THE baby massage sessions at the Haven Therapy Centre in Harrow Weald began with brief introductions from the six mums present. They spoke about their experiences of giving birth while their babies crawled and wriggled around around on the mats.

The teacher, Fiona Fidler, then explained about massaging babies, stressing the importance of administering the treatment gently.

Little Tom was her first subject, and Fiona started with circular motions, applying warm coconut oil to his feet while the mothers watched in fascination. We could all clearly see that ten-week-old Tom, who suffers from colic, was enjoying himself.

The massage then moved up his body helping, Fiona said, to improve circulation, relieve wind and constipation. Using a firm two finger tummy massage, blockages could be dispersed.

Some of the babies did not approve of this at first and let out a series of cries. But they soon relaxed when the movement was used on their hands.

Julie Cook of Priory Hill in Wembley, who was massaging five-month-old Ella, said: "I find the massaging really relaxes her and she seems to really enjoy it."

Not all the mums were participating at the same speed. Babies are very unpredictable, and some wanted to be fed or to rest, while others needed their nappies changed.

Fiona said: "Massage can make up for a lack of close contact at the beginning of a baby's life, particularly when a premature baby has started life in an incubator or has had a traumatic birth.

"It helps a new mum feel confident when she knows she can make her baby calm and happy."

After the session, many mothers said how they had enjoyed the time they had spent with their babies and that they felt closer to them as a result from massaging them.

Fiona, 44, who has a four-year-old daughter, Ellie, whom she massaged as a baby, is the founder and owner of the Haven in Kenton Lane. She is trained in massage and aromatherapy, but her background is in conventional nursing and health visiting.

She said that baby massaging had emotional and physical benefits for both babies and parents. It could be helpful in settling early physical difficulties such as wind, colic and skin problems, and resolving birthing difficulties. The approach taught at the Haven is that of exploring and responding to your baby's unique need for touch.

"While working as health visitor I noticed that those babies who were held and touched slowly and gently with regard for their feelings and physical boundaries would develop better in all areas, Fiona said.

"They reached their milestones more quickly than those babies who were handled in a perfunctory way, like a sack of potatoes.

"From this observation I began to develop a method of enhancing responsive and interactive touch with mothers, and began to relate their babies responses back to their initial birth and life experiences with lovely results."

The baby massage course comprises six 90-minute sessions, costing £36. Each is limited to eight babies and places must be booked. Call 020 8416 0790 between 10am and 2pm, Monday to Friday.