Baby massage strokes away the tears Bubs Jake Tierney, Angus Laing and Emily Hayes-St Clair enjoy a class in Wollstonecraft. PARENTS are getting professional training in massage techniques to help calm their stressed-out babies. Daily sessions are said to relax agitated bubs, soothe them into a better sleep, boost immunity, settle upset tummies and reduce crying time - as well as help mums and dads to bond with their child. With more than 100 instructors teaching across Sydney, Heidi McLoughlin, of the Infant Massage Information Service, said baby massage had grown rapidly. She said gentle strokes on a baby's skin aided the release of a hormone called ACTH, which helped to regulate stress levels. "People often think of the benefits of massage from an adult perspective without realising that massage is a different experience with different benefits for infants and children," Ms McLoughlin said. The end result is that the brain is able to process information and convert new and stressful situations into something that is recognised as being predictable and safe. Classes are held at hospitals including Westmead, Manly and Royal North Shore as well as in parks and community halls.