Q & A

How far will Your Precious Baby Travel?

Your Precious Baby is able to visit the towns of Horley, Charlwood, Crawley, Redhill, Reigate, Leigh, Dorking, Merstham, Leigh, and other nearby communities.  Please contact Your Precious Baby to discuss individual needs.

I think I’ve got post-natal depression, should I still come?

Yes, Definitely!  Baby massage helps with bonding and attachment through touch communication and this in turn may help to alleviate post-natal depression if you already have it or help to prevent the onset of mum’s post natal depression in the first instance.

If you feel that you have post-natal depression then you should also be sure to contact your health visitor or doctor for further help and advice.

Is my baby suffering from colic?

Colic usually affects babies in the first few weeks of their lives but generally goes after about four months.  Crying can be intense and furious and it may last for several hours a day over a few weeks.  Although crying can occur at any time, it usually gets worse in the late afternoon or evening, and can affect a baby's sleep. Although colic is not thought to be due to pain, a baby may look uncomfortable or appear to be in pain.  Babies may arch their backs, draw up their legs to their tummy, become red in the face and pass wind.  Colic isn't a serious condition.  Research shows that babies with colic continue to eat and gain weight, despite the crying.  If a baby doesn't do this, then advice from a health visitor or GP should be sought.  Also, advice from a GP or Health visitor is extremely encouraged if the baby continues to cry and you have any concerns.   'hands on babies'

Your Precious Baby provides specific routines developed by hands on babies to try and ease the symptoms of colic.  These routines can be used as a stand alone massage technique.  It does not have to be done as part of the overall routing but performed as and when needed if the parent feels that their baby may be suffering from the effects of colic.  However, maximum benefit is gained if the techniqe is incorporated into the daily routine twice a day for at least 3 days.

How can massage help sleep?

Tiffany M. Field, Ph.D., of the University of Miami SChool of Medicine has studied the effects of massage.  When infants were massaged for 15 minutes a day they spent more time in the active, alert and awake states, cried less, had less stress hormone levels and went to sleep faster after the massage.  Over a six-week period the massaged babies gained weight, showed improvements in emotionality, sociability, and temperament.  Her study concludes that the benefits of massage are stimulation, relaxation, relief and interaction.

Some infants sleep for longer periods following massage and appear to have longer periods of deep sleep.  Most parents are pleased with a naturally enhanced sleep cycle for babies and it is often the reason they seek an infant massage course.  As with many other situations involving infants, a course of action that is effective with one infant does not necessarily apply to the next.  There are cases where the problematic sleep pattern of infants is not affected by massage.

How can massage relieve teething discomfort?

First you need to be sure that your baby is suffering from teething pain and not some other problem.  You need to look for particular symptoms; restlessness, irritability and disturbed sleep patterns; sore, red gums; flushed cheeks; loss of appetite; dribbling; a sudden desire to chew anything within reach; an urge to bite (only as a means to ease pain).
Quite often teething gets blamed for a variety of complaints, such as fever, vomiting, runny noses, diarrhea and rashes, all of which could be signs of a different problem.  In fact, most healthcare professionals agree that teething should not make a baby ill.  If a parent/carer is unsure of the cause of their baby's discomfort or they are suffering from any of these conditions, they should always consult their doctor. 

A parent massaging her baby's gum with a clean finger can be soothing and help alleviate some of the discomfort.  The application of a topical teething gel may have the added benefit of helping to provide ongoing relief (always read the label and check with the pharmacist before applying).  The Your Precious Baby teething massage sequence designed by hands on babies to help alleviate teething discomfort will be explained during the 6 week baby massage course.

What should I bring to a massage class?

Just your usual baby change bag, two towels and a muslin or similar cloth.

What if my baby does not like the massage and cries all the way through?

Don’t worry if your baby cries.  You should stop the massage and see to their needs.  If they are crying because they do not like having their clothes off, then the massage may be done over their clothes.  It may also be that the time of the class is the wrong time for the baby to want their massage.  During the class you will learn the massage strokes and routines and you can then practice these routines at a time that better suits your baby.  This may be after a bath and before bedtime.

My baby needs a feed.

That is fine.  You should feed your baby and carry on watching the demonstrations.  The crib sheet that you take home at the end will help remind you how to complete the massage routines.

My baby wants to sleep.

That’s fine too.  If the baby is fully asleep then they should be left to sleep.  You will still learn how to massage your baby and can then practice at home at a more appropriate time.

When can I massage my baby?

You should only massage your baby when they are in an quiet alert state.  This is the easiest time.  They will have bright eyes, little or no movements and be watching what is going on around them.  You may massage them during their active alert state when they are more playful, however this will be more challenging for you.  They may also be massaged when they are drowsy but not if they fall asleep.  Never force a massage on a baby.   If they want to sleep or they are crying then the baby massage should NOT be done.

What type of massage oil can I use?

Your Precious Baby recommends pure, cold pressed, non-scented vegetable or fruit oils.  Coconut oil should not be used due to it’s cooling effect on the skin.  You should be careful of nut oils, especially if there are nut allergies or other allergies in your family.  Supermarket oil may contain preservatives so they are not recommended.  Baby oil is a mineral oil and can block the pores of your skin, so this is not recommended either.

Your Precious Baby provides a free 50ml bottle of pure, organic sunflower oil during your first class. 

How often should I massage my baby?

We recommend that you try and make baby massage a normal part of your childcare routine.  Some parents/carers will make this a daily routine and others may only wish to fit it in a few times per week.  Whichever option you choose, the baby massage should not be rushed so that both parent and baby can feel relaxed and enjoy the special time together.

I’m worried that I will not be able to remember what I have learnt.

Every week we will not only learn new strokes, we will also recap what was learnt the week/s before.  By week six, you should have had considerable practice and feel confident to practice with your baby at home.  You are also encouraged to practice the Your Precious Baby massage routines on your child between sessions.

Can I contact you after the course has ended if I forget how to do any of the routines?

Don’t worry if you are uncertain of a routine or how to do it, we will be running a drop-in session every week.  Once you have completed a Your Precious Baby 6 week massage course, you will be invited to attend the weekly drop-in sessions.   At these sessions we will practice the baby massage routines and you will be able to nurture the new friendships that you have made during the course.  The babies will also be able to nurture the friendships that they make along the way.

Where are the drop-in sessions?

Your Precious Baby Drop-In sessions will be held at Orchard House in Horley, however, if you have a large enough group, I could travel to Charlwood, Crawley,Dorking, Leigh, Redhill, Reigate, or other location within the vicinity.




Please contact me using the contact form if you have any other questions.