Massage in 9-12 months old baby. Massage and gymnastics for children up to one year

It's no secret that in the first year of your life children develop most quickly. After all, in such a short period of time they need to learn a huge number of things: sit, walk, hold various objects with their little hands. Yes, much more to that. But in the very first months of his life the little one is only adapting to another world that is alien to him. Some newborns can sleep 20-22 hours a day, so there is simply no time left for independent full-fledged muscle training.

That is why the theme of today's article will be massage and gymnastics for children under one year. How exactly is it better to perform such a procedure, why is it needed and what benefit can the child bring? This is what will be discussed.

What is a massage?

Hardly anyone can dispute the fact that a massage to a child is simply necessary. First of all, this procedure affects the condition of the muscular system of the baby and improves his motor activity. Also, the massage gently affects the development of the nervous system of the crumbs, improves motor skills.

This is a minute of communication between the two most native people. Scientists unequivocally established that a child receiving up to a year a sufficient number of mother's touches, develops much faster and better than their peers who lack such contact.

The massage procedure can be preventative and curative. In the first case, with its carrying out, the mother can cope on her own. In this case, massage is especially useful in 9-12 months, although it is worth starting a month after birth.

Massage therapy can be prescribed only by a doctor. Yes, and it must be him too. With this procedure, you can cope with various diseases of the musculoskeletal system, alleviate the child's condition with asthma or long-term treatment of the pathologies of the respiratory system.

Gymnastics and massage for infants

Prophylactic massage for a child up to six months significantly improves blood circulation and respiration of crumbs, tones up the nervous system, improves the mood of the baby and prepares him for future motor activity.

Before starting such a procedure, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the technique of its implementation. For advice, you can contact a district nurse or a pediatrician. Pay attention that all movements should be reduced to easy stroking and patting. A stronger impact can damage the child's tender body.

Up to six months of age, the baby is most often given a full body massage. Massage in 9-12 months is more aimed at strengthening the motor apparatus. A common session at this age is usually indicated for children with flabby skin or muscles prone to rickets or having signs of hypotrophy.

Basic rules of implementation

• During the session, use a different technique: stroking, rubbing, kneading, patting. Strip exercises.
• It is best to carry out the procedure on the table. Take the flannelette and fold it 4 times. Lay the blanket on the table, top the oilcloth on top, and then - the bikini diaper.
• Massage with exceptionally clean, warm and dry hands. Make sure that the fingers do not have rings, but on the wrist of the watch.
• Never start a procedure if you have long, sharp nails, burrs on your fingers. Also, do not massage, if you have calloused skin of hands, there are wounds or pustules.
• Each movement should be done leisurely and repeat no more than 5 times.
• Try to maintain visual and verbal contact with the child. Smile crumbs, affectionately talk with him, you can sing a quiet quiet song.
• Observe the mode. Do not massage more than once a day. The procedure is performed 1 hour before or after eating.

Developing walking skills

Foot massage for children up to a year develops the ligament apparatus of the child and prepares the crumb for walking. Although a free and confident gait is developed only by the end of the second year of life, it is necessary to begin its formation much earlier. This massage is promoted by 9-12 months of life. At this age, babies are already able to perform simple gymnastic exercises. These include, for example, the following:

• Rise from a lying or sitting position. It is necessary to take the child under the armpits, raise it slightly and slowly put it on the legs. You can sprinkle a little, performing a simulation of jumping. It is necessary to ensure that the child, while in a vertical position, densely leans on the entire surface of the foot. Exercise should be repeated up to 10 times throughout the day.
• It is very useful to stimulate an erection by placing an interesting toy a little higher than a seated child. Trying to get it, the baby will try to get up on his own.

From this age, exercises for the development of abdominal muscles and back are very useful:

• Sit down or stand behind the baby. With one hand, hold the child by the front surface of the hips, and the other - by the abdomen. Slightly tilt the child's torso and gently remove the hand from the belly of the crumbs. The child will reflexively lean forward, and then straighten itself. In this case, the baby involuntarily strains the right muscles.

Doing developmental exercises, it is not necessary to achieve that the baby sat down, got up and went prematurely. This can lead to injuries and deformations of the skeleton, scoliosis and other unpleasant consequences.

Gymnastics in 9-12 months

Children's massage at 9-12 months is quite different from the "infant" procedure. Although all movements remain smooth and pleasant, many of them are aimed at developing the activity of the child. In this period, not only the massage itself is actual, but also the developing gymnastic exercises. For example, these are:

• Flexion / extension of the legs in the knees.
• The work of the hands in the elbow joints simulates the movement of the boxer.
• Exercise "Coachman" - wavy movements of hands as does the driver, chasing the horse with a whip.
• Pivot turns from the supine position on the back with legs bent at the knees.
• Torso of the trunk. Put the child on the floor, holding the knees hands ask the baby to give you an object lying on the floor.
• "Swimming" on the ball. Take a big ball, for example, beach or fitball. Put the child face down on it and gently rock it back and forth. Hold the baby to avoid falling.
• Exercises on the deflection of the spine. Put the baby on his back and firmly grasping the handles gently lift first into the sitting, and then to the standing position and back.

Also at this age, a great effect is a massage of the feet, back, buttocks and tummy. Circular strokes in the area around the navel help to solve the problem of colic. Gentle massage of the back and buttocks have a calming effect, promote a sound sleep and good appetite.

Very useful exercise "Pilot": holding the baby under his tummy, lift it in the air in a horizontal position and a little circling. Kroha reflexively strains all groups of muscles and trains them.

Exercises for one-year-olds

After 9-12 months, no one cancels the massage. But still it is increasingly being replaced by playing and training exercises. Massage movements are less like stroking and tingling and are more like an "adult" version, only in a very light form.

To the previously described exercises, you can add the following:

• "Bicycle" - an imitation ride on this mode of transport in the supine position on the back.
• Squatting and crawling, imitation of movement of animals.
• Climbing on low stairs, on a sofa, chair or chair.
• Turning the torso, rolling or throwing the ball.
• "Bridge on the contrary" - put the baby on his tummy, take the handles and pull it up a little, causing the crumb to bend in the lower back.

The use of massage for children under one year

Correct and regular lessons with the child, of course, will only have a positive effect.

• Strengthening the muscular system and the musculoskeletal system.
• Withdrawal of hypertonia.
• Prevention of hypodynamia and rickets.
• The organization of the proper functioning of the digestive system, the elimination of the problem of colic.
• Strengthening of immunity and nervous system.
• Healthy sleep and appetite.
• Development of motility and vestibular apparatus.

And this is far from a complete list of all the advantages. Everyone can add a few more points.

Contraindications

However, there are times when the massage to a child can not be done simply, but rather dangerous:

• heart disease;
• Large hernias;
• hepatitis;
• rickets;
• Acute nephritis and other diseases of internal organs;
• Tuberculosis of bones, acute arthritis;
• Various abscesses.

Do not also do massage and during any other illness in the acute and subacute period. Especially if there is a fever, vomiting or diarrhea. There is a fairly small list of diseases in which massage is not only not prohibited, but also allows you to recover faster. These include torticollis, flat feet, umbilical hernia, asthma, dystrophy, deformities of the legs and some others. But all procedures in this case should be carried out exclusively by a doctor.