The International Association of Infant Massage (IAIM) idea of doing infant massage is WITH your baby, not TO your baby and that makes a world of difference. It is a two way communication where you and your baby are engaged in the activity together. Parents are guided by IAIM Instructors on how to read their babies' cues in the IAIM parent-child classes because it is the way that babies communicate with us before they learn our language.
Through the cues, parents are then able to decide if they should use massage strokes or other nurturing touch techniques for their child at that moment.
Babies are the teachers. Parents are the experts of their babies. IAIM Instructors are the supporters.