Infant Massage Instructor
Approval Codes
CE Broker #20-1375530 NCBTMB Course ID: 70056720 NCBTMB (Provider #280672-00) Florida (#MCE-326)
Available Course Formats
Test Information
- Number of Questions: 90
- Passing Score: 70%
- Test Access: Included with course enrollment format.
Infant Massage Instructor
Infant massage is one of the most rewarding specializations a massage therapist can pursue and one of the most impactful. Teaching parents to massage their babies strengthens attachment, supports infant development, gives caregivers tools to calm a fussy baby at any hour, and creates a meaningful professional niche with growing demand across clinical, wellness, and community settings.
This course trains you to become an Infant Massage Instructor
If you wish to become certified, enroll in the course under specialty certificates. The focus of this course is not about performing massage on infants yourself, but on teaching new parents how to safely and confidently massage their own babies. The techniques are intentionally simple and accessible, designed to be practiced by caregivers and non-massage therapists on healthy infants at home. You are the guide.
Continuing Education Details
| CE Hours | 16 Massage Therapy CEUs (estimated 16 clock hours of study) |
| CE Classification | Kinesthetic (teaches specific techniques for use with clients during massage therapy sessions) |
| Florida Licensees | Approved for "general" category distance learning hours through 8/31/2027. Florida approval number: 20-441867. Note: Only 12 of the 24 required Florida renewal hours may be completed online. The remaining 12 must be completed live and in person, including the 7 mandated hours (Florida Laws 2 CEs, Ethics 2 CEs, Prevention of Medical Errors 2 CEs, Human Trafficking 1 CE). |
| New York Licensees | This course is not valid for New York CEs. New York massage therapists are not authorized to teach non-licensed persons to perform massage on others, including teaching infant massage to parents. We have a NY specific Infant Massage Practitioner Course you can enroll in to receive credits. |
| Canada | Meets requirements for Ontario (CMTO) and NHPC in Alberta. May be valid for other Canadian associations verify with your individual association. |
| Approved By | NCBTMB (#280672-00) | Florida (#MCE-326) | AMTA | ABMP |
| CE Broker | Auto-reported in applicable states (license number must be on file in your account) |
| Enrollment Period | One year from enrollment date to complete the course |
| Format | Fully Online, Self-Paced | Includes video demonstrations |
| Tuition | $159 USD (online course and test 16 CEs) One-time $35 processing fee due only if and when you submit documentation to earn the Certified Infant Massage Instructor title |
Course Overview
Basic infant massage can soothe an anxious baby and provides many of the same benefits that massage holds for adults improved circulation, reduced stress, better sleep, and enhanced body awareness. This course teaches simple routines for general massage as well as movement exercises to stimulate muscle development and coordination. Special situations are also covered in depth, including colic, constipation, congestion, colds, hiccups, fever, diarrhea, teething irritability, and care for premature infants.
The course is centered on teaching parents not on performing massage yourself. Most new parents cannot afford ongoing professional infant massage, and more importantly, they are the ones who need the bonding experience and the practical tools to settle a fussy baby at 2:00 a.m. For this reason, the techniques are simple by design, suitable for confident use by non-massage therapists on their own healthy newborns.
Please note: This course does not cover advanced techniques such as cranialsacral therapy or therapy for birth defects. It is designed for teaching parents to support a healthy infant.
Course Outline
- Conducting an Infant Massage Class for Parents
- Massage and Aromatherapy Oils
- The Importance of Bonding
- Benefits of Infant Massage
- Contraindications
- Infant Massage Routine
- Special Needs Situations:
- Colic, Crying, and Digestive Issues
- Congestion, Colds, and Fever
- Hiccups
- Premature Infants
- Teething
- Marketing Infant Massage
What You Will Learn
- Safe and effective infant massage techniques: strokes for the back, abdomen, arms, and legs, as well as targeted movements for common conditions including teething pain, gas, and constipation
- Understanding infant cues: how to teach parents to recognize their baby's signals and respond to comfort, distress, or the need for a pause
- Adapting for special situations: modifications for premature infants and babies with specific health considerations
- Teaching parents effectively: how to demonstrate techniques clearly, create a supportive learning environment, and give parents the confidence to practice at home
- Marketing your services: how to build and promote an infant massage instruction practice
Benefits of Infant Massage
For babies:
- Stimulates the nervous system, supporting physical development, muscle tone, and coordination
- Relieves gas, constipation, and colic through targeted abdominal techniques
- Promotes deeper, longer sleep, benefiting both baby and parents
- Lowers cortisol levels, supporting emotional regulation and calmness
For parents:
- Strengthens the parent-infant bond through touch, eye contact, and responsive interaction
- Builds parenting confidence by teaching caregivers to read and respond to their baby's cues
- Provides an accessible tool for calming a fussy baby at any hour
- Supports parental mental health and resilience during the demanding early months of caregiving
About the Instructor
Dr. Deanine Picciano AP, LMT has been a passionate and accomplished professional in the massage therapy field since 1994. She has developed comprehensive continuing education courses in massage therapy for all stages of pregnancy, labor, and delivery, as well as foundational techniques for infant massage and movement. Her courses empower therapists to provide safe, effective, and transformative care to expectant mothers and their newborns.
Earning the Certified Infant Massage Instructor Title
Completing the online course and passing the exam awards you 16 continuing education credits and a certificate of completion. To earn the full title of Certified Infant Massage Instructor, you must complete one additional step:
- Conduct two live, in-person practice teaching sessions with new parents (virtual sessions are not accepted parents are not massage therapists and learn most effectively with hands-on instruction)
- Complete a self-reflective online application documenting your practice sessions
- Submit a one-time $35 processing fee
The self-reflection questions guide you to evaluate your sessions honestly identifying what went well, what was challenging, what questions parents asked, and how you will improve in future sessions.
Once awarded, the Certified Infant Massage Instructor title does not expire and requires no renewal. This title is not conferred by the NCBTMB or any state massage therapy board it is awarded by the Institute of Somatic Therapy upon completion of the documented process.
To find the homework documentation requirements: log in to your account at MassageCredits.com, click "Access Course" to the right of the course title, and navigate to the PDF section on the right side of the course materials page.
Who Can Take This Course
This course is open to licensed massage therapists and, in most jurisdictions, to non-massage therapists as well. Because instruction involves teaching parents using a doll not performing massage directly on infants most states do not require a massage therapy license to teach infant massage. However, it is your responsibility to determine whether your jurisdiction requires a license for this activity. The Institute of Somatic Therapy does not make legal determinations on your behalf.
New York massage therapists: This course is not valid for New York continuing education credits. New York law does not permit massage therapists to teach non-licensed persons to perform massage on others.
What Students Are Saying
"I have completed the infant massage course and enjoyed it tremendously, especially as I await the birth of my first grandchild next week. I watched each video several times and read through the coursework twice. I have been a massage therapist for 14 years, so I have had the wonderful opportunity to massage many babies and mothers as well as grandmothers. I took the course because I wanted to know everything I could for my own grandchild. Certainly, even after all my years of experience, there were new things to learn. The videos are excellent concise, clear, and easy to watch again and again. The written materials follow along nicely and tie the whole package together. I found this course informative and fun, and working with the Institute of Somatic Therapy has been very easy and enjoyable."
- Marlaine Darfler, LMT, Ithaca, NY
Course & Certification Details
Test & Certificate: The online exam is completed through your student account at MassageCredits.com. Upon passing, your certificate of completion is available immediately for printing or download as a PDF. Even after completing the test, you may continue to access course materials, print additional certificates, or review your test results for at least one year. We recommend saving copies of your certificates and any downloaded PDFs you may wish to access beyond that period.
Course Access and Reinstatement: You have one year from your enrollment date to complete the course. If you do not complete it within one year, an "Access Expired" notice will appear and you may reinstate the course for an additional year by paying a $35 reinstatement fee. If reinstatement is not completed within the following year, the course will expire fully.
Provider Approvals: Institute of Somatic Therapy is an NCBTMB Approved Provider (#280672-00), approved by Florida (#MCE-326). Courses are also accepted by AMTA, ABMP, and most individual states. Some states limit the number of online or home-study hours permitted per renewal cycle. Please review our State Guidelines section for requirements specific to your state.
Florida Licensees: This course is approved for Florida "general" category distance learning hours through 8/31/2027 (approval #20-441867). Of the 24 required Florida renewal hours, only 12 may be completed online. The remaining 12 must be completed live and in person. The 7 mandated hours (Florida Laws 2 CEs, Ethics 2 CEs, Prevention of Medical Errors 2 CEs, Human Trafficking 1 CE) must also be completed separately.
Note: CE regulations change. Your state licensing board holds you responsible for knowing the requirements that apply to your license.
Related courses: Prenatal Fundamentals, Prenatal Massage Techniques, Massage Doula, Fertility Massage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is baby massage the same as infant massage?
Essentially yes, with the possible difference being how one defines the child's age. A newborn is generally considered to be in the first month of life. "Baby" is sometimes used to describe the first two months, or through the first year. "Infant" typically refers to a child in its first period of life before it begins to walk, generally through the first year. There are some technique modifications for very young babies based on whether they have gained head control, begun to roll over independently, or started to sit up on their own.
What is infant massage, and how is it different from other massage?
Infant massage is generally taught to parents to give them a bonding experience and practical tools for calming a fussy baby. It is a simple routine, often performed in segments as fits the baby's needs and level of cooperation. This course teaches you how to teach parents those techniques, as well as simple movement exercises that support muscle development and coordination.
Does this course cover premature infants in the NICU?
Premature babies are discussed, but as you will learn, true massage is often not appropriate due to their condition. Gentle human touch such as a hand resting on the back of the head and low back or very simple stroking may be all that they can tolerate. The primary focus of this course is teaching parents to massage a healthy, full-term newborn.
Can I use "CIMI" after my name upon completing this course?
No. "CIMI" has been trademarked by another school, and using it without completing their specific training is not permitted. We would also encourage you to consider whether an acronym serves you most people outside the profession have no idea what it means. We recommend using your full title: Certified Infant Massage Instructor. It is clear, professional, and requires no explanation.
Once I complete this course, can I teach infant massage to other massage therapists?
Completing this course qualifies you to teach infant massage to parents, within the scope of practice permitted by your state. To become an instructor of other massage therapists, you would need to pursue the teaching qualifications of your national board or state agency, which generally require three to five years of experience in a modality followed by a separate certification process. That is not something the Institute of Somatic Therapy has the authority to grant, nor does this course teach this.
Can I access course materials after completing the test?
Yes. You may access course materials, print additional certificates, and review your test results for at least one year after completion. We recommend saving your certificate and any downloaded PDFs, as technology updates can occasionally make older data inaccessible beyond the one-year period.
I enrolled but cannot find where to access the course. What do I do?
An "Access Course" link appears immediately on the enrollment confirmation page. If you have left that page, follow these steps:
- Go to MassageCredits.com and log in with your email address and password. Use the "Forgot Password" option if needed.
- Once logged in, you will be on your account page. Scroll down past your account information to the "Your Courses" section.
- Click "Access Course" to the far right of the course title.
The course status will show "Incomplete" until you finish. Upon passing the exam, it will update to "Passed." If access expires after one year, a "Reinstate" option will appear, allowing you to renew access for a $35 fee.
Do you offer installment payments or financing?
We accept all major credit cards, which allows you to manage payments through your card issuer on whatever schedule works for your budget. We do not offer private financing.
What is the study guide?
The study guide contains the actual questions from the online exam. As you work through the course materials, use it to record your answers as a reference before taking the official test. We do not provide page numbers or an answer key finding the answers as you study is part of the learning process. You will receive your grade when you complete the online exam.