Instructor Training...
Our Certification and Continuing Education Instructor Training Program is designed to meet the needs of participants. We offer these options:
1. Travel to a larger city for a full day training. This is called an Onsite Training.
2. Study at home through the Independent Study.
3. Combine the Independent Study with attending a 1/2 day hands on training. This is called a Certification Session.
All three options can lead to certification as a Newborn Massage Instructor.
Through on-site training, the independent study, or a combination of the independent study and half day training, health care professionals and others can learn how to assist prenatal or newly-delivered families in massaging their newborns. An individual would choose which of the three options best suits their needs, based on timing, location, and cost. Each of the three options contains all necessary materials to become certified.
The course offers current research support and gives consideration to the unique physiological needs of the newborn infant during massage. The person completing this course will be able to teach in small groups with newborns and their caregivers, or in large groups using role playing and hands-on practice with dolls.
The training also focuses on sharing positive parenting skills such as interpreting crying and responding appropriately, how to comfort a baby, and when to wait to give massage.
Throughout the training, the message of how to communicate through touch is permeated with the love and valuing of life, the importance and joy of listening to babies, and how to approach this powerful but simple interaction with great respect.
Who takes our training?
The Baby's First Massage Training certainly can be implemented with a 'hands-on" approach by skilled therapists, but it is not limited to people that are licensed to touch in medical settings. Our program is a parent-focused course that empowers the parents to actually give their baby massage in a loving, nurturing supportive way. The instructor does not have to touch the baby at all. This opens the door for non-medical participants to be part of the outreach to new families so we can reach new parents everywhere! The following list includes the participants that have frequently taken this course:
- Childbirth Assistants /Doulas
- Early Intervention Specialists
- Physical fitness instructors
- Others (so far, two or three respiratory therapists, one attorney and two pharmacists).
The on-site workshop is 9.5 hours long, and is hosted by hospitals and massage schools, primarily. Teresa welcomes being sponsored by organizations that are interested in holistic health, or are associated with birthing, or positive parenting.
This course may be completed through an Independent Study, completed at your leisure within one year of purchase.
For those who need flexibility in their schedule and want hands on experience with learning, the combination of home study and hands on is offered through the Certification Sessions.
Contact hours for continuing education are available for particular health care professionals. Certification as a newborn massage instructor is available to participants of the on-site workshop, the independent study, and the certification sessions if they are willing to complete a post test, etc. Please email Teresa@BabysFirstMassage.com if you have any questions about continuing education contact hours.
The course materials are readily available in English. Each kit contains:
- an instructor's manual & post test
- A VHS or DVD including:
- "Loving Your Newborn: Intuitive Touch" DVD
- 35 minute training DVD (1995)
- a brief demonstration of massage with a preterm baby in the NICU (1989 DVD)
- 90 minute instructor training video in DVD only with three sections: an unrehearsed class with family of a 4 day old newborn, how to introduce a toddler sibling to massage with their new baby, and a section on practicing with dolls (June 2007)
- letter of introduction from Teresa, and supplemental information
- 3 copies of the 32 page teaching booklet and 1 copy of the 52 page book (you may choose to have two copies in English and one copy of this booklet in Spanish)
- The Little Book of Baby's First Massage (same content as 32 page booklet)
Certification and educational contact hours are available for this program. Cost is $199.95 (plus shipping) in U.S.A. dollars. International purchases may require a different video format. This would incur additional charges. Please e-mail for information. This product may be ordered in our Inquiry & Ordering section.
