The International Federation of Infant Massage (IFIM) is one of the world’s first established training programs of infant massage. IFIM was officially incorporated in 1992 although its founder began teaching infant massage in the early 70’s. IFIM is an accredited program that provides trainings, resources and classes in the field of infant and pediatric massage. Touch-Love® educates healthcare professionals and groups in 2-day formats.
Our program meets the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Soical Care's definition and standards as an approved qualification training, known as the QIMI® Training Program. QIMI® is a registered trademark and is a recognized acronym for Qualified Infant Massage Instructor.
Our Founder and Director Anita Epple and Pauline Carpenter, QIMI® is a recognized leader and specialist in the traditional art of infant massage and has been educating parents and professionals for decades. They have authored books, produced audio visual materials, created infant massage educational materials for instructors, traveled overseas to develop programs in orphanages and much more.
IFIM has trained countless numbers of healthcare professionals and parents worldwide. IFIM offers infant pediatric massage classes/qualifications, infant massage products, infant massage instructor support, QIMI® instructor directory and a specialized calendar of classes exclusively for parents offered by our registered instructors.


“A mother’s joy begins when new life is stirring inside; when a tiny heartbeat is heard for the first time, and a playful kick reminds her that she is never alone.”
Continuing Education
about infant and baby massage
It is never too late to begin massage…
What is Infant Massage? The Language of Touch
Infant massage is a bonding activity between parents and their children. In the most basic terms, infant or pediatric massage refers to the process of stroking the muscles of an infant using a variety of specialized massage techniques. Vocalization, eye-to-eye contact, and other positive behavioral reinforcements are also important components of the massage.
Ancient Art of Infant Massage
Mothers have been practicing the art of infant massage for centuries. Based on this historical fact, it is very clear that all babies should be massaged, touched and loved to promote their social-emotional-cognitive and physical development. As an early intervention strategy and therapeutic tool, infant massage is becoming a specialty therapy in the United States. Infant massage is being embraced by a wide variety of professionals who are incorporating it into their practices to help families cope with children with special needs as well as healthy full term newborns. Techniques are simple and effective and are most likely performed by parents and primary caregivers who have been taught by certified infant massage instructors. The approach is empowering and improves the parent-infant attachment process. There is a growing body of research that supports the therapeutic benefits. Infant massage is a crucial and routine part of infant care around the world and has the ability to create great benefits for both parents and the newborn. I teach infant massage. Let’s all teach infant massage.
“Being touched and caressed, being massaged, is food for the infant; food as necessary as minerals, vitamins, and proteins” ~ Frederick LeboyerDr. Frederick Leboyer, M.D., was the first physician to challenge Western society’s deeply held beliefs about awareness in the newborn. He was one of the first doctors to record the ancient art of baby massage. His Book Loving Hands: The Traditional Art of Baby Massage was first published in 1976 from his trip to Calcutta and gives us a good example of this ancient parenting tradition. From the creation of his book, infant massage began to spread across the world, becoming more embraced and accepted.

Partnership Network
- Academic Quality Agency for New Zealand Universities (AQA)
- Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA)
- China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE)
- Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE)
- Committee for Private Education (CPE), SkillsFuture Singapore
- European Union Support to Higher Education in the ASEAN Region
- European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA)
- Higher Education Evaluation and Accreditation Council of Taiwan (HEEACT)
- Knowledge and Human Development Authority, Dubai (KHDA)
- Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA)
- National Institution for Academic Degrees and Quality Enhancement of Higher Education, Japan (NIAD-QE)
- Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI)
- Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA)
- The European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR)
- The Quality Assurance Agency International (QAA Int’l)
- UK National Recognition Information Centre (UK NARIC)
