What is the difference between infant and pediatric massage? Is there truly difference? This all depends how you define the term infant and how you define pediatric. If you are working in a pediatric hospital or healthcare environment, some will say that the word pediatric is an "umbrella" term that covers all of the patients in that facility from birth to age of discharge from the hospital (often 18 years of age). Others use the thinking that there are pediatric populations in the healthcare setting, but that the infant category is limited to the age of 0 to 12 months, and thus often requires different stages of care. When it comes to massage therapy, there are some very clear distinctions between the two modalities of infant massage and pediatric massage.

What is Infant Massage?

Infant Massage is an ancient tradition of providing nurturing touch as a way of communicating and bonding with baby. Massage can help foster mutual trust and understanding between caregiver and child. Infant massage is composed of techniques which are utilized with babies from approximately three weeks of age and may be adapted onward. Yes, absolutely, parents and caregivers should use nurturing touch with their child as soon as they are born. Specialized massage techniques are used with babies born prematurely. However, generally speaking, for healthy children we would use the three week starting period.

Infant massage for healthy babies is typically administered by parents and caregivers who have been trained by certified infant massage teachers in private and group sessions. Infant massage teachers teach parents and caregivers to use gentle massage techniques, understand their baby's individual cues and methods of communication to enhance many life changing benefits. Clinical research has shown that massaging baby can aid in their healthy growth and development, may soothe common discomforts, promote restful sleep for the infant (and in turn the caregivers), and can increase healthy attachment and bonding.

Evidence has also shown babies who receive massage have increased weight gain, improved immune function and decreased stress hormones. When parents provide massage, their babies may experience optimal neurological function and improved digestion. The benefits achieved with the use of infant massage therapy are needed to encourage appropriate emotional, cognitive and physical development.

What is Pediatric Massage?

It is somewhat easier to think that a child who has been hospitalized or diagnosed with a debilitating medical condition may benefit from the use of massage therapy. However, healthy children have just as many indications for receiving pediatric massage therapy. Children need nurturing touch to grow and reach their full potential. With massage, we aid in their restful sleep, stress reduction and comfort growing pains. In studies performed by massage therapy researchers, reported benefits for typically developing children also include improved concentration, increased focus and decreased aggression. Some researchers even report that children who have received massage therapy for a regular period of time may show increased IQ.

Research has indicated that massage therapy can ease both physical symptoms, as well as emotional discomforts associated with pediatric medical conditions. Immediately after receiving massage, children with mild to moderate juvenile rheumatoid arthritis notice decreased anxiety and stress hormone (cortisol) levels. For young patients with Autism, their aversion to touch decreases with massage, while their ability to focus increases. Pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis report feeling less anxious and their ability to breathe and pulmonary functions improved.

How to incorporate Infant and Pediatric Massage into your practice

Both infant and pediatric massage therapies offer opportunities to grow your practice while at the same time helping instill nurturing touch, respect and care into our future. Becoming a Certified Infant Massage Teacher (CIMT) gives you the opportunity to provide families with information and hands-on lessons, so parents feel confident in providing massage for their own child. When we teach caregivers to use massage appropriately, we provide them with tools and techniques to further strengthen their connection with their child. At the same time, parents learn to use massage to comfort their child, aid in their sleeping process and even to address common childhood discomforts such as teething, congestion and constipation. When we give parents these tools, we encourage and support mutual respect, communication and understanding that lasts a lifetime.

With pediatric massage therapy, safety and knowledge is important. There is a common misconception that child clients are the same as adults, just smaller in size. This is not true. There are many developmental considerations to think about. Whether you may wish to add pediatric massage therapy to your existing private practice, spa or clinic, or expand into a healthcare setting, certification as a pediatric massage therapist is important. With pediatric massage you are using evidence-based techniques to best care for a child who may need healthy touch as a means of easing stress and anxiety associated with bullying at school, or to minimize pain due to their specific medical diagnosis. This professional modality uses unique methods of communication and connection to help children feel safe, respected and open to receiving nurturing touch.

Many massage therapists are looking for a way to specialize in their practice and often combine the two modalities to create the best experience for infants, children and their families. This is why the field of infant and pediatric massage is so exciting. Now, two modalities that hadn't been spoken of in the past are starting to receive mainstream medical credibility. This acceptance allows for a massage therapist to truly follow their passion.

References:

1. Cigales, M., Field, T., Lundy, B., Cuadra, A., Hart, S. (1997). Massage enhances recovery from habituation in normal infants. Infant Behavior and Development, 20, 29-34.
2. Cullen, C., Field, T., Escalona, A., & Hartshorn, K. (2000). Father-infants interactions are enhanced by massage therapy. Early Child Development and Care, 164, 41-47.
3. Diego, M., Field, T., Hernandez-Reif, M., Shaw, J., Rothe, E., Castellanos, D., & Mesner, L. (2002). Aggressive adolescents benefit from massage therapy. Adolescence, 37, 597-607.
4. Diego, M.A., Hernandez-Reif, M., Field, T., Friedman, L. & Shaw, K. (2001). HIV adolescents show improved immune function following massage therapy. International Journal of Neuroscience, 106, 35-45.
5. Dieter, J., Field, T., Hernandez-Reif, M., Emory, E and Redzepi, M. (2003). Stable preterm infants gain more weight and spent less time sleeping and more time in the drowsy states following 5 days of massage therapy. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 28, (6) 403-411.
6. Escalona, A., Field, T., Singer-Strunck, R., Cullen, C., & Hartshorn, K. (2001). Brief report: improvements in the behavior of children with autism following massage therapy. Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders, 31, 513-516.
7. Field, T. (2002). Violence and touch deprivation in adolescents. Adolescence, 37, 735-749.
8. Field, T., Harding, J. Soliday, B., Lasko, D., Gonzalez, N. & Valdeon, C. (1998). Touching in infant, toddler and preschool nurseries. Early Child Development and Care, 98, 113-120.
9. Field, T., Hernandez-Reif, M., Seligman, S., Krasnegor, J., Sunshine, W., Rivas-Chacon, R. Schanberg, S., & Kuhn, C. (1997). Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis: Benefits from massage therapy. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 22, 607-617.
10. Field, T., Lasko, D., Mundy, P., Henteleff, T., Talpins, S., & Dowling, M. (1986). Autistic children's attentiveness and responsitivity improved after touch therapy. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 27, 329-334.
11. Field, T., Schanberg, S. M., Scafidi, F., Bauer, C. R., Vega-Lahr, N., Garcia, R., Nystrom, J., & Kuhn, C. M. (1986). Tactile/ kinesthetic stimulation effects on preterm neonates. Pediatrics, 77, 654-658.
12. Hernandez-Reif, M., Field, T., Krasnegor, J., & Martinez, E. (1999). Cystic fibrosis symptoms are reduced with massage therapy intervention. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 24, 183-189.