Training Details

Infant Massage USA®’s Certification is Internationally Recognized

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.

  • Is comprehensive, evidence-based, interactive and personal.
  • Is based on the 15-point curriculum developed by Vimala McClure,
  • Presents protocol, adaptations and techniques to work with families and their babies born prematurely and/or with special needs.
  • Involves both practical and theoretical work including participation in supervised parent-baby infant massage classes

To become a Certified Educator of Infant Massage (CEIM) you will need to:

  • 1) Attend the in-depth, four-day certification training
  • 2) Complete a take-home, open-book assignment/exam
  • 3) Teach five parents to massage their babies in a five-week course in the months following the training

The training covers 15-core curriculum points:

  • History of Infant Massage and of the IAIM
  • Massage techniques and how to adapt these skills as infants develop
  • Communication, teaching, group facilitation and lesson planning skills
  • Effects and benefits of infant massage
  • Bonding and the relationship between massage techniques and elements of bonding
  • Infant and child development in relationship to massage
  • Infant cues, reflexes, behavioral states and crying
  • Massage for special situations (high needs, babies born prematurely or with other additional needs)
  • Infant handling and positioning
  • Understanding, supporting and valuing parents
  • Research on touch and curriculum points
  • Marketing and promoting massage in our communities
  • Safety guidelines for the use of oils

Learning Objectives for CEIMs

 At the end of the Infant Massage Certification Training, Part 1, participants will be able to:

  • Identify the benefits of Infant Massage for the infant/child and Parent/caregiver.
  • Recall research studies regarding the importance of touch in the healthy growth and development of a child.
  • Correctly perform basic stroking techniques.
  • Summarize stroke variations for the older child.
  • Demonstrate Infant Massage skills and techniques to parents and caregivers.
  • Describe relaxation and visualization techniques for parent/caregivers and infants.
  • Observe parent-infant interactions and possible challenges.
  • Define good communication skills that will empower the parent/caregiver.
  • Identify families that require special considerations to empower and nurture them.
  • Analyze strategies for advertising Infant Massage in the community
  • Formulate a marketing plan for Infant massage in your community or workplace.
  • Know the potential contributions they make in their workplace, communities, and in the INFANT MASSAGE USA® organization through their work with nurturing touch and infant massage.

Training Details

The following information is provided to give you an overview of the program.  Please read all of the details included in this informational guide.

There are no prerequisites for becoming a Certified Educator of Infant Massage though you must be at least 18 years of age to attend and certify.

Your infant massage 4-day certification training is offered through Infant Massage USA® which is the United States Chapter of the International Association of Infant Massage.  It is a comprehensive evidence based program that encourages parents to touch, massage and bond with their baby.  The training is 4 days and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Light snacks will be provided at the training. Meals will be on your own.  Please dress comfortably as we will be working both on and off of the floor.

The 4-day certification training includes three parent/baby classes. Parents attend from 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM on days 2, 3, and 4. Participants are encouraged to invite parents with babies ages 6 weeks to pre-crawling from their community.  The learning experience within the training is enhanced by having 6-8 babies attend.

Students participate in a supervised parent/baby class during the training so they have the opportunity to experience teaching a class in a supervised setting.  Following each class, we reflect on their experience to reinforce and enhance the learning. This is designed to maximize the teaching experience for students to feel more confident to facilitate and guide groups at the conclusion of the training.

The requirements to become certified include:

  1. Attend the 4-day certification training
  2. Complete the required open book assignment
  3. Complete a practicum course working with 5 different parents in our 5 session format
  4. Submit your assignment package to your trainer for review

The take-home open-book certification assignment has 39 multiple choice questions, thirteen short-answer and 6 essay questions. They are based on the course information and reading material we cover in class. You read the materials, do a bit of research, and complete it, and submit it to you trainer.  The assignment reinforces all you have learned and helps you feel confident as a parent/baby educator.

The practicum is something you do in your own area.  First, find 5 parents with babies under the age of 1 and teach them to massage their babies as taught and demonstrated in the training. In a class series:  5 classes of approximately 60-90 minutes and a week apart. We will have a marketing section of the class that will help you understand how to find parents in your local area or you can draw from your own acquaintances and contacts through your work or life. You will get started right away teaching infant massage!

We set a due date for this certification assignment to be submitted four months after the training ends. If necessary, you can extend the due date on a limited basis.

All the certification process is included in your original tuition fee along with materials and your first year of membership in our association.

Once you successfully complete the requirements, you will be recognized as a Certified Educator of Infant Massage and you will be a member of Infant Massage USA ®.  Your certification is recognized around the world, in more than 50 countries, through the International Association of Infant Massage whose website is www.iaim.net

Your certification allows you to teach parents how to massage their babies in individual or group settings.  You are also certified to present infant massage benefits to public and profession groups as well as agencies who are interested in learning more about infant massage.

Please note that your certificate does not allow you to train other professionals in infant massage as that can only be done by a qualified and trained international trainer who has years of experience teaching parent/baby courses and training around the nation and/or in other countries.  Nor does your certificate allow you to massage babies yourself as only the parent should massage their own baby.  Please send any questions to linda@touchforlife.org

Side bar for CEUs

Our CEIM Credential is approved CEU credits by

OH Nurses Association, 53.25 CE Hours

California Nursing Approved, 56 CE Hours

The American Occupational Therapy Association, 51 CE Hours

NASW (National Association of Social Workers) 53 CE Hours

NCBTMB approved for Licensed Massage Therapists (including New York) 56 CE Hours

Maryland Physical Therapy Examiners Approved 2.6 CE Hours

International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners Approved 54 CERPs

Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health

Child Life Council

DONA International

CAPPA

An additional $15 administrative fee and application will be collected during the training for those seeking CEU Credit. Please provide your professional license # when you apply.

For the most recent information about the CEUs offered for our trainings, please go to: Infant Massage USA http://www.infantmassageusa.org/become-an-educator/continuing-education-units/