Welcome to:

First Bonding by Baby Massage.

Infant Massage and Bonding Program awarded the Penn Medicine CARES 2023 Grant: Promoting Parent-Child Connection.

Dear New Parent,
Warmest congratulations on the birth of your sweet baby.

First Bonding course helps even the most nervous first-time parents feel confident about caring for a newborn in no time.

Massaging a newborn might help mom to improve lactation, overcome postpartum depression, and set up a sleep and feeding schedule. Infant massage helps your baby with mental development, growth, and weight gain; also, it reduces colic and constipation and normalizes muscle tone. Special massage time promotes early involvement for the father and other family members.

The Infant Massage Course is designed for parents and caregivers with kids from 2 weeks to 12 months old. Private and Group Classes are available.

upcoming September-October group course:
registration is open

Thursday Group: 9/12/24, 9/19/24, 9/26/24, 10/3/24, 10/10/24
Time: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Location: Middletown Free Library, 464 S. Old Middletown Rd. Media, PA 19063

ongoing april-may group course:
registration closed

Thursday Group: 4/4/24, 4/11/24, 4/18/24, 4/25/24, 5/2/24
Time: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Location: Middletown Free Library, 464 S. Old Middletown Rd. Media, PA 19063

Completed January-February group course:
registration closed

Thursday Group: 1/4/24, 1/11/24, 1/18/24, 1/25/24, 2/1/24
Time: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Location: Middletown Free Library, 464 S. Old Middletown Rd. Media, PA 19063

 BONDING AND INFANT MASSAGE:

Touch is your baby’s first sense to develop, starting around 7 weeks of pregnancy. Once your baby’s born, touch plays a key role in bonding. Touch is also important to soothe and calm your baby; they thrive on skin-to-skin contact. Infant Massage is the best way to promote bonding between the baby and parents, siblings, and other family members.

Bonding, probably one of the most pleasurable parts of infant care, happens during the sensitive time in the first hours and days after birth when parents deeply connect with their infant. Physical closeness can promote an emotional connection.

For infants, attachment contributes to their emotional growth, affecting their development in other areas, such as physical growth. Another way to consider bonding is "falling in love" with your baby. Children thrive from having a parent or other adult who loves them unconditionally.

Babies, especially premature babies and those with medical problems respond to infant massage. Certain types of massage may enhance bonding and help with infant growth and development.

hands-on educator:

Kate is originally from Russia, where infant massage is a part of medical care for newborns and a recognized therapeutic tool for bonding between mother and child.

She learned infant massage techniques at the Moscow University of Rehabilitation Medicine (2012). In 2021, she obtained a CEIM degree (Certified Educator of Infant Massage) from the International Association of Infant Massage (USA).

For 8 years, Kate lived in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and worked as an infant massage therapist and hands-on instructor. More than 300 international families participated in her group and private infant massage workshops.

The First Bonding program was launched in September 2021 to promote nurturing touch and bonding magic enhancement between family members and newborns. Also, this is a parent’s social club where they find new local buddies, share the same level of excitement, and get social support and understanding.

Kate is an active advocate for stronger family relationships and children's rights.

our partner