The IAIM offers 4-day (or 5 days where translation is required) training courses in infant massage to become IAIM Certified Infant Massage Instructors all over the world. The focus of the course is on teaching the art of infant massage, its proven benefits and how to hold classes for parents. This comprehensive course is interactive, hands-on and fun!

The course follows a comprehensive 15-point core curriculum with the same content around the world. The curriculum includes, e.g. the history of infant massage, benefits, bonding, attachment, communication, group facilitation skills, marketing, research, understanding how an infant communicates, the strokes and how they can be adapted. Also included in the 4-day training is a 3-day practicum class with parents and babies.

An ability to communicate well with parents and wanting to help parents use nurturing touch to build their relationship with their children. There are no specific educational requirements.

The course is four full days (or 5 days if translation is required). The hours are set by the IAIM Trainer.

To earn your infant massage instructor certification, you must:

• Attend the 4-day IAIM Instructor training course.
• Complete the required reading and satisfactorily complete the take-home open-book assignment.
• Complete a hands-on practicum.
• Once you have completed these requirements, you will be certified as an IAIM Infant Massage Instructor.
• Your certification will be recognized world-wide through the International Association of Infant Massage.

Yes, your certification is recognized internationally. IAIM is represented world-wide.

Parents massage their own babies and instructors demonstrate using dolls. A portion of the course includes practical experience in teaching parents how to massage their babies. An infant’s first language is touch, and massage is a beautiful tool parents can use to establish a strong bond and create a healthy attachment. An IAIM Instructor’s role is to create an environment that allows parents and babies to strengthen their bonds and deepen their love for each other.

Anyone 18 or older who has a desire to teach parents to massage their babies, can take the training course. Vimala McClure, who introduced infant massage to the US in the 1970s, had a vision that infant massage be passed down from mother to daughter as it has been in other cultures from the beginning of time.

Find a training you are interested in on our Upcoming Trainings page, and click through to find the contact information. The Trainer or course coordinator will give you instructions for registering and more details about the course. We would love to have you be a part of our work!

Under normal circumstances our training courses take place in person as preference, and always live with an IAIM Trainer. The IAIM training programme consists of a lot of practical elements which we feel is better conveyed in a face to face setting and offers a more connected experience. In exceptional situations, such as the global pandemic, training may be presented livestream.