Alyssa Thomas, RMT
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Mobile massage therapy services provided to Edmonton & surrounding area. (Direct billing available)
One of the quickest ways to create anxiety as a parent is to compare your child to someone else’s.
One baby rolls at four months.
Another rolls at six.
One starts walking shortly after their first birthday.
Another takes a little longer.
One says their first words early.
Another focuses on mastering movement first.
It’s easy to look around and wonder if your child is falling behind.
The truth is that development happens within a range.
Milestones are important tools that help us monitor growth and identify when additional support may be beneficial, but they aren’t deadlines.
Every child develops at their own pace, influenced by their personality, environment, opportunities for practice, and individual strengths.
As parents, it’s important to pay attention to progress rather than perfection.
Are they learning?
Are they growing?
Are they gaining new skills over time?
Those are often more important questions than whether they’re doing something on the exact same timeline as another child.
Of course, if you have concerns about your child’s development, trust your instincts and speak with your healthcare provider. Early support can make a meaningful difference.
But if your child is taking a slightly different path to get there, remember:
Different doesn’t automatically mean delayed.
Sometimes it simply means they’re developing in their own way.
What’s one milestone you remember worrying about as a parent?
06/17/2026
Lately, there have been several high-profile stories in the news that have sparked conversations about consent.
As a massage therapist and infant massage educator, it’s something I think about often.
When I teach infant massage, one of the concepts we spend time discussing is consent.
Many people are surprised to hear that we can begin teaching consent long before a child is able to speak.
We do this by observing cues, asking permission before touch, and respecting when a baby communicates that they need a break, want a different position, or simply aren’t interested in engaging.
It’s not about expecting a baby to verbally say “yes” or “no.”
It’s about recognizing that every person deserves respect, autonomy, and the opportunity to have their cues acknowledged.
But the conversation doesn’t stop with babies.
I often remind parents that they deserve the same respect.
Whether it’s a massage therapy appointment, a healthcare visit, or any situation involving touch, consent should be ongoing.
Giving consent at the beginning of an appointment doesn’t mean you’ve given up control.
You have the right to ask questions.
You have the right to request modifications.
You have the right to decline a technique.
You have the right to change your mind.
And you have the right to end a treatment at any time.
A therapeutic relationship should be built on trust, communication, and respect.
At its core, consent isn’t a one-time conversation.
It’s an ongoing process.
One that helps create safety, trust, and connection. For babies, children, and adults alike.
What are your thoughts on teaching body autonomy and consent from an early age?
As parents, it’s natural to want a plan.
We read about routines, schedules, wake windows, feeding times, and nap lengths because we want to do what’s best for our babies.
But sometimes, the pressure to follow a plan perfectly creates more stress than the plan itself.
The reality is that babies aren’t robots.
Some days they’re hungrier.
Some days they’re tired sooner.
Some days they want more connection, more movement, or more comfort.
When we focus solely on the schedule, it’s easy to miss what our baby is actually telling us.
That’s why I encourage parents to think about routines as a guide, not a rule.
Flexibility allows us to respond to the baby in front of us rather than the schedule we hoped for.
The same is true during infant massage.
Some days your baby may enjoy a full routine. Other days they may only want a few minutes before they’re ready to move on.
Neither is wrong.
Following your baby’s cues helps build trust, communication, and connection. And, often reduces stress for everyone involved.
Because parenting isn’t about getting it perfect.
It’s about learning to respond to what’s needed in the moment.
Have you found that flexibility helps reduce stress in your home?
What did you learn, appreciate, or look forward to this week?
What I learned:
Your body communicates remarkably well when you’re willing to listen.
This week was a reminder that our bodies are constantly giving us information. Sometimes it’s subtle, and sometimes it’s impossible to ignore. The challenge isn’t whether our bodies are communicating, it’s whether we’re making space to hear what they’re saying.
What I’m grateful for:
The clients who trust me with their care and see the value in continued treatment.
It’s never something I take for granted when someone chooses to return, share their progress, and allow me to be part of their wellness journey. Watching clients feel better, move better, and gain a deeper understanding of their own bodies is one of the most rewarding parts of my work.
What I’m looking forward to next week:
Continued growth.
Not just professionally, but personally as well. Growth isn’t always dramatic. Sometimes it’s simply becoming a little more aware, a little more present, and a little more connected than you were the week before.
As we head into a new week, I’m carrying these reminders with me.
06/12/2026
Many parents are surprised to learn that regular snoring isn’t considered normal in babies and young children.
We often think of snoring as something adults do, or even something that’s cute when it comes from a tiny baby. But frequent snoring can sometimes be a sign that your child isn’t breathing as easily as they should while they sleep.
Sleep is when babies do some of their most important growing, developing, and recovering.
If your baby regularly snores, breathes through their mouth, seems restless during sleep, wakes frequently, or pauses in their breathing, it’s worth mentioning to their healthcare provider.
This doesn’t automatically mean something is wrong.
It simply means it’s worth a conversation.
As parents, we notice things nobody else does. Those observations matter.
Trust your instincts, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to advocate for your child when something doesn’t seem quite right.
Have you ever brought up a concern that turned out to be important?
Lately, I’ve realized that I’ve been coming back to my roots.
When I graduated massage therapy school, I loved treating with my whole body. I trusted what I was feeling through my hands, relied on my training, and moved intuitively throughout a treatment.
Then life changed.
After my accident, I no longer had the strength, stamina, or energy I once did. Like many people navigating recovery, I adapted the best I could. But in doing so, I slowly moved away from some of the things that felt most natural to me as a therapist.
What I didn’t realize at the time was that I had also lost some of my connection to my own body.
When you’re disconnected from yourself, it’s difficult to fully connect with others.
Over the past several months, I’ve been working hard to rebuild that relationship with my body. To listen more closely. To trust it again. To understand its limits while also recognizing its strengths.
And something beautiful has happened along the way.
I’ve started treating the way I was taught again.
Using my whole body.
Moving more naturally.
Trusting my assessment skills.
Feeling more connected to the work.
More importantly, I feel more connected to my clients.
Every treatment is still tailored to the individual in front of me, but there’s a level of presence and awareness that has returned—one that I didn’t fully realize I had been missing.
Healing isn’t always about returning to who you were before.
Sometimes it’s about rediscovering parts of yourself that were there all along.
This season has felt a lot like coming home.
06/10/2026
When most people think about infant massage, they think about the benefits for baby.
Better sleep. Relaxation. Bonding.
But one of the things I love most about teaching infant massage is what it can do for parents.
In a world that constantly tells parents to do more, infant massage creates an opportunity to simply be with your baby.
No screens.
No distractions.
No expectations.
Just a few moments of connection, communication, and presence.
As parents learn to read their baby’s cues and respond with nurturing touch, many find themselves becoming more confident, more attuned, and more connected. Not only to their baby, but to themselves.
Infant massage isn’t about doing something perfectly.
It’s about slowing down long enough to build trust, connection, and understanding.
And sometimes, that’s exactly what both parent and baby need.
What’s your favourite way to connect with your little one?
06/04/2026
One of the biggest misconceptions about infant massage is that there’s a “perfect” time to do it.
The truth? Your baby’s cues matter more than the clock.
Learning to recognize when your baby is calm, engaged, and receptive helps create a positive experience for both of you. Some days your baby may enjoy several minutes of massage. Other days they may only want a few moments of connection, and that’s okay.
Infant massage is about building trust, communication, and connection, not getting through a routine.
Which cue do you notice most often in your baby?
05/31/2026
Eight days away, surrounded by giant trees, ocean views, and nowhere I needed to be except exactly where I was.
One of the biggest things I took away from this trip was a reminder that I spend so much time trying to anticipate what’s next that I sometimes forget to fully experience what’s happening right now.
Over those eight days, I found myself coming back to the same thoughts:
✨ What will be, will be.
✨ Let go of what you can’t control.
✨ Stay in the present moment.
✨ Make space for gratitude and joy.
And honestly, I think this lesson applies just as much to parenthood as it does to life.
So many parents I meet are carrying the weight of doing everything “right.” They’re thinking about the next milestone, the next challenge, the next thing they should be working on.
But some of the most meaningful moments happen when we pause long enough to notice what’s already here.
The way your baby looks at you.
The tiny improvements that happen over time.
The moments that feel ordinary now but won’t always be.
This trip was a reminder for me to slow down and appreciate the season I’m in.
I hope you can find a little space to do the same 💜
05/21/2026
A lot of parents expect progress to look dramatic.
In reality, the first changes are usually much smaller and more personal.
Things like:
* calmer diaper changes
* easier transfers
* smoother feeds
* less stress around everyday routines
And when those things have been hard for a long time, even small improvements can feel huge
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