Differences in Infant Massage and Massage Therapy
My name is Claire and I am a Licensed Massage Therapist in the state of Rhode Island (LMT). This means that I have been trained and licensed as a bodyworker. I work with families from pregnancy into the first year of life. In my practice, I work with pregnant women, help with breastfeeding, and teach them how to massage their babies. I work with whole families though and not just the pregnant person.
“As a massage therapist, I work with people to feel the best they can in their bodies. ”
As a massage therapist, I work with people to feel the best they can in their bodies. This means that I am not just putting someone on my table and hope they feel relaxed by the end of it. I figure out where they are a bit sore, is there something noticeable that needs to be lengthened or contracted. Do the joints move easily? One of the biggest complaints I usually get is the back and neck. We live in a society where a vast majority of people are at a desk most of the day. Maybe someone slept wrong or pulled something while tubing on a river. I help get the body moving again, and if it looks like it is something that needs more attention, I have resources for other professionals I refer my clients too.
“As a Certified Educator in Infant Massage (CEIM) my job is to teach the caregiver to massage the babies in their care. ”
As a Certified Educator in Infant Massage (CEIM) my job is to teach the caregiver to massage the babies in their care. This is a class that meets once a week for five weeks. The class can be private, semi-private, or done in a group. Of course, due to the current pandemic, we have a way to teach online now as well. These classes give the caregivers a toolbox that allows them to bond, get to know, and understand the baby’s body, moods and cues.
“These classes give the caregivers a toolbox that allows them to bond, get to know, and understand the baby’s body, moods and cues. ”
It is fascinating to see the interactions. During these classes, I never actually touch the babies. Despite my status as a bodyworker, I am not working in that capacity during these classes. I am the support person during this lovely time between baby and caregiver. I connect to the caregivers. I help them identify all these different things about the babies in their care so that they can strengthen their relationship.
So who would you find teaching these classes? All kinds of people! You do not need to be a licensed bodyworker to teach this class. Infant Massage USA teaches a very rigorous training class that enables you to teach under their curriculum, but you can be any profession. During my class, there were social workers, lactation consultants, nurses, and massage therapists.
Why are so many people of different career paths able to come together, get their certification, and teach parents how to massage their babies without any massage knowledge? They aren’t touching the babies! The class has a very specific curriculum that allows anyone to learn and understand the knowledge Infant Massage USA is teaching. As the Educator, you do not need a license for bodywork because you are not doing the bodywork. You are guiding parents through the steps so that they may do it themselves.
Does that mean it is worth less? No, absolutely not. We are required to go through such a large amount of work to gain our certification, Educators are prepared to share their knowledge with caregivers.
While my LMT license and CEIM certification are mutually exclusive, they compliment each other wonderfully. While I still do not touch the babies, I can see things about both adult and baby that perhaps someone who is not a trained bodyworker can not. It has given me so many extra tools to help my clients, and I’m so glad I made the leap to become certified with Infant Massage USA.
Are you thinking about becoming certified? Talk to someone certified and see what they get out of it. For me, I get to see relationships develop and strengthen, I help them with my knowledge, and experience, and can offer other resources.
Do you want to take a class? Find the ones around you and talk to them. See if their goals match yours. You won’t regret it!