Chasing a crawling year-old baby clad in nothing but a slippery coating of sunflower oil is not easy. This is meant to be our first baby massage class at Pure Massage, a posh spa studio in Fulham, West London; Charlotte, however, has other intentions. Luckily, I am made to feel relaxed about my daughter’s desire to explore. “This is a class for baby,” says Beata Aleksandrowicz, the founder of Pure Massage and tutor of the baby massage course. “Baby can cry, sleep, eat, poo or pee; don’t worry.”

In the event of any of these predictable bodily functions occurring, fluffy towels are scattered across the floor. A large square of stripy rugs, soft mats and bright cushions with smiley faces and big hands signifies the “designated massage area”. When I can keep Charlotte within its borders, I start practising the techniques under Aleksandrowicz’s guidance. Clasping one of her legs in my hand I firmly, but gently, make twisting motions from her chubby thighs to her ankles. Using my forefinger I press it down firmly across the sole of each foot before performing “this little piggy” on her tiny toes.

Each session takes just seven babies. Three-month-old Jamie looks thoroughly laid-back, enjoying his full body massage, while the other babies, all under one year, who are all old hands at the massage game, look content to be kneaded, pummelled and stroked. Charlotte, with her incessant wriggling, is the rebel of the class. I can’t help thinking that starting a baby massage course when she is almost a toddler is not the best idea. But according to Aleksandrowicz, it’s never too late to start massage. Baby massage is not just about techniques; it’s about touch, she says: “Touch is the first tool of communication. It’s the basis for building that maternal bond.”

Indeed, research from Imperial College London suggests that attending such classes significantly improves interaction between mother and child. Results of a study indicated that mothers with postnatal depression who attended baby massage completed the course with “significantly less depression and better interaction with their babies” compared with a similar set who attended a support group.

Findings from the Touch Research Institute, at the University of Miami School of Medicine, indicate that massage is highly beneficial for premature babies. They show that massage helps them to gain weight, become more alert and develop healthier bones. Medical benefits for babies of all ages are said to include improved circulation, muscle tone, digestion and respiration, plus relief for colic, constipation and even teething pain.

“The power of touch cannot be underestimated,” says Tiffany Field, PhD, the director of the Touch Research Institute. “Our research shows that babies benefit medically and emotionally from regular massage.” Furthermore, new research from the University of Warwick says that massage may help babies of under six months to sleep better, cry less and be less stressed – three sure-fire reasons to get mothers signing up to their nearest courses. In fact, courses are springing up all over the country. Qualifications to look for are those issued by the International Association of Infant Massage (IAIM) and the Guild of Infant and Child Massage.

“There has been a surge in interest from parents wanting to learn how to massage their babies. This is primarily because research into the benefits of infant massage is fairly recent and it has been well publicised,” says Suzanne Adamson, one of only two IAIM trainers in the UK. Aleksandrowicz is IAIM-trained and Pure Massage launched its baby course just over a year ago. At £180 for four 1½hour sessions, it’s not the cheapest. However, there are less costly alternatives. And, in some local authorities, health visitors run complementary courses as part of their postnatal care, for the mothers as much as for babies.

“Being a new mum is a vulnerable time in a woman’s life,” says Aleksandrowicz. “I try to reawaken their intuition to touch their babies with confidence. We spend time sharing observations.” In fact, only 30 minutes of each session is spent practising the massage techniques. For Charlotte that is as much as she can take. After thanking our babies for allowing us to massage them, we hold them close and sing a lullaby. The result? Seven sleeping babies. Bliss.

For more details and information, www.puremassage.com ; 020-7381 8100

Visit the new blog for mums who work, used to work, or want to go back to work one day: timesonline.co.uk/alphamummy

FROM TOP OF THE HEAD . . .

Lightly massage the crown of your baby’s head, using circular strokes (avoiding the fontanelles – the soft space between the bones of the skull), then work down the side of the cheeks, making sure that you give baby plenty of eye contact. . . .

TO TUM

Then stroke his chest, using a downward motion. Rub his tummy, using a circular motion, working clockwise and outward from his belly button. Work from the baby’s thighs to knees, stroking in a downward motion. Lift each leg and gently squeeze his shins. . . .

TO TOE

Rub his ankles and the soles of his feet, then gently massage each toe in turn.

Taken from Your Baby Month by Month, by Su Laurent (DK, £16.99). It is available from Times BooksFirst for £15.50; 0870 1608080, timesonline.co.uk/booksfirstbuy

Tips and techniques

Set the scene make sure the room is warm (at least 75F), lighting low, with your naked baby lying on a soft, safe surface.

Oil up use natural, organic oils. Avoid fragranced and essential oils.

Hands-on Warm your oiled hands before touching your baby.

Be relaxed Don’t rush it; remember to focus on your baby.

Softly, softly Speak to your baby in gentle, loving tones while massaging.

Firm but gentle Use soft but firm strokes.

Observe Stop if your baby shows discomfort.

Practice makes perfect The more you do it, the more enjoyable it becomes.

Timing is everything Choose a time when your baby is quiet but alert.

Reading A Handbook for Loving Parents , Vimala McClure; Loving Hands: The Traditional Indian Art of Baby Massage , Frederick Leboyer.

Contacts www.iaim.org.uk ; www.gicm.org.uk . For local instructors, www.iaim.org.uk

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