Proper massage for a child in the first three months of life. Proper massage for a child in the first three months of life Massage for 5 months

All newborn babies come into this world with bent arms and legs and tightly clenched fists. The movements of the infant's limbs are erratic. This phenomenon is completely normal and is called “physiological tone”. The task of parents is to eliminate this tone and help their baby to comprehend the science of conscious movements. Massage will help you with this.

Types of massage

Depending on the goal pursued, massage is divided into the following types:

medical;
prophylactic;
therapeutic and prophylactic.

Therapeutic massage should be carried out by a specialist. It can be prescribed for the following diseases identified in the baby:

hypertonicity or hypotonicity;
hip dysplasia;
congenital dislocation of the joint;
acquired or congenital clubfoot;
umbilical hernia;
diseases of the central nervous system;
flat feet;
leg deformity (X- or O-shaped).

For each disease, their own special massage techniques are used, which, as a rule, differ from each other.

Preventive massage recommended for all newborns, if there are no contraindications. Sessions of such massage can improve blood circulation and appetite, normalize metabolism, and normalize breathing. In children with increased excitability, behavior stabilizes and sleep normalizes. It turns out that massage can reduce the levels of the hormone cortisol in the body. Cortisol is a stress hormone, with its increased content, the body's immune defenses are destroyed. Consequently, under the influence of massage, the immunity of the child also improves.

Since preventive massage is carried out in most cases by the parents themselves, its sessions are an additional way for the baby to contact mom or dad. Undoubtedly, this will improve the psychological state of the crumbs.

Therapeutic and preventive massage , as well as medical, is prescribed by a doctor and carried out by specialists. It involves massaging the entire body with special attention to problem areas. This type of massage is able to normalize blood circulation, improve the functioning of the cardiovascular system, correct the defective condition of bones and muscles, and eliminate intestinal colic. It is also recommended for diseases of the respiratory, genitourinary and digestive systems. Therapeutic and preventive massage has a beneficial effect on the motor abilities of the baby. The child will quickly learn to roll over, sit down and crawl.

Benefits/pros of massage

There are many receptors on our skin that, when irritated, send signals to the brain. This is how the work and development of the entire human nervous system is stimulated, and massage occupies a leading position here. After all, it is during the massage session that the most nerve receptors are irritated.

When massaging the body, blood circulation improves, and this has a positive effect on the condition of any internal organ. That is why sessions of preventive massage are recommended for all children of the first year of life.

For infants, massage replaces gymnastics. In addition, newborns still have insufficiently developed auditory and visual abilities, the whole world is felt through touch. Therefore, it is massage that develops the emotional state of the baby and the ability to perceive the world around.

Pediatricians consider massage a reliable tool for the prevention of various diseases, since the coordinated work of all organs depends on it.

We have already mentioned the beneficial effect of massage procedures on the immunity of a newborn. So, as a result of this influence, the child will be less likely to “catch” various infections and colds.

Moms take note!

Hello girls) I didn’t think that the problem of stretch marks would affect me, but I’ll write about it))) But I have nowhere to go, so I’m writing here: How did I get rid of stretch marks after childbirth? I will be very glad if my method helps you too ...

Massage sessions are useful for the digestive system, eliminating intestinal colic and constipation in children. They also have a beneficial effect on the musculoskeletal system, helping to form the correct posture and, if necessary, restore physical fitness.

When is a massage necessary?

Massage for newborns is usually prescribed for the following diseases:

hypotrophy;
valgus and flat valgus deformity of the feet;
tremor of various parts of the body;
CNS lesions;
umbilical hernia;
hip dysplasia;
clubfoot, flat feet, leg deformity;
scoliosis;
chest deformity.

A course of massage can also be prescribed as part of the treatment of bronchial asthma, pneumonia, fractures of the limbs, etc. It is also indicated for increased tone of the limbs and constipation.

However, if the baby did not have any special indications for massage, they can and should be dealt with on their own at home. Naturally, observing the necessary conditions, and, after consulting with a pediatrician.

Contraindications

Any type of massage will not bring any benefit if the baby has an elevated body temperature. It is contraindicated in various skin lesions or diseases (especially pustular nature), increased bone fragility, diseases of the circulatory system, SARS.
It is advisable to abandon massage procedures in the midst of the acute stage of any disease.
In the presence of an umbilical hernia, massage should be carried out under the close supervision of a doctor, since in this case it is necessary to exclude the possibility of pinching the hernia.
In children with heart disease, massage sessions should be supervised by a pediatric cardiologist.
It is not recommended to massage with increased nervousness of the baby, since this condition causes increased muscle tone.

In any case, a massage course should be prescribed by a doctor, "amateur" is unacceptable.

Basic Rules

You can start doing massage no earlier than the baby “knocks” 20 days old. In children under the age of 3 months, you can not massage the area of \u200b\u200bthe fontanelle and under the knees, the elbow, armpits, inner thighs. Pressing and shock movements, patting are also contraindicated, so you will only cause excessive irritation of the receptors and increased nervous excitability of the baby.

The temperature in the room should be between 18 and 23 degrees. The most important thing is the temperature in the room. Do not forget that the baby will be completely undressed for some time and may freeze. No need to reassure yourself that during the massage the body warms up. This axiom applies to an adult. For the crumbs, massaging movements are more stroking than power, and therefore the warming effect is almost zero. The fact that the baby is cold can be told by the onset of hiccups and the temperature of the baby's nose. We read articles about, and it is useful to read the article about the hardening procedure, namely.
For massage, prepare a changing table or any flat surface. Cover with a thin blanket, oilcloth or diaper. The surface should be wide enough so that you can easily turn the baby over.
It is advisable to equip the place for the massage in advance with everything necessary. Consider what might come in handy and make sure these resources are within easy reach. You should not be distracted and leave the baby, even put your mobile phone nearby. It is also advisable to lay an absorbent reusable diaper, because the baby still cannot control the process of urination.
Particular attention should be paid to your hands. Long nails are undesirable not only during massage, they are superfluous and. Beautiful hands and a good manicure are possible with short nails, so cut them while the baby is at a tender age. It is also recommended to remove all jewelry from your hands. The extra possibility of injury is absolutely useless to you.
Be sure to choose the right time for the procedure. After all, you can approximately calculate when the child asks for food and sleep. Massage is best done one and a half to two hours after feeding. Even with a little discomfort on the part of the baby, the process will not give positive results.
During the massage, do not be silent, talk to the child. Any children's songs and nursery rhymes will be useful. Such simultaneous activities not only set the baby up for positive, but also develop his auditory and conversational abilities.
Gradual complication of exercises and an increase in the time of massage procedures.
Direction of massage movements: strictly from the bottom up, from the periphery to the center.
Movements should be careful and not cause discomfort to the baby.
The duration of one session is 15-20 minutes.

Step by step technique

Let us immediately recall that there should not be any forceful movements when performing a massage for a newborn. Only light stroking movements.

We always start with the crumbs. We massage each finger separately, unclench our fists and pay attention to the palms. We smoothly move on to massage the wrist and gradually rise higher. We do not touch the armpits.
Let's move on to the legs. First, we massage the foot, not forgetting to pay attention to each finger. Next, we perform light massaging movements in the direction from the foot to the groin. Be careful with your knees, there should be no effect on the joints. We do not touch the area under the knees at all.

Important! During the massage procedure, the arms and legs of the newborn should be in a half-bent state!

Gradually move on to the tummy and stroke it from the navel clockwise. Next, we close our hands on the midline of the tummy and begin to make sliding movements: one hand moves up and the other down. At the same time, we try to avoid exposure to the genitals.
We begin to massage the baby’s chest in the direction from the sternum to the shoulders, then from the sternum to the sides. Skip the breasts.
We turn the crumbs on the stomach and gently massage the neck. In those moments when the baby tries to raise or turn his head, it is recommended to stop all movements.
Next, we begin the back massage. There are two directions of movement here - from the lower back to the shoulders, then from the spine to the sides. We do not massage the spine itself. We stroke the ass in the direction from the lateral surface of the thighs to the coccyx area.
We spread the crumbs on the left side and carefully run our hand along the paravertebral lines in the direction from the sacrum to the head. In this case, the child should slightly bend forward. We make no more than three movements and repeat the same in the position on the right side.
We put the child in the starting position and massage the head, avoiding the area of the fontanel (probably it is not worth explaining why). Let's not forget about the ears. We also give them some time and affection.

We finish the massage with stroking movements all over the body.

Massage for children from 1 to 3 months in pictures

Mastering all these "wisdom" is not as difficult as it seems at first. We hope that with our help you will become a professional massage therapist for your crumbs.

Exercises for a month-old baby are selected taking into account his general condition, as well as individual characteristics.

Basic massage techniques according to V. I. Vasichkin

Stroking- manipulation, in which the massage therapist, without moving the skin into folds, slides over the child's skin with varying degrees of pressure;
Trituration- a technique in which the masseur's hand shifts, stretches the underlying tissues;
kneading- a technique in which the massaging hand performs three stages: fixation, squeezing or compression, rolling. This technique is rarely used in children's massage, preferably by a specialist.
Vibration- manipulation in which the massage therapist transmits various oscillatory movements to the child. At the age of one month, this is usually a pat.

Complex

Fingers stroke the face of the crumbs from the middle of the forehead to the temples, and then to the cheeks. If after the whole process the baby lies relaxed and calm, then turn him over on his tummy and stroke the back with long movements, smoothly, from head to toe. If you notice that the baby is fidgeting, he doesn’t like something and he doesn’t relax, don’t continue to massage, it’s better to stop. Maybe the baby is worried about something.

Massage for a child in the first month is a necessary means of regulating the work of the flexor and extensor muscles, the activity of the nervous system and the overall harmonious development of a newborn baby.

Moms take note!

Hello girls! Today I will tell you how I managed to get in shape, lose 20 kilograms, and finally get rid of the terrible complexes of overweight people. I hope the information is useful to you!

In order for the baby to form the correct movements, parents must, from the first weeks of the child's life, perform massage and gymnastics complexes that correspond to his age.

Every few months, the gymnastic complex for babies becomes a little more complicated, expands. This article is addressed to parents of babies 4-6 months old, contains a description of a set of exercises suitable for them and information about the importance of gymnastics at this age.

Causes

Physical exercises have a beneficial effect on the activity of all body systems - nervous, digestive, hematopoietic, stimulate the processes of respiration, blood circulation, metabolism, strengthen muscles.

Without gymnastics, the comprehensive upbringing and development of the baby is inferior, the formation of movements is delayed, they are not so accurate and correct.

Gymnastic complexes for young children are aimed at the formation and consolidation of coordination, balance, respiratory movements, as the child develops, new tasks arise that gymnastics helps to solve.

Goals

At 4-5 months of life, the infant's muscular system undergoes important changes that must be taken into account when selecting exercises:

Disappears, the activity of the flexors and extensors is gradually balanced;
The movements of the baby become more conscious, coordinated and purposeful;
The child begins to roll over on his tummy and makes the first attempts to crawl, exercises should help the formation of this skill;
The kid not only reaches for objects and grabs them, but can also hold them for quite a long time;
Passive exercises for arms and legs can be introduced into the complex, since their muscle tone has decreased;
There should also be simple active exercises in the gymnastic complex;
Movements are built on unconditional reflex reactions, sound and visual signals are used after six months.

At 5 months, gymnastics is carried out with the following goals:

Development of the support reaction of the feet;
Formation of the skill of holding things;
The development of a sense of rhythm, the complication of coordination of movements.

Rules

Regardless of the age of the child, certain rules must be observed during the exercises:

Perform exercises at an air temperature of 20-22⁰, in a well-ventilated room, in summer - with an open window;
An adult should wash, dry and warm their hands;
Cover the exercise table with a flannelette blanket folded in 4 layers, oilcloth and a sheet;
Maintain an interval of at least 45 minutes between exercise and feeding the child;
It is important to create a positive attitude in the baby, to talk affectionately with him, to smile.

There are some new rules in 5 months:

The duration of classes increases to half an hour;
A new massage technique is introduced - kneading;
It is advisable to use toys to stimulate the motor activity of the baby;
Exercises are best done under a clear score or rhythmic music.

Complex

In the complex for babies 4-6 months old, passive and active movements are combined, gymnastic exercises are combined with massage techniques that were previously performed are complemented by more complex ones.

Hand massage.
Gymnastics for hands- reduce crosswise on the chest, perform rotational movements, bend-unbend in the hands and elbows, 4-5 times.
Foot massage .
Sliding step. Lay the baby on the back, rest the feet of the legs bent at the knees on the surface of the table. Alternately quickly bend and unbend the legs so that the feet slide without tearing off the heels. 6-8 times.
Back and buttocks massage.
Floating on the belly. For a few seconds, raise the child, putting your hands under his chest and stomach, and resting his legs on his chest. The raising of the head, the deflection of the back is stimulated.
Belly massage.
Sitting down. Raise the baby lying on his back to a sitting position, in which to stimulate the extension of the back, running two fingers along the spine up. 1-3 times.
Turn from back to tummy. Gradually teach the child to roll over without the help of an adult, stimulating him with toys. Perform in both directions 1-2 times.
Foot massage and stimulation of their reflex flexion and extension.
dancing. Hold the baby upright, grabbing it under the armpits so that it touches the legs of the table, and the entire surface of the foot should serve as a support.
Breast massage.
Boxing. Grabbing the baby's arms, rhythmically imitate the movements of the boxer.
Bike . Press the legs of the child lying on his back to the tummy, alternately or both at the same time, then unbend.
Soaring on the back. Putting both palms under the back, carefully lift the baby and hold it half-vertically for a couple of seconds, each time moving further and further to a horizontal position. An exercise for children who can already tilt their head forward and maintain balance.
Crawling with kick off.

At 6 months, the child begins to actively explore the world: makes attempts to crawl, turns towards sounds, learns to sit and stand with support. So that such activity does not harm the health of the baby, he needs the right massage aimed at strengthening muscles, relieving tension, and relaxing. You can do it not only in special centers, but also at home: this will allow you to establish a strong emotional connection between the baby and parents.

A six-month-old child can hold toys in his hands, holds his back and neck, makes attempts to sit and stand up on his own, crawl on all fours. All this contributes to the rapid development of the musculoskeletal system and the strengthening of muscle tissue, ligaments, bones, and joints. To help the body cope with stress and do a special massage. The benefits of massaging a child are not limited to strengthening muscles and giving them elasticity.

It stimulates the activity of all internal organs;

Improves mood;
It has a tonic or relaxing effect, depending on the technique;
Relieves muscle blocks and tension;
Improves immunity;
Improves digestion;
Improves blood circulation and metabolism;
Increases muscle mass;
Prevents irreversible changes in the musculoskeletal system.

Therapeutic and strengthening massage for children 6 months old is a whole system, a complex aimed at strengthening children's health and the proper development of the child. Through the skin of the baby, an effect on the nervous system occurs. As a result, sleep normalizes, the baby becomes calmer, learns to understand emotions and respond to them.

Regular massage of a six-month-old baby will help prevent the development of flat feet, scoliosis, hypertonicity, and nervous diseases.

Features of massage for six-month-old babies

Hypertonicity of muscle tissue in five-month-old babies is already passing, so massage at this age is aimed at strengthening muscles, relaxing and relieving fatigue. They learn to control their movements, hold objects in their hands, pull themselves up. Correct and regular massage for a 5-month-old baby is necessary to prepare him for active movements: he teaches control and how to keep his knees bent or straightened, how to lean on the surface. Classes with six-month-old babies strengthen and develop these skills.

Massage for a baby at 5 months includes more exercises and techniques.

This is explained by the activation and development of different muscle groups, strengthening of ligaments and joints, improved blood circulation, oxygen saturation of tissues. At 6 months, the active movements of the baby naturally develop these muscles, and the purpose of the massage is to relieve fatigue and blocks, relax, calm, saturate with oxygenated blood.

Contraindications

Small children do not get massage when:

fever;
tuberculosis;
Atrophy of muscle tissue;
Active inflammatory processes on the skin and in the subcutaneous layer;
Acute forms of arthritis;
diathesis;
rickets;
Heart disease;
Hernias.

If you have a cold, accompanied by fever, it is recommended to consult a pediatrician before a massage session.

How often should a baby be massaged?

The frequency and duration of massage depends on:

The general condition of the baby;
Indications;
The presence of comorbidities.

The first massage is given to newborn babies at the age of three weeks. Treatment time is up to 10 minutes. By six months, the time of classes is increased to 30 minutes (including the gymnastics complex). If there is no negative reaction and the baby is healthy, then massaged daily.

When performing a massage, the following rules must be observed:

Conduct a session no later than 8 pm;
An hour should pass after feeding;

The surface on which the massage is performed should be flat, safe and comfortable for the child.

The room must be ventilated in advance, and for the duration of the session, close the windows to avoid drafts. Optimum room temperature +21+24 °C..

Basic exposure techniques

The main types of massage for a child of 6 months include:

Trituration;
stroking;
Pat;
kneading;
Vibrations.

During stroking, the movements are slow and light, rhythmic. Spend it with your palms in the direction from the bottom up. This type of massage has a beneficial effect on the normalization of metabolism, soothes the baby. Another type of stroking is rubbing. It passes with a little pressure, which improves the condition of the skin, reduces the deposition of subcutaneous fat, strengthens the superficial muscles. More active rubbing - felting, is carried out with short movements with strong pressure. A small fold of skin forms between the fingers. This type of massage works through the deep layers of muscle tissue, improves oxygen supply to the muscles.

Patting is carried out first with one finger, then with two, three and four. Short rhythmic pats break up subcutaneous deposits, improve skin condition, and increase muscle tone. Vibration has an analgesic effect. They do it gently, but rhythmically and quickly with progressive movements of the fingers.

How to do massage

Before the session, wash your hands and lubricate them with oil. Artificial and synthetic creams are not suitable for babies. It is better to use natural olive or coconut oil, jojoba oil, argan oil, shea oil, or a mixture of them. Massage at 6 months begins with stroking the entire body. Accompany the process with a voice: the baby is asked to give a hand, sit down, roll over. Over time, the connection between word and action will be strengthened. The intensity and complexity of movements increase gradually.

The hands are massaged first: stroking the hands and palms is replaced by rubbing them. Then each finger is gently massaged: this stimulates the development of fine motor skills, which are closely related to intelligence and speech. After the fingers, they move to the wrists, rising higher to the elbow joint and shoulder. Following the massage, an exercise is performed: the baby's arms are brought together and spread apart. Repeat the exercise 3-5 times. Move on to foot massage. The legs begin to massage from the foot to the lower leg and above. The first technique is stroking, then rubbing and patting. Finished with knee flexion. Repeat the reception 2-3 times, then make a few light stroking movements.

Additionally, you can do a foot massage: the thumbs are located to the right and left of the center of the foot. The legs should be kept bent, and the movements of the fingers should be rhythmic, circular and soft. During the massage in the lower leg area, you can slightly increase the pressure and intensity of movement.

The next area of study is the stomach. The oblique muscles of the abdomen are stroked and rubbed, making oncoming and circular movements clockwise. They try not to touch the navel area. Do about 5-6 repetitions, and go to the baby's chest. The chest is massaged in the same way: stroking, patting, light vibration movements. Circular massage is done in the direction from the ribs to the shoulders.

After a breast massage, an exercise is done - soaring. The baby is picked up under the tummy and raised. This technique develops the vestibular apparatus, coordination of movement.

After soaring, the child is laid on his back and turned to the left, and then to the right side on his stomach. Massage of the buttocks and back is performed from a position on the stomach. Massaging the spine is unacceptable: hand movements should not affect it. Stroking and rubbing is done from the buttocks to the neck, up the surface of the back. Then pats and tingles are done in the same direction, and again they move on to stroking. This develops muscle mass. To strengthen the muscles after the session, soaring is repeated, but only the child is already held behind his back. Children's massage ends at 6 months with gymnastics.

Exercises for babies 6 months

Classes for a 6 month old baby are aimed at developing coordination and motor skills, strengthening the back and the press. In order for the baby to sit down, mom or dad pulls the crumbs by the handles towards themselves. The child may grasp the thumbs of the parents with their palms, or the parents hold the baby by the fists.

Another useful exercise: grab the chest and back of the child with your palms, lift it up. The correct reaction is that the baby bends his back and raises his head. Hold in this position for no more than 20 seconds. To develop the ability to crawl in an infant, the following exercise is performed: the baby lies on his stomach, mom or dad puts one hand under his chest, the second bends his legs at the knees. Then he lifts the child so that he can lean on his arms and legs. The duration of the exercise is no more than a minute.

The effect of massage and gymnastics strengthens swimming well: daily water procedures have a positive effect on the state of muscles, the development of skills, movements, and increase lung capacity. And to distract the baby during the procedures, you can turn on calm meditative, classical or soothing music.

Five-month-old babies are emotional and inquisitive. But their need to explore the world is limited by physical skills, or rather, their lack. Despite the fact that by this age the child has achieved a lot and learned a lot, the most complex and intensive stage of his development is just beginning. Helping a baby is a feasible task for caring parents. We will talk about what physical exercises at this age should be included in the charging complex in this article.

Features of physical development at the age of six months

If your baby is already 5-6 months old, it is safe to say that he has learned to smile and express his emotions. Also, babies of this age category already hold their heads well if they lie on their tummy, more consciously make movements with their arms and legs, and are able to grab objects and toys of interest to them. Five-month-old and six-month-old babies can no longer lie and do nothing - this is beyond their strength.

Many children roll over perfectly - from back to stomach and vice versa. Some are already making attempts to sit down. All these numerous skills must certainly be used when planning a set of activities for the child.

At five months, the child begins to actively explore his own body. At the mental level, the first speech skills are being improved, the baby is already able to pronounce some individual sounds and even syllables, and his thinking and attention are also actively developing.

The periods of wakefulness have become even longer, the child now sleeps a maximum of 15-16 hours a day. The rest of the time he needs communication - tactile, verbal, emotional. All these types of communication should become mandatory when performing gymnastic exercises.

Without these three components, even the most useful, in terms of anatomy, exercises will not bring the desired result.

At this age, the child begins to realize that the movements of his trunk and limbs can be controlled, and he himself can control them. This brings the kids to an indescribable delight. Charging, supplemented with exercises that meet the needs of the age, will be perceived by the child with pleasure and will bring many benefits.

The benefits of gymnastics

The kid in his 5-6 months is on the verge of new discoveries: soon he will start to sit, crawl, and then get up on his feet. Gymnastics should correspond to his motor skills and contribute to the development of new ones - be sure to include exercises in your daily exercise program with your child to stimulate crawling, strengthen the muscles of the back, chest, arms. This will be required so that the baby can sit down faster. It is not necessary to forcefully sit down - it is harmful and dangerous, but helping a child strengthen certain muscle groups is an excellent initiative of loving parents.

Gymnastics at this age contributes to a better understanding of the structure of your own body, and this is exactly what the baby is worried about now. With regular physical activity, joints and bone apparatus are strengthened, muscles become more elastic. All this will serve well when the child begins to assume an upright position: it will be easier for him to sit down, stand up and, ultimately, walk.

Physical exercises improve the blood supply to the limbs, muscle tissue, and skin. This has a positive effect on the formation of the immunity of the baby. It has been noticed that children with whom they do gymnastics every day get sick less often, and if this happens, the disease is milder and there are practically no complications.

The tactile contact that a child experiences during gymnastics and the massage preceding it has a positive effect on the work of the nerve receptors of the skin in particular and the entire nervous system as a whole. A child who is given age-appropriate physical activity falls asleep better, has an excellent appetite, and is less likely to experience constipation.

Babies, with whom mother works every day, develop more harmoniously, their need for communication is satisfied. Such children master speech earlier, and in the future they demonstrate richer learning abilities.

If a child has certain neurological or musculoskeletal disorders, he is prescribed a special, therapeutic massage and exercises from the therapeutic physical education complex (LFK).

It is recommended to add new exercises to such complexes only with the permission of the attending physician or the local pediatrician.

Charging, given the increased mobility of the child, should be supplemented with active exercises that the baby will perform not only because the mother holds his heels or arms tightly, but also because he himself will be interested in performing a certain physical action. Do not forget to organize classes with music accompaniment, read poetry and sing songs - “Rails-sleepers” and “A giraffe has spots-spots, spots everywhere” will do.

These songs will help the baby to better understand his body. In general, all exercises should be as emotional and fun as possible so that the baby is not bored. Below is a list of the most fun and entertaining (and useful!) exercises for children of this age:

"Catch me!". This exercise is aimed at developing hand coordination. Put the child on the back, put the included sound toy to the right of him. When the baby takes it with one hand, start and place a second toy on the left, which will sound different. The task of the baby is to take the second toy with the second hand and, at least for a short time, hold both toys with both hands.

"Stool". This exercise is done in order to help the child master the skill of sitting. Lying on the back of the baby, the mother holds out her own index fingers. The task of the child is to grab onto them and pull up the body in his arms, continuing to hold on to his mother's hands, lift his torso, trying to sit down. No need to carry the child. If his muscles are not ready for sitting, do not sit down. It is important that the initiative to change the position of the body with your support belongs to the baby. Eliminate the rise of the body to the state of a right angle, it will be good if, for a start, the child can rise 30-45 degrees in relation to the surface on which the gymnastics is done.

"Feather". This exercise will be useful for the spine and back muscles. Bring the child lying on his back with a straightened open palm under the back and slightly lift the baby above the surface, securing him from above with the second hand. Ideally, the child will bend, strain the back and tummy muscles. Do this exercise 5 to 10 times.

"Tin soldier". A child who is already beginning to make independent attempts to sit up can be offered a new exercise that will show him that the vertical position of the body is not at all scary. Grab the child with your arms around the chest on the sides and hold him in an upright position for about half a minute with the legs resting on a hard surface. For charging, you can repeat this technique from 2 to 4 times.

If the child has not begun to sit down, this exercise should not be carried out.

"Puppy Kittens". This exercise is aimed at supporting crawling skills. Place your baby on your tummy and place your palm under your belly. Gently, holding the baby by the back with your other hand, begin to lift the baby into a position in which he will lean on the surface with his knees and handles. Hold the child in this position for a few seconds, and therefore slowly lower it to its original position.

"I am myself!" Such an exercise effectively develops all muscle groups, stimulates sitting and improves the vestibular apparatus. Raise the child under the armpits and hold it vertically. First, put a toy right under his legs in front of his socks, for which he will want to bend over. Holding him by the chest, help the baby bend down through the squat. After the toy is in the hands of the baby, gently lift it to its original position. It will be enough to repeat the reception 2-3 times.

"Tickler". This technique will serve to strengthen the muscles of the foot, because the day is not far off when the child begins to stand up relying on this part of the body. Take the heel in your hands and draw your index finger from the third toe, from the toe to the heel, in a straight line. In this case, the child will bend and unbend the foot.

In addition to these exercises, the mother can continue to conduct the traditional "Caterpillar", in which the baby will stretch and try to crawl on his stomach for a toy. You can complicate the exercise by placing two toys in front of the child. If you try, over time, he will grab both objects with two handles. You can also start doing the “Wheelbarrow” exercise if the child’s arms are strong enough (mother holds the child by the legs, he steps over the surface with his hands).

If the weather and time of the year allow, conduct the class without clothes, and in the summer - on the street;
Be sure to start gymnastics with a general massage so that the child’s muscles are “warmed up” for the subsequent load;
The lesson is optimally carried out in the morning, because it has a stimulating effect, and can cause sleep disturbances if done in the evening;
Do not conduct a lesson if the baby is naughty.

For more information about gymnastics for children 5-6 months old, see the following video.

Calculate your feeding schedule

Massage and gymnastics for children 5-6 months.

Baby massage is a fairly ancient practice of child care, common in many cultures. A lot has been said about the benefits of baby massage and gymnastics.

Dear readers of the site! In today's article, we will continue to write about baby massage and gymnastics.

Regular massage is known to help premature babies gain weight. With the help of massage, colic in babies can be reduced, it helps to strengthen the immune system.

Massage and gymnastics for children help in overall growth, as well as in the proper development of the child's musculoskeletal system.

Do not forget that a relaxing massage helps to calm the child, a good, good sleep. You can talk endlessly about the benefits of massage and gymnastics ...

And today we, our dear readers, will get acquainted with the complex of massage and gymnastics for children 5-6 months old.

I remind you that before you start massaging your baby, it is advisable to read the recommendations and.

So, the complex "Massage and gymnastics for children 5 - 6 months."

1. To perform this exercise, we put the baby on the back and take him by the handles. He should grab your fingers. But if that doesn't happen, no big deal. We cross the baby's arms on the chest and take them in opposite directions, as if the baby is hugging himself. We repeat 6 - 8 times. For us, even a small resistance of the child will be a good indicator. It resists - it means that the muscles tense up, and this is exactly what we need.

2. We do a massage of the handles - from the fingers to the shoulders. We apply rubbing, stroking, kneading - all 3 times. This exercise improves blood circulation in the hands.

3. Massage of the child's legs - we perform the same techniques as when massaging the arms, from the feet to the pelvis 4 times each.

4. This exercise of our baby massage loads the legs. Take the baby by the feet. In this case, your thumbs are on the sole of the baby. We bend and unbend the legs, bringing them to the tummy. You can have one, or you can have two. We repeat 8 - 10 times. The child resists - it means you are on the right track.

5. Starting position - baby on the back. Take it by the right handle (if at the same time the baby holds on tightly to your fingers - very good) and turn it onto the tummy through the left side. We repeat the same with the left handle.

6. Exercise to strengthen the muscles of the back and neck of the baby. The starting position of the baby is on the tummy. Take the baby under the chest and tummy and slightly lift it up. A few seconds are enough. We do it 1 time. In this case, the baby raises his head and bends his back.

7. The back exercise continues our baby massage. Starting position - the baby lies on the tummy. Exercises are performed along the spine, from the sacrum to the shoulder blades. We apply kneading (without effort), rubbing, stroking - all 3 times.

8. Tummy massage. Baby on the back. We perform stroking of the chest and tummy of the child clockwise, in a circle.

9. The baby is back on his back. We take him by the shoulders and quietly bring him to the “sitting” position and just as carefully return him back. As with many massage and gymnastics exercises for children, if the child resists even a little, this is very good. So his muscles are working.

10. We rub and knead the child's feet - from heels to toes. If your baby is ticklish, slightly increase the pressure during the exercise.

11. Flexion and extension of the baby's arms - 8 - 10 times.

12. And finally - a vibration massage of the chest - with the fingertips we lightly tap on the front wall of the chest, the side walls and the back.

Massage and gymnastics for children 5-6 months old takes a little time - only 5-6 minutes. And the benefits are huge! Be sure to perform baby massage with your baby every day!

In the next article we will write about a set of physical exercises and massage for

Sincerely.
Elena Medvedeva.

P.S. I bring to your attention a video on the topic "Video fun" about bathing babies.