In the wake of new research linking Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) to abnormalities in the brains of babies, the International Association of Infant Massage, Australia (IAIM) has released an urgent call for further exploration into the role that touch plays in the development of babies’
brains.
Breakthrough research, conducted at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and published in the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association, found that babies who died of SIDS had less Serotonin available in their brain stems compared with babies who died from other causes.
Paediatrician and Director of Paediatric Research at The Canberra Hospital, Associate Professor Graham Reynolds, who is also Patron of the International Association of Infant Massage, explained “Serotonin is a brain chemical involved in the regulation of mood and behaviour. Scientists have known for a long time that touch and skin-to-skin contact play a major role in the development of Serotonin pathways in babies’ brains. Now that a link between Serotonin and SIDS has been established, more research is needed to find out whether infant massage may help further reduce the rates of SIDS, in conjunction with the Safe Sleeping Guidelines”.
In the past, research has focussed on how low levels of Serotonin influence the development of depression and violence. “There are numerous studies that show being massaged by a parent not only increases Serotonin availability in a baby’s brain, but that infant massage also reduces the baby’s chance of developing depression, violent behaviours or other mental health difficulties later in life” said Associate Prof. Reynolds.
Other benefits of Infant Massage that have been identified by scientific research include improved sleep patterns, less crying, reduced rates of child abuse and neglect, stronger social skills, and improved physical development. “There is also compelling evidence suggesting that mothers who learn to massage their babies recover more quickly from post-natal depression than mothers who receive more traditional forms of treatment. On this basis several hospitals overseas offer Infant Massage classes for all new parents. This has huge benefits for children because even mild post-natal depression is known to have a detrimental impact on a baby’s long-term speech, social and physical development” said Associate Prof.
Reynolds.
However, the benefits of Infant Massage are less well known in Australia according to the President of the IAIM, and Registered Nurse, Alice Campbell. “Infant Massage in Australia is sometimes misunderstood to be a ‘new age’ activity and Infant Massage classes have not been made widely available to new families” Ms. Campbell said.
But the IAIM hopes that the Boston study will bring about some changes. Ms.
Campbell said “The scientific evidence for a link between skin-to-skin contact and increased availability of Serotonin is well established and we hope the Harvard University Study will encourage researchers and governments to give some serious consideration to the benefits of Infant Massage in the future”.
Until further research is undertaken, both Associate Prof. Reynolds and Ms.
Campbell clarified that there is currently no direct evidence that links Infant Massage to reduced risk of SIDS. However, this shouldn’t discourage parents from learning infant massage with a Certified Infant Massage Instructor. “The other benefits of infant massage are so well-documented in the scientific research that there is every reason for parents to learn the basics of infant massage.” Associate Prof. Reynolds says. He advises parents to learn infant massage from an Instructor who has current certification with IAIM. “Many parents who try and learn from a book or an unqualified instructor simply give up because every baby has such individual needs when it comes to being touched. There is much more to an IAIM infant massage class than simply learning massage strokes. Instructors are properly trained to help parents recognise and respond to their own baby’s unique cues and signals. This support from a Certified Instructor is essential in using touch with babies, especially if they don’t respond well to being touched or have additional needs.”
IAIM Certified Infant Massage classes are run in most areas across Australia. Ms. Campbell said the only way parents can be sure that an infant massage class is run by an Instructor properly trained by the IAIM is to check the association website www.iaim.com.au or to call (02) 4369 3668.
