Rolemodelling with a realistic demonstration doll

More and more recently, I come across infant massage teachers using inadequate demonstration dolls to teach parents. It is a pity, because when teaching parents how to massage their babies, the demonstration doll is necessarily the most useful and influential tool used in the class. It can help the parents’ feel that what they experience and learn during a class is positive and memorable. As the demonstration doll is the Infant Massage Teacher’s ‘baby’, it is important that the doll is handled and treated realistically at all times during each teaching session. The use of a realistic doll allows the Infant Massage Teacher to engage successfully with parents when:
• Demonstrating the strokes correctly
• Demonstrating safe massage
• Encouraging parents to consider what their baby is saying to them

To enhance teaching and to role-model effectively, it is important to:
• Use your doll to support your teaching at all times
• Give your doll a realistic name
• Handle your doll as you would a baby – during the whole of the teaching session
• Endeavour to keep your doll clean (plastic parts can normally be cleaned with baby wipes, or a little soap and water; soft bodied parts need to be protected to prevent soiling)
• Dress your doll in seasonal baby clothes
• Wash the clothes regularly, so that they do not appear soiled and unkempt
• Dress and undress you doll as you would a baby (keeping pace with the parents)
• Always use your doll to highlight important points

What is most important is that your demonstration doll is fit for purpose. The Touch-Needs dolls are brilliant and have been designed for infant massage teachers, baby yoga teachers, music and movement teachers and there is even one type for midwives and breastfeeding counsellors.