First 5 LA | Monday Morning Report

Grantee Profile
Infant Massage Increases Healing, Health
September 2005

When Jeremy, a premature baby, was hospitalized at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, he had difficulty sleeping, his tiny fists were clenched, and his skin was  jaundiced. His stress level increased as he was poked and prodded with a series of painful medical procedures necessary to save his life.

Then, Lily, a trained massage therapist from the Heart Touch Project Children’s Program, began massaging and soothing him. Moments later, his fists relaxed and he fell peacefully asleep. Scenarios like this are repeated daily at Children’s Hospital, TrinityKids Care Hospice, and other LA-area locations where Heart Touch offers infant massage classes, according to Shawnee Isaac-Smith, founder and executive director of the project.

First 5 LA awarded the project a Community Development Initiative grant to train volunteers, parents and caregivers on Compassionate Massage Therapy Program, which uses a soft, tender touch as a gentle healing technique.

“Clinical studies published in national medical and psychiatry journals show that when massage is given to hospitalized infants and children, they become less depressed and anxious, more cooperative and able to sleep soundly,” said Isaac-Smith.

About Liddle Kidz™

Since its inception, the goal of Liddle Kidz™ has been to empower families and professionals to provide nurturing touch: building stronger, more loving bonds with children. Liddle Kidz™ provides training, education and support for families and professionals, giving them the tools necessary to ensure the safe, professional practice of nurturing touch and developmental movement with infants and children. At Liddle Kidz™ it is our true belief that children are our greatest gift and should be treated with extraordinary care.

Certified Infant Massage Instruction is open to those who care deeply about families and children. You do not need any previous experience in the healthcare field to attend. In fact, many of the people who do attend the training do so as a way of providing a loving, healthy support to families. Others who do attend include nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, massage therapists, health care professionals, childbirth educators, early childhood interventionists, lactation consultants, doulas and acupuncturists.

For media inquiries or to interview Tina please contact below:

Contact: Tina Allen
Founder, Liddle Kidz™
tina @ liddlekidz.com
(818) 209-1918
www.liddlekidz.com

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