It is my great pleasure to spotlight Jaymee Armstead, a dedicated therapist, educator, and advocate whose work continues to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families.
I first met Jaymee in 2012 when she joined us for the Infant Massage Certification program, and over the years I have watched her transform knowledge into action with remarkable passion, purpose, and determination. What has always stood out to me is her unwavering commitment to serving those who are often overlooked, including mothers, babies, families facing adversity, and communities with limited access to support and resources.
Jaymee’s work extends far beyond teaching infant massage. She is helping parents build confidence, strengthen attachment, improve communication with healthcare providers, and create healthier foundations for their children. Her vision continues to grow, reaching into underserved communities and exploring opportunities to support incarcerated parents as they prepare to reconnect with their children. This dedication reflects a genuine desire to improve lives, strengthen families, and create lasting change.
Most recently, I had the pleasure of reconnecting with Jaymee during our Advanced Infant Massage Certification program, where she added another specialized certification to her professional background while continuing to expand her knowledge and clinical skills. Seeing her commitment to lifelong learning and her passion for serving others has been both inspiring and rewarding. Jaymee embodies the heart of what we hope to cultivate through Liddle Kidz® Foundation education: professionals who take what they learn and use it to create real, measurable, and compassionate change in the world.
::: Let’s Meet Jayme :::
Please introduce yourself. Who are you, where are you based, and what is the focus of your work?
My name is Jaymee Armstead, and I am the owner of Poetic Hands Therapeutic Massage and Wellness. My focus is bringing health and wellness to women, children, and babies.
What draws you to wanting to work with children and families?
I was a sick child, and my grandmother used massage to help me. Now, I would like to share that same gift with others.
What benefits have you noticed in your work?
I have had the opportunity to work with a nonprofit organization called Honey Child. Their focus is supporting single moms and dads who are homeless or low-income and have little to no support system. Many of the families they serve grew up without family guidance or experienced significant family trauma.
Through this organization, I began teaching infant massage. The results were amazing. It helped parents work through some of their own trauma, communicate with their doctors more confidently, and fill a void in their lives through connection and bonding with their children.
Tell us about the unique populations you have had the opportunity to work with, and how do you plan to expand your practice?
The community I work with provides access to a network of doctors, nutritionists, health insurance agents, lactation consultants, and swaddle instructors. Many moms have shared that they were able to notice certain ailments and concerns with their babies and toddlers much earlier because of the close connection they developed through infant massage.
As a result, they were able to seek help before issues became more serious. They have also experienced better communication and stronger bonds with their children through massage and nurturing touch.
When did you start learning with Liddle Kidz®, and how has this education influenced your practice?
I first took a class with Tina Allen in 2012. That experience helped me begin focusing on what being a massage therapist truly meant to me. I found my niche and changed my practice to focus on health and wellness for pregnant women and their babies.
The education became especially meaningful when I had a baby born at 28 weeks who weighed just over one pound and spent time in the NICU. Then, only 19 months later, I had another baby born at 32 weeks who weighed four pounds. During those experiences, I truly put what I had learned into practice.
My 28-weeker began breathing regular air on her own within 48 hours. According to her doctors, she developed faster than expected and developed an appetite within four days. I was also able to recognize when her food was not digesting properly before the doctors noticed the issue.
We developed a special bond through massage. When I would ask if she wanted a massage, she would look at me, and when I positioned my hands a certain way, she knew exactly what was coming and was ready for it. That was when I truly knew what I had learned worked because I had to live it myself.
Is there anything else you would like to share about your work, history, or future goals?
I am now a CPR instructor, and I will be adding infant CPR education to my classes as well.
I would also like to bring infant massage education to incarcerated parents so they can build bonds with their babies before returning home. I have spoken with many fathers at the correctional facility where I work, and the excitement and hope they expressed while talking about the idea was incredible to see.
One aspect they especially connected with was the concept of asking permission before providing touch. Every father I spoke with supported the idea and even connected me with additional people to help move the program forward.
That is my next mission: to bring infant massage education and bonding opportunities to both women and men who are incarcerated, helping strengthen family connections and create healthier beginnings for their children.
