How baby massage impacts secure attachment - research

Recent research confirms what many parents already know intuitively — intentional touch is far more than comfort for your baby. It shapes how securely they attach to you.

Before your baby could see your face clearly, before they could recognise your voice, before they could smile back at you — they could feel you. Touch is the first sense to develop in the womb, and the most developed sense at birth. It is your baby's earliest and most fluent language.

Which is why a 2025 randomised controlled trial, published in Infant Behavior and Development, caught my attention — and why I think every new parent and perinatal professional should know about it.

What the research found

Researchers Norman and Roggman assigned 58 mother-infant pairs to one of two groups. The first group completed 4 weeks of structured infant massage training using established techniques from Infant Massage USA, which is the US chapter of the International Association of Infant Massage - or IAIM. The second group received general parenting education. At 12 months, researchers measured how securely attached the babies were, using a validated assessment tool called the Attachment Q-set.

The results were striking. Babies whose mothers had learned and practised infant massage were measurably more securely attached than those in the comparison group — but the key was consistency. Mothers who massaged their babies two or more times per week had babies who were significantly more securely attached than those who massaged less frequently. It turns out frequency matters as much as technique.

Perhaps what I loved most about the research results is that 86% of mothers in the IAIM massage group were still massaging their babies almost a year after their training ended. Four weeks of learning created a lasting habit — one that continued to shape their baby's development long after the study had finished.

Why secure attachment matters so much

Secure attachment in infancy isn't just a warm feeling — it is a foundation. Research consistently shows that securely attached babies go on to develop strong social skills, are emotionally regulated, have empathy and resilience throughout childhood. In contrast, anxious or insecure attachment is associated with higher rates of behavioural difficulties and social challenges later in life.

The good news is that secure attachment is something we can help support each other and our babies with. And this study adds to a growing body of evidence that structured, intentional touch — practised regularly — is one of the most accessible ways to do that.

How I can help

As a certified IAIM instructor, I run baby massage classes in the greater Wellington region including venues in Kapiti, Whitby and Lower Hutt. In this role - as well as my postnatal doula role - I love to offer evidence-based guidance to my students and clients as you build confidence as a parent. Baby massage is an invitation — to slow down, to connect, and to trust your hands.

Fill out my infant massage registration form or contact me directly for more information.