A minority report: teaching fathers baby massage.

Abstract

Infant or baby massage has emerged in the recent decade as an activity promoted by health care professionals, popular with parents and the subject of a growing body of research evidence (Complement. Ther. Nurs. Midwifery 2 (1996) 151; 3 & 8 Tough Ther. 2000). This paper reports on the experience of establishing and facilitating baby massage training. There is a focus in the discussion on teaching fathers, as only one male parent attended the classes over a 6-month period. Recommendations are made in the conclusion, identifying possible ways of promoting fathers involvement in babies massage. The paper, with its images of a father engaged in baby massage, is intended to add to the current limited amount of literature available on this subject.