Dad Friendly Baby Massage in London

[TheVeryHungryTortoise]

Hi all! This is my first post so please bear with me as I don't know all the MN lingo!

As my due date is rapidly approaching (scary stuff!) I've started thinking about activities that I may want to do with my newborn. I really like the idea of baby massage but I'm struggling to what's available near me that I could potentially take my partner to also. Is baby massage something that people would recommend?

We're based in Southwark (South London) and my partner would be free on Wednesday afternoons or weekends as he is currently studying at University. Does anyone know of any classes that fit this description, or would anyone want to form a group so that a teacher could do a set of home sessions?

Thanks!

I know this isn’t for classes as i’m Not sure if the area (might be worth trying the NCT website as a starting point though). But I used this for baby massage techniques- www.babycentre.co.uk/l1026536/how-to-massage-your-baby-photos

I think unless they state otherwise any class should be dad friendly. What a lovely way for them to spend time together. Just check out the venue as the first place I went to for baby massage was really drafty which wasn’t ideal for winter.

@tissuesosoft Thank you, I hadn't actually considered a diy baby massage! Did you find it beneficial (to you and baby)?

@CircleofWillis That's great to hear! I wasn't sure as this is our first baby and I know some mums can get a bit overprotective about mum and baby classes being only for them! I'll definitely take your advice of checking out the venue. Did you enjoy baby massage/find it useful?

I loved doing baby massage- DD loved it too. We did it after a bath. She’s 2.5 now and still loves a foot massage

Not in London but my husband is a shift worker so he likes to come along to any of the sensory/ play classes dd and I have on his days off. I think I've only ever seen a dad at one other class he didn't do very much and never came back but we've never had so much as a sideways glance. He gets really involved and treated like one of the mums. I'd say it's amazing he wants to be involved take him unless it specifically says no partners

Dads are usually a minority, but they'd be welcome at any class unless it specifically says that it is for mums or unless it's a breastfeeding support group or similar. London's a diverse place and people have all kinds of family setups.

I've got two children and been to lots of groups and classes. I've never had any experience of women being "overprotective" about them being for women only. Plenty of dads at all sorts of activities. The exception being things like breastfeeding support for fairly obvious reasons.

So just book whatever baby massage class appeals and go along to it. It will be fine.

tortoise we all loved baby massage. I liked the who’s as well. The idea of ‘asking the child’s permission’ has stuck with me and she is 5 now.

Ethos not who’s