Baby Massage Course Perth
Infant and Paediatric Massage Training
11 to 13 September 2026 | State Library of WA
If you are looking for a practical, evidence-informed way to support babies, parents, and early relationships, this 3-day Perth training provides a clear and supported pathway into professional practice.
This face-to-face course leads to certification as either a Certified Infant Massage Instructor (CIMI) or a Paediatric Massage Consultant (PMC), depending on your background and eligibility.
Course details
Location
State Library of Western Australia
25 Francis Street, Perth
Dates and times
Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm
Saturday 10:00am to 5:00pm
Sunday 10:00am to 5:00pm
Trainer
Paula Hill
Class size
Limited to 12 participants
Catering
Not included. There is a café onsite and a range of nearby food and drink options.
What this training prepares you to do
This training is designed to be practical and immediately applicable.
After completing the course, you will be able to:
• Teach parents how to massage their own babies
• Run group baby massage classes
• Offer one-on-one sessions with families, including home visits
• Support parents to understand their baby's cues, communication, and behavioural states
• Integrate infant massage into your existing role or build your own services supporting families
CIMI and PMC qualifications
Both qualifications are completed within this same training. All students learn the same core content. The difference lies in your background and how you extend that training beyond working with parents.
Certified Infant Massage Instructor (CIMI)
This is the core qualification and a complete pathway into working with families through infant massage.
CIMIs are trained to:
• Teach parents how to massage their own babies
• Run group classes and one-on-one sessions with families
• Support parents to understand their baby's cues, communication, and routines
No prior qualifications are required.
Paediatric Massage Consultant (PMC)
This pathway is for those who already have a relevant professional background, such as health, early childhood, therapy, massage, community services, social work, or family support.
PMC students:
• Complete the same training as CIMI students
• Receive both the CIMI and PMC qualifications
• Complete one additional assessment after the course
In addition to working directly with families, PMCs are trained to:
• Deliver professional education sessions on infant massage theory and research
• Share current evidence and understanding of infant massage
• Support other practitioners to recognise situations where infant massage may be of benefit and feel confident referring families to learn appropriate techniques
Which pathway is right for you?
Your pathway is based on your existing qualifications or professional background, not on whether you have studied infant massage before.
If you do not have a related qualification or background in areas such as health, allied health, early childhood, natural therapies, or community services, the Certified Infant Massage Instructor (CIMI) qualification is the appropriate pathway.
If you do have a relevant qualification or professional background, you can enrol directly into the Paediatric Massage Consultant (PMC) pathway and receive both the CIMI and PMC qualifications as part of the same training.
Both CIMIs and PMCs work directly with parents to teach infant massage.
The PMC qualification also prepares you to share evidence-based, theory-focused information about infant massage with other professionals, helping them understand when massage may be beneficial and how to refer families appropriately.
For a more detailed comparison, you can read here:
PMC vs CIMI
Why infant massage
Infant massage is supported by a growing body of research exploring its role in early relationships, regulation, and parental confidence.
Research has shown that infant massage can support:
• Parent and infant interaction and aspects of early relational development
(Bennett, Underdown & Barlow 2013; Zhang et al. 2023)
• Infant regulation and aspects of behavioural organisation
(Field 2010; Mrljak et al. 2022)
• Reductions in parental stress and improved emotional wellbeing
(Field 2010; Geary et al. 2023)
• Increased parental responsiveness and confidence in interacting with their baby
(Geary et al. 2023)
Touch and massage have been associated with physiological and behavioural changes in infants, including improved regulation and reduced stress responses
(Field 2010).
Studies have also shown that infants respond differently depending on who is providing touch, highlighting the importance of familiar, trusted caregivers
(Aguirre et al. 2019).
These findings, along with a broader body of research explored throughout the course, underpin the use of infant massage across early parenting programs, community services, and allied health settings.
What you will learn
Over the 3 days, you will learn:
• A structured infant massage sequence that you can confidently teach to parents
• Practical skills to guide parents in both group and one-on-one settings
You will also learn how infant massage connects with key areas of infant development and early relationships, including:
• How infant massage supports infant behavioural states, cues, and communication
• The role of touch and massage in nervous system regulation
• How infant massage can support attachment and early relational development
• The use of infant massage to support parent confidence and responsiveness
This means you will not only understand these concepts, but also how to apply them when working with families.
Who this course is for
This training is suitable for a wide range of professionals and those entering the field, including:
• Early childhood educators
• Nurses and midwives
• Doulas and lactation consultants
• Occupational therapists
• Play therapists
• Allied health professionals
• Counsellors
• Family support workers
• Massage therapists
• Complementary health practitioners
• Those wanting to run their own baby massage classes or offer sessions with families
This is professional training for those wanting to support families through infant massage education.
What past students say
"The reptition throughout the 3 days helped with feeling confident in delivering infant massage independantly."
Haylee | Midwife
"Definitely very thorough. Feeling confident to go ahead and start working with families."
Lorna | Community Facilitator
"Professional, high quality, International qualification. Trainer was wonderful."
Claudia | Paediatric Intensive Care and Mental Health Nurse
Course fees
Fees range from $1240 to $2195 depending on the qualification pathway and enrolment package selected.
Full details can be found here:
https://www.babymassage.net.au/fee-structure
Payment plans are available.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need prior experience?
No. Many students are new to this area, while others are experienced professionals expanding their scope of practice.
Can I massage babies after the course?
Your role is to teach and guide parents to massage their own babies.
This approach supports safety, parent confidence, and best practice. It is also supported by research, with studies showing that infants respond differently depending on who is providing touch, highlighting the importance of familiar caregivers (Aguirre et al. 2019).
How do I know if I meet the prerequisites to apply for the PMC qualification?
If you have a background in areas such as health, education, therapy, massage, or community services, you meet the requirements.
If you are unsure, you can contact IMIS to check your eligibility.
What happens after the training?
After completing the course, you can begin running classes, offering individual sessions, or integrating infant massage into your existing role.
Ongoing professional support and membership are available to help you stay up to date and continue building your practice.
Limited places available
With only 12 places available in each class, early enrolment is recommended.
Next steps
Secure your place in the Perth September face-to-face course.
Receive full details about the course, qualification pathways, and enrolment options.
References:
This training draws on a broad body of both foundational and contemporary research exploring infant massage, touch, and early relational development. The references below relate specifically to the sources cited in this article.
Aguirre, M., Couderc, A., Epinat-Duclos, J., & Mascaro, O. (2019). Infants discriminate the source of social touch at stroking speeds eliciting maximal firing rates in CT-fibers. Developmental cognitive neuroscience, 36, 100639. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dcn.2019.100639
Bennett, C., Underdown, A. and Barlow, J. 2013, ‘Massage for promoting mental and physical health in typically developing infants under the age of six months', Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, no. 4, CD005038
Chen SC, Lin SL, Wang M, Cheung DS, Liang JG, Cheng ZY, Yuen CS, Yeung WF. Pediatric massage therapy in infants and children under 5 years: An umbrella review of systematic reviews. Heliyon. 2024 Aug 8;10(16):e35993. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e35993. PMID: 39211929; PMCID: PMC11357743.
Field, T., Diego, M., & Hernandez-Reif, M. (2010). Preterm infant massage therapy research: a review. Infant behavior & development, 33(2), 115-124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infbeh.2009.12.004
Geary O, Grealish A, Bright A-M (2023) The effectiveness of mother-led infant massage on symptoms of maternal postnatal depression: A systematic review. PLoS ONE 18(12): e0294156. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0294156
Mrljak R, Arnsteg Danielsson A, Hedov G, Garmy P. Effects of Infant Massage: A Systematic Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 May 24;19(11):6378. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19116378. PMID: 35681968; PMCID: PMC9179989.
Zhang Y, Duan C, Cheng L and Li H (2023) Effects of massage therapy on preterm infants and their mothers: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Front. Pediatr. 11:1198730. doi: 10.3389/fped.2023.1198730