SAN DIEGO -- There is a lot of wriggling, cooing and relaxing going on in the Children's Hospital Solana Beach Center. A group of young mothers are learning to communicate with their babies through touch in an infant massage class.

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Project QKids: Infant Massage Class

The babies lie on a blanket-covered mat, in front of their mothers. The lights are dim; the room is warm and calm. Then with a light touch, the mothers begin with small circles at their babies' temples, and strokes along the cheeks, under the eyes.

The caresses soothe these little ones while stimulating them.

"It's a way to communicate (and) to make them aware of their body," class instructor Nancy Haney said.

Haney teaches a free infant massage class for Children's Hospital Children's Care Connection. The class is a two-way communication: parents "talk" with touch and "listen" to their babies' reactions.

"It takes awhile for parents and babies to kind of get used to each other and to get to know each other. The more you learn to pay attention to your baby's signs and your baby's communication -- even the nonverbal communication -- it promotes a better relationship and you learn more about each other," Haney said.

Over time, the bond between parent and child grows.

"It helps the baby understand that this is my mom, she's paying attention to me and I'm special right now," said Haney.

Nina Bolaris and her son, Sage, are currently enrolled in the infant massage class.

During the class, Bolaris strokes along Sage's chin when he lets her.

"He doesn't always comply with what we're doing. But he seems to enjoy it. I think it mellows him out a little bit," Bolaris said.

More important than the relaxation is the bonding time Nina and Sage share.

"It's extra one-on-one time, which we already have quite a bit of, but more is always nice," she said.