Infant Massage, baby massage and children's Massage Expert, Tina Allen welcomes any questions relating to infant and baby massage, children's massage, pediatric massage, and massage for infants and children who are hospitalized or in hospice care.
Additionally, through her internationally recognized volunteer work, Tina has extensive experience providing massage therapy to men and women who have advanced HIV/AIDS, are elderly or living with terminal illness in hospice care.
Experience
With over a decade of service to children and families, Tina Allen, founder of leading children’s health and nurturing touch organization Liddle Kidz™, has become an internationally respected educator, author and expert in the field of infant massage and pediatric massage therapy. She is a Pediatric Massage Master Teacher, Developmental Baby Massage Teacher and a Licensed Massage Therapist with specialized training in providing massage therapy for children with special healthcare needs. She understands the varied physical and emotional needs of hospitalized and medically complex infants, children and their families. Because of her dedication to the well-being of the entire family, she has studied and become certified in pregnancy massage and is a Trainer of Peaceful Touch®, which implements a healthy touch approach for children in school based environments.
Ms. Allen began her charitable work as a volunteer massage therapist with The Heart Touch Project, a nonprofit educational and service organization dedicated to the delivery of compassionate touch to homebound and hospitalized men, women and children. As a volunteer, she has provided massage to individuals with advanced HIV/AIDS, children with special needs and senior citizens at the end of life.
Most recently, as Director of the Children’s Program for The Heart Touch Project, she provided specialized education and inspiration for massage therapists committed to addressing the needs of medically challenged infants and children who are hospitalized or in hospice care. To date, approximately sixteen hundred volunteers have participated in The Heart Touch Project, their ranks including massage therapists, physicians, physical therapists, and nurses.
In addition, Ms Allen managed the nation’s first comprehensive pediatric massage program at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), where she trained volunteer massage therapists and medical professionals to work with hospitalized Rehabilitation patients, medically complex infants in the Center for Newborn and Infant Critical Care (CNICC), Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Children with Retinoblastoma, Spina Bifida and Cerebral Palsy. She developed pediatric massage programs at Mattel Children’s Hospital at UCLA and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, as well as developed a program focusing on introducing gentle compassionate touch to women and children who have survived domestic abuse.
Her innovative approach to children’s health has allowed her the unique opportunity to educate families and professionals throughout the world in the many benefits of nurturing touch. At personal request, Ms. Allen has taught in England, France, Sweden, Canada and Thailand.
Recently, Ms. Allen led a group of volunteer massage therapists to Thailand where they provided care to infants and children affected by HIV/AIDS and living in orphanages. These children, often considered untouchable, received much needed touch therapy and compassionate care. Their caregivers were taught by Ms. Allen to provide healing touch for these children, so they would continue to receive much needed “TLC” long after the volunteer group returned to the United States. She has plans to travel with another volunteer group to Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and India to provide similar care.
A widely known expert in her field, Ms. Allen has appeared on NBC, The Learning Channel’s “Bringing Home Baby”, PBS "A Place of Our Own", KCET and Your LATV. She is featured as the Infant and Children’s Massage Expert on Canadian Parents and Parent Guide Canada. Ms. Allen has also received recognition as First 5 California’s Champion for Children, was honored with the Richard Ryder Award for her dedicated and passionate service and is a 2009 Massage Therapy Hall of Fame Inductee.
Based in both Los Angeles, California & Vancouver, British Columbia, Tina Allen’s private massage therapy practice focuses on educating families in the many benefits of nurturing touch. Her organiztion Liddle Kidz offers Infant, Children's and Pediatric Massage Instruction courses internationally.
She is an invited speaker to major conferences and has presented for organizations such as Mattel Children’s Hospital at UCLA, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, First 5 LA, Infant Childhood and Relationship Enrichment Network, Department of Mental Health, Los Angeles Child Guidance Clinic, Valley Presbyterian Hospital, Glendale Memorial Hospital, South Bay Counseling Center, PAC/LAC (Perinatal Advisory Council: Leadership Advocacy and Consultation), The International Association of Infant Massage, ELNEC (End of Life Nursing Education Consortium), Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center and major school districts throughout the United States.
Awards and Honors First 5 LA's Champion for our Children • 2009 Massage Therapy Hall of Fame Inductee • Richard Ryder Award for Dedicated and Passionate Service
Past/Present Clients Children's Hospital Los Angeles •
Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA •
Cedars Sinai Medical Center •
TrinityKids care
Question Dear Tina,
I am the mother of a beautiful 4 month old little boy who has been diagnosed
with grade 4 reflux in his urinary tract. After two stints in the hospital on IV,
he must remain on antibiotics for at least the next year a preventative
measure. The problem is, they are ruining his poor tummy and every night he
suffers with gas and pain. He writhes most of the night, especially between 2
and 5 am.
I am at my wits end with concern for his well-being. I have tried everything -
herbal remedies, drug store remedies; we are both on probiotics (he is
exclusively breastfed) and my diet has been overhauled. Now I am hoping
massage may be able to help. He has enjoyed an after bath massage since
birth and I am starting to give im one in the mornings as well.
If there is anything, ANYTHING you can offer in terms of advice,
encouragement or special techniques to try I would greatly appreciate it. I
just don't want my child to suffer anymore, and I am willing to do whatever it
takes.
Also, I live in Vancouver and would very much like to take a course myself. I
would even be interested in becoming certified. Do you know where I could
do this?
Thank you,
Stephanie
Answer Hello Stephanie,
Thank you for your email. Infant massage on the abdominal area can often be very effective in reducing symptoms of gas, constipation, and digestive issues. Additionally, an overall body massage can help to provide relaxation, increase deeper and longer sleep periods, and help encourage all systems of the body to work effectively.
Before starting any massage for baby:
- Make sure the room is warm enough (especially if removing baby’s clothing)
- Relax yourself
- Warm your hands by rubbing them together
- Ask baby’s permission to start massage by making eye contact and verbally asking out loud “Is it okay if I massage your Tummy”
You can massage over clothing, but for tummy massage, I would recommend you use a little oil and massage directly on the skin. The warmth of the skin to skin contact can be very helpful for constipation as well.
For oil – use all natural vegetable or fruit based oil, something edible. Good choices that you may already have at home include: grape seed oil or olive oil. Put a small drop of oil in your hands, about the size of a coin, and rub together to warm. Show baby what you are doing, he’ll start to associate the sight and sound with what comes next.
When doing these massage strokes, use a firm but gentle pressure. Always check in with your baby to make sure he likes the massage. Feel free to try a lighter pressure, use a different stroke or just stop if his done.
To massage your baby’s tummy, place warmed hands on tummy at the belly button and when providing massage strokes stay below the rib cage. I know it’s a small space, but important to target the bowels. Using flat palms gently stroke downward, using hand over hand, a paddling type motion. Next moving hands in a clockwise motion, (very important to move clockwise – if you go the wrong way, you’ll create more issues), stroke baby’s tummy in a circle. Your baby may also benefit from your bicycling his legs, and bringng his knees to his tummy.
During tummy massage your baby may have a bowel movement or release some air – great! You may wish to leave his diaper off during the massage session. Babies like to have the freedom of movement they gain without a diaper, so if you decide to leave it off, just have something underneath in case of any accidents.
If you would like to have lessons from a certified infant massage teacher (CIMT), please contact me directly so I can provide information for a teacher in your area.
You do not needto be a massage therapist or have a background in the healthcare field to attend our course and become certified to teach parents/caregivers how to massage their babies. We will be offering another course in Vancouver, BC in 2010.
