Your baby gets one brain; for life. The First Impressions of early infancy and childhood leave a lasting impression on your baby and family. These experiences affect not only your baby's brain, nervous system and psychological development in the present but also your family's future generations whose parenting skills and philosophies will be handed down from parent to child.

A baby born today is no different than a baby born 100 years ago. What IS different is the pace of life and the environment of today's newborn. As a result, we are now beginning to see many stress related problems in infants that are similar to those experienced by adults. The Late Preterm (34-37 weeks gestation) and the Term Newborn are particularly vulnerable to these issues which can include:

• Sleep disturbances
• Failure to thrive
• Feeding/weight gain difficulties
• Digestive problems
• Inconsolable crying

Infant massage is a wonderful way to counter-act the effects of stress and take advantage of a baby's highly developed sense of touch. A 20-minute daily massage will benefit your baby in many ways including:

• Improved digestion and relief from gas and fussiness
• Boosted immune system function
• Deeper and better quality sleep
• Improved nervous system development
• Increased weight gain

Infant massage also provides you, the parent or caregiver with:

• Improved parental confidence
• Enhanced bonding and attachment
• Increased awareness of your baby's non-verbal behavioral cues

Not to mention that it's a fun and relaxing way to spend time and bond with your baby!

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"As a Pediatrician, I like to suggest infant massage to parents as a great way to provide comfort to their baby and promote the bonding and attachment process.  It can also be a wonderful way to get non-pharmacological relief from the digestive and stress related problems that can be very challenging for parents of an infant."

Allison Henschel, M.D.

"The "laying on of the hands" has been a part of the medical professions since the time of Hippocrates. Physical contact with the patient has remained a diagnostic and therapeutic maneuver that cannot be replaced by medication. As a father, grandfather and physician, I can well appreciate the benefits of infant massage from a physical perspective with a strong emotional component. This is a bonding deeply rooted in the heart of medical therapy."

Lawrence E. Koppers, M.D.