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Courses/locations
I am currently running courses during the week offering both morning and afternoon sessions, in the Watford and surrounding areas. Weekend courses are also available so that partners have the opportunity to attend.
Session times may occasionally vary.
Morning sessions are from 10.00am - 11.30am.
Afternoon sessions vary between 1.00pm - 4.00pm.
Weekend sessions are from 10.30am - 12.00pm on Saturdays or Sundays.
Current courses are listed below.
Click for course information or read down for current course availability
One to one courses
Private groups
Group courses
Colic relief courses
Local community courses
What we will cover
Current Course Availability
Course starting on the 14th November-19th December 10am-11.30am
(Free car parking outside the Centre in the surrounding roads)
Rickmansworth Children Centre
Shepherds lane
Rickmansworth WD3 8JJ (NOW FULLY BOOKED)
Course start date TBC 10am-11.30am
(On site car parking available but if car park is full then free parking outside the Centre)
Westfield's Children centre
Croxley View
Watford
Herts
WD18 6NS
Course starting on the 13th November - 18th December 10am-11.30am
(Parking is available in Haines Way opposite the main school entrance. There is no on site parking.)
Leavesden Childrens Centre
High Road
Leavesden
Herts
WD25 7QZ (NOW FULLY BOOKED)
Community Course starting on the 10th November - 15th December 1.15pm-2.45pm
(On site car parking available but if car park is full then free parking outside the Centre)
Sunshine Children's Centre
Eastbury Road
Watford
Herts
WD19 4RL (NOW FULLY BOOKED)
Course starting on the 14th November- 19th December 1.30pm-3pm
(Free car parking outside the Centre in the surrounding roads)
Beechfields Children Centre
Gammons lane
Watford
Herts
WD24 5TY (NOW FULLY BOOKED)
Course starting on the 13th November - 18th December 1.30pm-3.00pm
(Free car parking around the Centre with areas of restricted parking - maps sent with booking forms to indicate where the free parking is)
Littlebury Children's Centre
Mildred Avenue
Watford
Herts
WD18 7DY (NOW FULLY BOOKED)
One to one courses
This is available if you would prefer to learn baby massage in the comfort of your own home. The cost per session is £25.00. (I would recommend four sessions.) This course is ideal if you have had a caesarean section and although you are up and about you are not quite at the stage of being out and about. Equally you may want to develop further confidence in handling your new baby in the privacy of your own home.
Private groups
If you already have a network of friends e.g. from your antenatal class or new mum's group and you are able to or know of a friend who will host the course then this is a good option to consider. This course is suitable for a group of 2-6 parents and consists of six weekly 90-minute sessions in the convenience of your home. The cost is £270.00 for the whole course, shared between the parents/carers. As the host you will receive a 50% discount on your share of the cost, with the remaining balance to be divided between your guests.
Group courses
An excellent group to attend if you have missed out on the antenatal group or perhaps you have just recently moved to the area. This group is ideal if you would like to meet new people and have the opportunity to establish some new friendships. The classes are run in the locations listed at the top of the page. They are small and can be adapted to accommodate individual needs. There is a a minimum of five parents/carers and babies with a maximum of ten. This is a six week course consisting of six 90 minute sessions. The course fee is £60.00.
Colic relief course
This is taught separately to the normal massage routine. If you have a colicky baby who is experiencing discomfort and pain, I would recommend this course to you initially. It consists of three home visits, once a week, which will enable you to effectively give twice-daily colic relief massage during periods when your baby needs it. It is advisable to not attempt the regular massage until after this period. If you then wish to consider coming along to the group baby massage class, your baby will be less likely to associate all massage with discomfort that may be experienced during the colic relief routine, and as a parent/carer this will extend you and your baby's experience of positive touch. You will receive a pack containing a copy of the colic relief routine to follow, oil and moral support to help you deal with your baby's discomfort and crying. The cost is £70.00 for the course and is a one-on-one course provided in the comfort of your own home.
Local community services
These are courses which are paid for by local community services, and places are available via referral only. This is a six week course consisting of six 90 minute sessions. The six week course fee is £300.00 if you are within a 15 mile radius of Watford. If your Children's Centre is outside of this radius then an additional charge will be added to the course fee to cover extra costs i.e for every 10 miles outside of the 15 mile radius a £15 charge will be applied. If you are a professional such as a Children's Centre manager and wish to provide this service for your community please contact me for further details.
What will we cover in the sessions?
Baby massage will provide vital and essential nutrients for your baby's skin. The skin is the largest sensory organ of the body.
"Feeding babies with touch, giving food to their skins, is just as important as filling their stomachs with nutrients." Dr. F. Leboyer
Pit-a-pat-a baby massage offers a range of course choices suitable from six weeks to pre-crawling so that you can decide what suits you and your baby best.
- Relaxation techniques for parents
- Massage routine for legs, stomach, chest and arms, face and back, the whole routine with some gentle stretching strokes
- Contraindications to massage
- The benefits of baby massage
- Use of oils
- Positioning during massage
- Why we need to ask permission from our babies
- Conditions for massage and why
- Interpreting baby's cues/signals
Pit-a-pat-a massage strokes are based on the guidelines given by the International Association of Infant Massage. The strokes have elements of Indian and Swedish massage, which combine both soothing and relaxing strokes as well as gentle stimulating strokes, reflexology and gentle yoga movements.
You will receive a weekly handout to act as an aid memoir, enabling you to practice the strokes at home, a weekly reading article to support the importance of baby massage, a bottle of organic sunflower oil and a farewell pack at the end of the sixth session.
There will be an opportunity to also discuss topics such as birth stories, sleeping, how to deal with crying, spoiling, going out and travelling with a new baby, feeding, weaning, siblings, to name but a few.
Refreshments will be provided so you can relax while at Pit-a-pat-a baby massage in a supportive and friendly environment.
© Mary Nyariki - 2008
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