Our Final Baby Massage Session and Xanders First Certificate!

Friday was our final baby massage session. We've been going for the last three weeks to free sessions run by my local children's centre.

The sessions have been completely enjoyable for both me and Xander. Not only have we learnt a range of massage strokes that totally chill our little dude out, we've also made a few new friends and started attending a few new mum and baby groups (i intend to blog about these separately)

The final session focused on arms and back:

Xander loved these strokes! We also learnt a few baby yoga movements too!

I was quite sad to finish our final session. To commemorate the completion of the baby massage course we was presented with a certificate:

I'll be sure to scrapbook this!! Xanders first (of many I hope) certificates!

Our second baby massage class!

Yesterday we went to our second (of three) baby massage sessions at our local sure start centre. (if you haven't checked yours out yet make sure you do they're brilliant places!)

This session was focused on the head and body massage. (Last week we covered massage techniques on the legs)

Xander really, really didn't enjoy having his face done. I will try again but won't push the issue, if he doesn't like it that's fair enough! But he LOVED having his body and in particular his tummy massaged!!

We learnt in particular massage strokes that ease trapped wind, constipation and colic. All of which I'm sure will come in useful in the near future.

Next week is our last session. I'll be a little sad for them to end as we have both enjoyed going along. We've made a couple of new mummy and baby friends and in fact next week a group of us are planning on attending a Stay And Play session at the children's centre (on a Friday morning) The session sounds completely my thing! Theres an opportunity to make a baby scrapbook! They have a digital camera and printer so you can take photos of your little one playing and with their friends and theres a messy play corner every week with hand and foot print projects!! Sounds like fun!!

Our first baby massage class!

On Friday we went to our first baby massage class. It's a FREE three week course at our local surestart centre and it has been one of the most enjoyable experiences that I have had with Xander to date.

The class started at 1.30, typically Xander fell asleep at 1pm! When we arrived at the centre he woke up all grizzly and wanting a feed. I thought 'Oh no, mines going to be THAT crying baby!!' But I have him a quick bottle and he settled.

There was 11 mummies and babies participating in the session. We was arranged in a circle with our names in front of our mat so we knew who everyone was!!

The session focused on massage techniques on baby's legs which meant we didn't have to strip the babies of completely. Luckily Xander was wearing dungerees so all we had to do was unpopper the legs!

The instructor demonstrated each of the techniques before we tried on baby. Xander totally enjoyed it, it completely relaxed him!

He particularly enjoyed his foot massage (same as his mummy!)

Baby massage is considered to be important in creating a bond between parents and baby and I completely agree that it was lovely to spend some focused time interacting with Xander.

After the class we all stayed for awhile and had a chat. This session was the first mummy and baby activity we have done and Xander loved interacting with the other babies and it was lovely talking to other mums. Hopefully we'll make a few new friends!! Already looking forward to next Fridays session!

Why not look up your own surestart centre and see what they have to offer? I can't believe how many classes they run. I'm already on the waiting list for cooking for baby, baby scrapbooking and sensory massage! We're going to be sooooooooo busy!!