Baby Strokes - Infant / Child Massage

27/06/2026

Ready for our Saturday morning Infant Massage 101 at Seton Southwest Hospital classroom.

Hosted by Southwest Pediatrics - Austin, TX

So looking forward to meeting everyone

25/06/2026

Join us on Saturday June 27 at 10am CST

Introduction to Infant Massage

Hosted by Southwest Pediatrics - Austin, TX and class offered at Seton Southwest Hospital classroom

Register https://www.eventzilla.net/e/southwest-pediatrics-introduction-to-infant-massage-2138677221?resp=on&dateid=2138062546

11/06/2026

Looking forward to joining Breastfeeding Success Company

Join us for Bosom Buddies Tuesday, June 16th from 1:30-3:00pm at our Ramble Clinic. This week's guest speaker is Melanie Wattles RN, Certified Pediatric Massage Therapist and Owner of Baby Strokes Infant/Child Massage.

Melanie's mission statement is to "Educate parents and caregivers on the importance and value of touch in the early stages of life and teach the techniques that will enable them to provide positive touch and nurturing throughout their child's life".

Melanie is passionate about working in the “Birth World” and educating both Parents and Professionals about the power of Infant Massage. She also offers child custody services such as home safety assessments, parent education and coaching and supervised visitation.

Register through the link or by scanning the QR code. Babies are always welcome and encouraged!
https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule/bf000047/?appointmentTypeIds[]=61871660

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19/04/2026

Lots of helpful on line classes First3Years

18/04/2026

Thank you to First3Years and Atelier Preescolar for inviting me to participate in Baby Day 2026.
I enjoyed meeting everyone.

18/04/2026

UT research study… check this out. I met the researchers this morning at Baby Day 2026 so sharing their request.

16/04/2026

Great class everyone….

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1AtGik196E/?mibextid=wwXIfr

12/04/2026

Join Babystrokes and Atelier Preescolar next Saturday April 18th for Baby Day 2026 hosted by First3Years

11/04/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1KEbKbvHk9/?mibextid=wwXIfr #

10/04/2026

Interesting as we love Oxytocin!

Oxytocin is often referred to as the ‘bonding hormone’, but through a neuroscience lens, it is central to how children experience safety, trust and connection.

When a child feels seen, soothed and understood, oxytocin is released. This has a direct impact on the nervous system, helping to reduce stress responses and support a shift from survival states into connection and engagement.

Oxytocin supports:

• The development of secure attachment relationships
• Emotional regulation through co-regulation
• A reduction in fear and threat responses
• Increased capacity for trust, curiosity and social connection

When early attachment experiences have been inconsistent or disrupted, children may not easily access these states of safety. Instead, their nervous system may remain primed for protection, showing up as hypervigilance, withdrawal or controlling behaviours.

Play Therapy offers a relational, neuroscience-informed space to gently shift this.

Through consistent, attuned interactions, the therapist provides repeated experiences of safety. Over time, this can support oxytocin release and help reshape the child’s internal working model of relationships, as described by John Bowlby.

In the playroom:

• Attuned responses communicate safety at a nervous system level
• Predictable sessions build trust and reduce uncertainty
• Play enables connection without reliance on verbal processing
• The therapeutic relationship becomes the foundation for change

This is not just emotional support. It is biological.

It is .

It is the brain and body learning, through experience, that connection can be safe.