, caring touch to healthy infants, FirstPlay® Infant Massages can be particularly effective with infants and caregivers in unique circumstances, including

  • Preemies
  • Infants who have been adopted
  • Mothers experiencing postpartum anxiety and depression symptoms
  • Infants in foster care, particularly those who were exposed to drug and alcohol


8 Benefits of play-based baby massages

Benefits of FirstPlay® infant massages include:


1. PARENT-INFANT ATTACHMENT

Strengthen the parent-infant bond. FirstPlay® can help you and your baby bond by forming a loving attachment through respectful, playful touch.


2. SOUND SLEEP 

Baby massages can help improve sleep quality and help your infant achieve deeper, sounder sleep.


3. NUTRIENT FLOW

Healthy touch and playful connection increases oxygen in the blood, supports nutrient flow to cells, and improves circulation.


4. DIGESTION

Playful infant massages can improve infant digestion and bowel elimination.


5. LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT

Storytelling massages can boost early literacy potential and provide a helpful practice framework.


6. BRAIN POTENTIAL

FirstPlay® infant massages wire baby's brain for healthy relationships.


7. INFANT RELAXATION

Infant massages help soothe your infant and promote feelings of relaxation - vital emotions necessary for future self-regulation.


8. INFANT NURTURING

Caring touch naturally releases Oxytocin, a very calming hormone that promotes connection.


For additional information about FirstPlay® Infant Storytelling Massages, please visit FirstPlay.


How to give your baby a massage

Learn FirstPlay® Infant Storytelling Massage

FirstPlay®  can be taught in one session and in a live, virtual format. During the session, I'll you on how to incorporate play-based, healthy touch as a developed by Dr. Janet Courtney - the founder of FirstPlay®.  Additional resources are available upon request for caregivers wanting more support, including follow-up sessions.  In some cases, for participants in Texas and Virginia, sessions may be covered by insurance or your HSA. 

Virtual FirstPlay® infant massage training sessions are appropriate for couples, individuals, or a small group hosted either at your home or in a community setting (daycare, church, foster or adoptive agency, clinic, or hospital). I can accommodate both individuals and group sessions, and I offer individualized virtual sessions to parents, childcare workers, and other caregivers (such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and foster parents).

At this time, the virtual FirstPlay® training sessions I offer are currently only available for participants within the U.S.


Infant massage training - How it works


STEP 1:

BOOK ORIENTATION 

Schedule a 30-minute orientation session appointment here or at the "Let's Play" button link below

STEP 2: 

START VIRTUAL SESSION

Once your booking time is confirmed and payment received, we'll meet virtually for your scheduled appointment.

STEP 3: 

PARENT-BABY COACHING

After your orientation, we'll arrange a 60-minute virtual massage coaching session for your and your baby.

You can attend the virtual events either on your smart phone, computer or tablet, however, I suggest using a device that has a larger screen and is easily movable.  During our coaching session, I will use a doll to demonstrate the techniques and guide you step-by-step following the unique needs of your baby. You will receive instructions for meeting as well as your own copy the digital FirstPlay® Infant Massage Parent Handbook at the time of your booking.


Click the link here to get started.

Let's Play!


Please contact me here if you have any questions.  

I'd love to talk with you about this amazing, playful way to connect with your infant.