Why Become an Infant Massage Parent Educator?
Become a certified Infant Massage Educator (CEIM) and help parents use nurturing touch to feel closer to their babies, reduce their colic and fussing, sleep better, and become healthier and happier.
Infant Massage USA’s four-day instructor certification training will teach you to educate parents and caregivers to massage their infants and children.
What is Included in the Training Curriculum?
Our 15-point curriculum, designed by Vimala McClure, author of Infant Massage, A Handbook for Loving Parents, will give you the knowledge base, experience and confidence you will need to teach parents individually and in classes. You will get practical experience teaching infant massage through the three-day parent-baby class in each training.
The four-day curriculum:
Day 1 of the course lays the foundation for our work in infant massage – looking at the history, benefits, learning the strokes and how to teach a class.
Day 2 we have an immersion course in baby language – reading baby’s cues, understanding their behavioral states, and you will watch and evaluate the first live parent-baby class, as I teach it.
Day 3 we explore altering the teaching and massage to meet the needs of babies born early, with NAS, or with special needs. On Day 3 or 4 you will teach a portion of the class with your teaching team.
Day 4 we learn to market infant massage classes, talk about how to use it in hospitals, clinics, early intervention, home visits, etc., look in-depth at infant massage research and have our final live parent-baby class.
Materials: You will be provided with printed and digital materials in advance and during the training. The cost is included in the training fee.
If you would like a detailed schedule for the training, please contact me directly.
What Can You Expect from an Online Training?
Since the pandemic, we have been offering online virtual trainings. You will attend the training just like an in-person training – during the hours the training is in session you will be an active participant in an interactive training on Zoom®. Trainings are four days long, and follow the same agenda as our in-person trainings. You will watch a parent-baby class taught by your trainer, and then team teach a one-hour class, and watch another group teach their class. Virtual trainings offer virtual classes. In-person trainings offer in-person classes.
Infant Massage USA Virtual Trainings are small – we aim for just over a dozen participants, so you can expect to get to know your classmates, work in small groups, watch and teach on online parent-baby class, receive written reading materials supplemented with files, practice the strokes in an interactive environment, and have all your questions answered, along with answering mine to you.
Just as in our in-person training, you will follow up with a written certification assignment and teach five families to massage their babies, online or in-person, to complete your certification.
CEUs for our Virtual Trainings may differ from our In-Person Trainings. Please go to CEUs for Infant Massage USA Certification Trainings for more details about approvals.
What Can you do as a CEIM?
As a Certified Educator of Infant Massage (CEIM), you will be able to work with parents and families in private, group, hospital and agency settings. In addition to educating parents, you will be able to participate in research studies, conduct in-service programs, and present at professional conferences.
Our Affiliations
Infant Massage USA is the U.S. affiliate of the International Association of Infant Massage, whose international offices are located in Sweden.
Our organization was founded and is supported by Vimala McClure, author of Infant Massage, A Handbook for Loving Parents.
For more information about our international community, visit www.iaim.net.
Who Should Take the Training?
Nurses, midwives, childbirth educators, early intervention specialists, NICU staff, OTs and PTs and many others have found this training to be a wonderful tool in their work with families. Find out about the many fields that offer CEUs to participants in our instructor trainings.
The four-day training includes exploring the benefits of infant massage and nurturing touch, learning the strokes on your doll, the five-week parent curriculum, practical teaching skills, parent-support skills, and includes a one-day immersion workshop on parent-baby communication. We will talk about using touch to support the baby born prematurely, and other babies that are extra-sensitive, such as those born with NAS and drug-exposure. We will talk about working with babies and families with special needs.
Testimonials
“I just wanted to thank you for the wonderful training and mentorship you provided my entire group . . . it was a truly life-changing experience for many of us and a big part of that is due to your wisdom and patience. You have been an inspiration to me . . . .”
“The training was excellent! . . . It was an incredibly profound experience for me and far exceeded my expectations. . . . As the four days progressed I became aware of the inner peacefulness and calming that I was experiencing due to the atmosphere in the training course created by Jody Wright. . . . A wonderful but truly unexpected experience! . . . It reaffirmed my utmost joy in working with parents and infants.”
“I loved ALL aspects of the training! . . . I appreciate being given the opportunity to be part of such an incredible and empowering group for parents and their babies.”
“The ‘real life’ baby and parent classes were WONDERFUL and really helped to put what we learned into practice. . . . I was impressed to see firsthand how the parents can bond with the babies, and to hear how it has helped them both.”
“The course is a must-have for any professional working with infants or working with parents of infants . . . everyone should know this information.” – from the head of an Early Intervention Agency
“A simple and in-depth course, fully preparing me to bring the knowledge to families – a great sense of ease and relaxation! Highlighting teaching families how to teach their children consent, and boundaries from infancy.”
“As a pediatric PT, this course has given me a great tool to help parents feel more connected to their children.”
“I loved ALL aspects of the training! . . . I appreciate being given the opportunity to be part of such an incredible and empowering group for parents and their babies.”
“Made me look at touch in a whole different light. How a simple stroke of a hand can stimulate a bond with your child.”
“The training combines discussion, demonstration, hands on practice, videos, positive feedback and is presented at a gentle pace. A very well-thought out course that includes written material to support learning and carryover.”
“Not only have I learned an invaluable skill, but I have also met 13 new friends!”
“Personally the training was thorough,, relevant, informative & paced in a way and presented in a way that facilitated learning and integration. It was a wonderful 4 days.”
“Jody was caring, thoughtful, inspiring and very well-informed about the process. I feel very well trained.”
“Jody is great! The focus on relationships, cues, development, and special circumstances – rather than just learning rote massage strokes and techniques – is invaluable!”
“Jody is very knowledgeable about massage, Infant Massage USA and marketing. I learned valuable things during each class. Well worth it!”
“[Talking with others since our training], I feel like I have gotten even more inspired to share this with others. I thoroughly enjoyed how you teach, and appreciate that you shared the wisdom of the experiences you have had.