*Dr Tiffany Field from T.R.I says that loving touch triggers physiological changes that help infants grow and develop, stimulating nerves in the brain that facilliate food absorbtion & lowering stress hormone levels resulting in improved immune system functioning.
*A study of 10 infants beginning at 10 weeks whose mothers were taught to stroke their infants backs, reported that at 6months of age these infants had fewer sniffles, colds and infections than infants in the control group whose mothers had not been taught to stroke their infants.
*Babies who are massaged regularly are more alert and sociable when awake.
*Infants who received massage therapy before bedtime by a parent, experienced less difficulty falling asleep and developed better sleeping patterns.
*Gentle handling actually improves stability of the nervous system and resistance to disease.
*There is scientific proof that regular massage gives your baby a definate physical, emotional and intellectual advantage.
*Massage has been shown to boost pre-school age childrens performance on intelligence tests.
*A report by 'The Families and Work Institute' states that during the first 3years of life, the vast majority of connections between brain cells are formed. They conclude that loving interaction such as massage can directly affect a child's emotional development and ability to handle stress as an adult.
*Sleep by pre-schoolers -as studyed by Tiffany Field from T.R.I, recorded that pre-school children who received massage, fell asleep sooner, slept longer during nap times, had decreased activity levels and better behaviour ratings.
*Massage has been shown to benefit many children with different special needs - please see catagory - from Premature, to Asthma, to Down Syndrome e.t.c