Dental beauty and health 

Children's massage: types and techniques. Correct massage for a child in the first three months of life

Baby massage- this is not only affection, but also communication, which will allow the mother to establish a closer relationship with the baby. This therapeutic procedure helps the baby to develop and is suitable both for the prevention of diseases and for their treatment. Massage helps in setting up the coordinated work of organs and body systems.

Massage has a beneficial effect on the development of the child's nervous and musculoskeletal systems. Spending 15 minutes once a day. With this useful procedure, you will ensure the harmonious development of the crumb, stimulate the knowledge of the surrounding world. Communication during the massage is necessary, it stimulates the development of speech. It is better to do massage in the daytime, an hour after lunch or dinner, the child should not be hungry. If the baby is not in the mood, the procedure can be skipped.

When starting the massage, your hands should be warm, and your nails should be cut short, rings, watches and bracelets should be removed so as not to injure the delicate skin of the child. First, make contact with the baby, talk to him, and then start the session. Perform all techniques carefully, without sudden movements and jolts, if rashes of an allergic nature are visible on the skin, bypass these places. Analyze the child's behavior, highlighting the techniques he likes so that they can start in the next sessions.

Massage for children from 2 weeks

A light massage can be started from 2-3 weeks of crumbs, stroking the legs, arms, back, tummy from the periphery to the center along the "massage lines", gently kneading the fingers on the arms and legs. A 5-10 minute session is quite enough at this age. It is impossible to use force, to press, to do massage forcibly, if it’s a crumb, the time of massage should be shortened. Teach you to touch, on the feet and palms, on the fingers and toes there are many nerve endings, stimulating them, you contribute to the development of the organs of hearing, vision, speech processes.

Clockwise stroking of the tummy promotes better absorption of food. Sometimes it is enough to put your hand on the baby's tummy to warm it up, and the baby will feel better at the time of the attack. When massaging, do not touch the spine, lymph nodes under the knees and armpits, liver and heart areas.

Massage for a child from 3 to 4 months

At 3-4 months, you can add methods of rubbing, kneading and patting, bringing the duration of the massage session to 20-30 minutes, if the baby is in a positive mood. At this time, you can introduce elements of gymnastics based on reflexes and passive exercises to strengthen the muscles: crossing and spreading arms on the chest; movements imitating boxing; pulling up and to the sides; reduction-breeding of the thighs; rolling from one side to another. Adopt the following techniques:

  1. The first little step. Take the baby by the armpits and let him rest his feet on a hard surface, slightly tilting his body. He will reflexively begin to take the first steps.
  2. Grasp reflex. Give your toddler your index fingers while doing stretching to a sitting position. That is, at the moment when he grabs you by the index fingers, slowly pull him towards you. This exercise can be done when the baby is well.
  3. We train the back. Lay the baby on its side and slide your finger near the spine in the direction from the pelvis to the neck, pressing slightly. At the same time, the trunk extension reflex will work.
  4. Massage of palms and fingers. This is one of the main stimulants of the development of the baby's speech. Later, you can add modeling from salt dough or plasticine, finger games. The foot massage stimulates the baby to wiggle the toes.
  5. Laying out on the tummy. From 4-5 months, it is recommended to put the baby on his stomach more often so that his legs push off from the wall or your hand (it is better not to put the pillow, it will slip). This is a great workout to help you learn to crawl. Try to do this every day, but if you notice that the baby is tired in the position on his tummy (he began to cry, be capricious), you should turn him over on his back. Exercise stimulates the muscles of the neck, improves the functioning of the digestive tract, and the waste of gases.
  6. Put the child on his stomach, grabbing his hips, lift up, while the head will be down. He will find himself in the position in which he was in the uterus in the last months of pregnancy. Do this exercise without jerky movements.

Video how to independently massage children

Massage for children from 6 to 12 months

Massage for children over the age of six months includes such techniques as bringing the hands on the chest, bending the legs (alternate and simultaneous); coups from the back to the stomach; alternate stroking, rubbing, sawing, kneading, tapping and pinching the back; bending the legs while lying on the stomach with an emphasis on the palms or a wall; stroking and rubbing the tummy; lifting straight legs; squats with support for the arms; coups from the back to the stomach.

Massage for a child from 12 months

After 1 year, the prophylactic massage resembles the technique for adults: the session starts from the back. Hands and feet begin to massage from the closest section to the lymph nodes on the periphery: first - the shoulders, then the forearm and hand; first the thighs, then the legs and feet.

The number of repetitions of each massage method is from 3 to 5 times, the duration of each session is about half an hour (maximum - 45 minutes). If the child falls asleep during the session, then exercise therapy is best done before the massage.

If the doctor has prescribed a therapeutic massage, it is better for a professional to do it, or, at least, show you the techniques and sequence of movements, tell you about the nuances of the session. An experienced specialist has perfected movements, has knowledge of the mechanisms of action on the nervous system, muscles, and also the baby's joints, which allows you to achieve the desired effect.

Attention! The use of any medicines and dietary supplements, as well as the use of any therapeutic techniques, is possible only with the permission of a doctor.

The child spends nine long months in the cramped space of his mother's womb. There he (especially in late pregnancy) has no way to straighten his limbs, stretch, straighten. That is why all babies from birth have physiological problems with muscle tone. Massage is designed to help parents cope with it faster, as well as contribute to a more harmonious physical development of the baby. We will tell you how to do it for babies on their own in this article.

Benefit

Some people think that massage is only prescribed for babies who have certain health problems. This is of course true. But general massage is indicated for all children, even those who are completely healthy. Considering that the sessions performed by a professional massage therapist are quite expensive, the question of how to do the massage on your own does not lose its relevance.



During the first year of its life, an infant develops by leaps and bounds. It took humanity several millennia to get to its feet and walk with support on two limbs. For a child, nature takes no more than a year for this. From a helpless lump, he quickly turns into a homo erectus. Each of the stages of this "evolution" needs the support of adults. Learning to hold your head, roll over on your side, sit, crawl and walk are the primary tasks of your baby. Parents can help him in this.

At the earliest stage of development, massage helps to eliminate the physiological tone, the baby gets the opportunity to grow and develop more freely. Starting from 3 months, the procedure is designed to strengthen the muscle frame so that the baby's first turns and attempts to crawl are as good as possible. At any age, massage improves blood circulation, and also has a beneficial effect on the baby's nervous system: it allows you to "cheer up" an inactive child and has a calming effect on a hyperactive baby.



A massage session is also a great way of communication between mother and child. Have you ever wondered why babies cry so often when touched by a stranger with a masseur diploma? The answer is obvious: a child needs tactile contact, but not with just anyone, namely with his mother, whom he learned to feel during his existence in the womb.

Only a mother can turn an ordinary treatment and prophylactic procedure into a fun and exciting game that will bring not only benefits for the body, but also joy. Only a mother knows how to feel her baby, the slightest nuances and shades of his mood, and therefore only she can choose the most suitable time for a massage session.

Professional massage is irreplaceable, but only if the child has congenital pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, birth injuries, paralysis and paresis, and other diseases that require specialized procedures aimed at certain muscle groups. A healthy baby needs a general, classic massage, which any mother can easily master. A properly conducted session improves sleep, increases appetite, favorably affects the mood and well-being of an infant, and also helps to strengthen his immunity along with bathing, walking, hardening, vitamin therapy. It is the strengthening of the baby's immunity that is the most important task of every mother.


Contraindications

With all the obvious benefits, massage can harm the baby, therefore, for some conditions and diseases, it is not recommended to carry it out.

  • Fever. If the child has fever (caught a cold, teething, etc.), then increased blood circulation during a massage session can lead to an even greater rise in temperature.
  • Infectious diseases. Any ailments that are associated with the appearance of blisters, pustules, rashes of fungal, viral or bacterial origin on the skin are a strict and direct contraindication. The movements of the masseur can disrupt the integrity of the rash, and infection of adjacent skin areas can occur.
  • Non-infectious skin diseases. The development of prickly heat, skin allergies, diaper rash, as well as scratches and abrasions, burns are also a contraindication for massage, so the procedure can be carried out only after the skin naturally regains its integrity.
  • Heart defects. Violation of blood circulation in a child born with heart defects can occur even in complete rest. Massage is a certain load on the body, and how a small heart will perceive it, no one can predict. For children with heart defects, massage procedures are performed exclusively by specialists under the vigilant supervision of a cardiologist.



  • Diseases of the blood and blood vessels. Certain blood disorders and fragility of the blood vessels pose a risk of internal bleeding during massage. This procedure is prohibited for hemophilia, hemorrhage, and for some congenital diseases associated with hemostasis disorders.
  • Seizure tendency, epilepsy. Massage is contraindicated for such infants because of the risk of provoking a new convulsive attack.
  • Large hernias. This is an umbilical and inguinal hernia common at an early age. If it is quite large and parts of organs, veins come out into the hernial sac, massaging can lead to muscle contraction, which can, in turn, lead to infringement of the hernia.

In addition, the issue of massage for a premature baby should be dealt with with great care. Such sessions are not contraindicated for him, but the procedure can be postponed for a while (until the child reaches a certain body weight). For such children, the question of when to start massage is decided exclusively by the pediatrician.


Age restrictions

As for the age at which you can start doing massage, pediatricians have no consensus. Some doctors recommend that healthy children start carrying out such sessions from one and a half months, others say that you can start doing massage immediately after the umbilical wound heals.

Modern pediatricians are more inclined towards the second option: a child who does not have the above contraindications can and should start doing a general classical massage literally from 2-3 weeks of life, provided that the umbilical wound is completely healed. For a two-month and three-month-old baby, massage should be an important and integral part of daily exercise, along with washing, bathing, walking, and feeding. Even a seven-month or eight-month-old child should not give up massage, because at this age the child develops new motor skills that require a strong and developed muscular system.

In any case, before starting a massage, a child of any age up to one year should definitely ask the opinion of the attending physician on this matter. So it will be calmer for both mom and doctor.


Massage types

Massage for babies can be fortifying, relaxing, relaxing, and also tonic. All these types of massage belong to the group of classical massage. It can be done at the clinic if you are ready to visit it every day with your child, since it is undesirable to interrupt the course. It is much more convenient to do massage at home. A specialist who comes to your house for a fee is quite expensive. If a very specific type of therapeutic massage is not prescribed, then such expenses are not necessary.

The classical massage techniques are based on the impact in three consecutive stages. At the first stage, strokes are performed, which adapt the child's skin and nervous system to subsequent manipulations. At the second stage, rubbing occurs, then kneading takes place. Finish the session again with gentle and delicate strokes.



There are also quite simple and very useful highly specialized types of massage: vibration (children's percussion) - massage that facilitates the removal of phlegm in case of bronchitis and other diseases of the upper respiratory tract; there is dacryomassage, which helps babies suffering from dactriocystitis (inflammation of the lacrimal sac).

Technique

It is not difficult to master the technique of massage for babies. This can be done even during pregnancy in special courses for expectant mothers, which work in every antenatal clinic. After the birth of a child, you can seek advice from a pediatrician or nurse in the nursery office, who will show you the basic techniques and techniques. After all, in the 21st century it is quite possible to use video tutorials, which are abundant on the Internet. Let's describe in more detail the basic techniques of some types of massage at home.


General strengthening

The massage should be started in the supine position. After gently stroking the tummy, you should proceed to massage the limbs. First, the handles are massaged, for this the mother fixes one handle in her own, and with the other hand she gently rubs the baby's handle from all sides. Then the second handle is massaged in the same way. One leg is lifted and fixed by hand by the ankle, stroking movements are performed with the other hand, and then gentle rubbing, after which the same is repeated with the second leg.

The tummy is massaged with light movements in a circle. The second part of the session is performed in the prone position. The muscles of the back are massaged, but the spinal column is not affected, then strokes and light rubbing of the lateral muscles are performed.

Tonic

A distinctive feature of tonic firming massage is the use of innate children's reflexes. In the lateral position, fingers are drawn along the spine so that the baby unbends the back, and in the prone position on the tummy, the legs are brought up and support under the feet with the palm of the hand. After a slight forward movement with the palm, the baby will reflexively make a crawling movement.



If the baby is more than four months old, a gentle massage of the neck area and shoulder girdle can be added. It should be done very carefully and limited to stroking and light rubbing.

It is forbidden to knead the area adjacent to the vertebrae at home.

Relaxing

The relaxing massage is based on soothing and gentle stroking, without intensive kneading of the muscles. The order of massaging is the same as above: limbs, abdomen and chest, back, lateral muscles. You can complete the massage with circular strokes of the scalp and feet. Relaxation massage is carried out before bathing, while it is important to ensure that the child is not overexcited while performing the complex. You should never combine a relaxing massage with gymnastic exercises or exercise therapy exercises, as the effect will be the opposite.

With bronchitis

Vibration (percussion) massage helps the child to quickly cope with a wet cough, accompanied by the formation and discharge of phlegm. The child should be placed on its stomach over the adult's knee. With the fingertips, the thorax and costal part are tapped both from the back and from the sides. After that, the baby is turned into an upright position and lightly tapped on the back to make him cough.



Such massage is very useful at the final stage of viral and other diseases, when the cough becomes wet and you need to quickly remove the remnants of bronchial secretions. The procedure takes about 10 minutes.

With colic

If the baby is suffering from colic, you need to massage the stomach. Place the child on the back, with the adult's thumb making light circular movements around the navel in a clockwise direction. Then the child is laid out on the tummy for 10-15 minutes. Such a session helps to remove intestinal gases, which are the cause of colic, and relieves the child's condition. For greater effectiveness, combine massage with other methods: applying a warm, ironed diaper or heating pad, or taking simethicone-based products.

With dacryocystitis

Children with dacryocystitis are given a massage to free the nasolacrimal canals of pus and fluid. To do this, with clean thumbs, the mother moves from the edge of the baby's eyes towards the bridge of the nose 8-10 times with a slight pressure. This allows you to restore the patency of the nasolacrimal passages and facilitate the drainage of tear fluid. Massage products are not used for the procedure.

  • prepare and arrange in advance everything that you need during the massage at arm's length, so as not even for a second to turn away from the child and not leave him alone on the table (otherwise, a soothing or tonic massage may result in a fall and receive a serious injury);
  • massage with clean and warm hands, as the touch of cold hands is unpleasant for children;
  • try to massage 45 minutes after feeding or an hour before the upcoming feeding (so you can avoid regurgitation during a session or a hungry cry);
  • increase the procedure time gradually and consistently (start with 3-4 minutes, gradually increase the time and bring the session to 15 minutes);
  • do not waste precious time, use it effectively and with maximum benefit - turn on the music for the child during the manipulations, sing him a song, read rhymes or counting rhymes; in parallel with the muscles, the baby will develop hearing, vision and speech perception;
  • if the child cries during the session, is capricious, there is no point in continuing the effect, since there will be no benefit from such a massage (you should stop manipulating and hold the session at another time when the child is healthy, cheerful, cheerful and happy with everything).

The opinion of Dr. Komarovsky

The well-known pediatrician Yevgeny Olegovich Komarovsky strongly recommends that mothers master a strengthening and soothing massage on their own and only in extreme cases seek help from professional masseurs. Such situations include medical manipulations, especially if it is not possible to carry them out at home (for example, massage in combination with electrophoresis is prescribed). To achieve maximum benefit, Evgeny Olegovich advises not to be limited to one massage, but to comprehensively strengthen children's immunity: combine massage with hardening, cool baths and mandatory walks in the fresh air in any weather.

Exercise, gymnastics, exercises on fitball (from 6 months) are useful. But in everything you need to know when to stop, so you need to take breaks between massage courses - for 1-2 weeks.



Massage for children is difficult to overestimate. It is useful for prevention and health promotion, and helps to accelerate development. Therefore, every mother should know how to massage her child.

Massage for children is difficult to overestimate. It is useful for prevention and health promotion, helps to accelerate development, and if the mother makes it, the child also receives mother's love. Therefore, every mother should know how to massage a child.

Massage for young children is a wonderful method of establishing psychomotor formation, improving sleep, a good remedy for colic, constipation, to strengthen the immune system. It even enhances intellectual development. Therefore, massage is necessary for infants. The most important thing is to know how to do it correctly.

Science has long proven that babies, with the help of their mother's hands, receive initial information about this world, establish a connection with their relatives. Different movements help develop the nervous system. The child's body is malleable, therefore, even minimal, but regular, impact on it has a beneficial effect.

Massage can be therapeutic, general prophylactic, or just mother's. Healing is done only by a specialist for specific indications, for example:

  • postpartum trauma;
  • dysplasia of the hip joints;
  • hypotonia;
  • hypertension.

This type is prescribed by the doctor after examination and diagnosis.

Each mother, in consultation with a specialist, can engage in prevention and general health improvement. Preventive massage has almost no contraindications, but there are still some exceptions. It is not recommended to do it for inflammatory processes of the skin, diathesis, diarrhea, when there is an inguinal or umbilical hernia. And there are diseases in which it is, on the contrary, strongly recommended to be carried out:

  • muscular dystonia;
  • disorder of the central nervous system;
  • congenital defects of muscles, feet;
  • with cerebral palsy;
  • violation of hemodynamics.

Newborns are very small, fragile, so every mother is worried about how to properly massage a baby so as not to harm him. The most important thing is that before the procedure, it is necessary to remove all jewelry from the hands, the nails should be clipped or sawed off so as not to damage the baby's thin skin, and it is also necessary to warm the hands. The touches should be soft, affectionate.

For a month-old baby, a massage should be done in the form of stroking with light movements on the legs, arms, back, abdomen, renewing them on each part of the body 3-4 times. The abdomen must be stroked in a clockwise circular motion, you can gently make a "bicycle". Five minutes will be enough for such a procedure.

For a two-month-old or three-month-old baby, the process becomes a little more complicated. You can add tingling rub. The duration of the session is 10-15 minutes.



At the age of 6 to 12 months, stroking and pinching are added to movements - patting with palms or fingertips. The duration of the procedure is 25-30 minutes.

The most important questions are when, how many times a day and how to do different types of massage for children correctly.

General prophylactic can begin as early as 3-4 weeks of life. This is the usual gentle stroking of the back, legs, arms, tummy. The sooner the mother begins tactile communication with the baby, the sooner he will gain weight, his resistance to diseases will increase, and the amount of stress hormone will decrease. It is enough to carry out it every day once a day.

Relaxing massage is done when the child is moody, tense. Starting from the back, it is necessary to stroke along the entire vertebra with stroking movements, and then walk along the abdomen with circular strokes.

Drainage is used to drain sputum from the bronchi and lungs, which means that it is required if a child coughs, with bronchitis. The method is simple: we put the son or daughter on his stomach, or on the ball, with gentle clapping movements we go from the middle of the back to the shoulders. This type is contraindicated in babies under 6 months.

There are massages of the collar zone, cervical, vibrational and indirect heart, but it is advisable to entrust them to a specialist so as not to harm.

According to the recommendations of pediatricians, therapeutic massage is done in 10 sessions at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. It is best done before lunch, 1 hour before or after meals. The room must have a warm, favorable temperature.

We put the baby on the back, grab the ankles and gently shake the legs. With gentle stroking movements in a circle, we go from top to bottom, without affecting the inner surface. You can also make a "frog" - bend the legs at the knees, press them to the stomach, and gently spread them to the sides. It is quite effective for colic. It is necessary to pay close attention to the feet. We massage the fingers, bend and unbend them, this is a good prevention from flat feet.

Speech therapy massage is aimed at correcting speech defects and is performed on the muscles of the tongue, palate, lips and cheeks. It is done by a specialist by stroking from the tip of the tongue to the root.

At home, this process is carried out with the index finger: first, lightly iron the tongue from the root, then make spiral movements, then pat. Finally, squeeze the tongue slightly on all sides. This massage is relevant for children with Down syndrome.

Mothers often have questions about how many times a day massage should be done, whether it is possible to massage in the evening, from what age can you start, whether it is possible to massage at a temperature and many others. Let's take a quick look at some of them.

For children from 2 years of age and older, therapeutic massage is prescribed every three months for 10-15 sessions; preventive 1-2 times a week for 10-15 sessions every 6 months.

Cough massage

The period of its holding is the first half of the day, and if the dream is bad, you can do it before bedtime. At a temperature, of course, massage is contraindicated, but if a child just caught a cold, he has ARVI, cough, runny nose, he is even shown. Massaging immediately after pneumonia, vaccinations or epileptic patients is best discussed with a specialist.

Treatises have been written about the benefits of massage. And massage for newborns is a must! After nine months of embryonic, practically immobile existence, it is still difficult for a baby to adapt to our world. Therefore, mother's affectionate hands, stroking, patting the crumb, help him to overcome the stressful state during adaptation. Tactile sensations bring joy and play an important role in communication between babies and their parents.

The benefits of massage

Massage for a newborn involves special techniques with the aim of influencing the internal organs. Massage techniques have been known to healers since time immemorial. By stroking, pressing, rubbing, pinching, vibration, a professional masseur acts on deep tissues throughout the body. Acting on the receptors of the skin, muscles, and reflex points, the specialist transmits irritation to the central nervous system. As a result, the tone increases or relaxes, the work of the body systems improves. That is, through touching the skin, massage affects the entire body.

This is especially beneficial for infants, because it activates physical, sensory, auditory, and speech development. Coordination of movements and the makings of attention are stimulated, sleep is normalized and blood circulation improves.

In crumbs up to one month of age, sensitive analyzers have not yet fully matured, and the dermal one has already appeared. Therefore, mother's touch generates movement and joyful emotions.

Who can

Before talking about who can get the massage, it should be noted that there are prophylactic, therapeutic and therapeutic and prophylactic massages.

Mom can learn how to do preventive massage herself. Its basics at the first visit to the baby will be shown by the patronage nurse

Prophylactic is prescribed to all babies who have no contraindications to it. This massage is often done by the parents themselves at home. So, if your child is healthy and fun, then in the first year of life, the observing doctor will definitely prescribe a daily massage.

Medical and treatment-and-prophylactic are done to the child by a professional massage therapist as prescribed by a doctor. These massages are aimed at relieving certain health problems.

When to carry out the procedure

It is very important to consider when to massage. The procedures should be carried out in the first half of the day - from 8 to 15.00. It is advisable an hour after feeding, so that the baby can digest what he has eaten. It is not recommended to do massage on an empty stomach, as the baby will be capricious. The procedures are carried out only if the baby is in a good mood. With his dissatisfaction, whims, crying, the massage is canceled.

Contraindications

In some cases, massage is contraindicated for children. For example, under such conditions:

  • high temperature;
  • disorders of the gastrointestinal tract;
  • acute respiratory diseases and infections;
  • skin inflammation;
  • rickets;
  • hernias (umbilical, inguinal);

Before you start

  1. Before starting a session, ventilate and warm the room to a comfortable warm temperature, because the baby will be naked.
  2. Prepare a flat horizontal surface, cover it with a diaper or blanket.
  3. If one of the parents is going to do the massage himself at home, then you should remove all jewelry from your hands, wash them thoroughly, trim and file your nails.

Provide everything so as not to injure the crumb during the procedures.

How many times to do?

For babies up to one year old, massage is done 4 times - every 3rd month. This is simply explained: in the indicated periods of a child's life, a qualitative leap in his development takes place. Massage helps to consolidate new skills and abilities.

How to massage a newborn

Up to three months

Until the baby is 1 month old, massage is not recommended.

At 1.5-2 months, the lightest, sparing one is done. A newborn needs to start a massage by stroking the arms, fingers, legs, back, tummy. The movements are light, soft, without the use of force and pressure.


Up to 3 months, the simplest and most gentle massage is done: the feet, tummy and back of the baby are massaged

Unhurriedly, with a lymph speed of 2 cm / sec. follow the massage lines from the tips of the toes to the head.

  • The palms, feet and toes are stroked, gently kneaded, thereby stimulating reflexes and calming the child.
  • A clockwise tummy stroke helps digestion.
  • The back is massaged at a distance of 1 cm from the spine.

Avoid the area of ​​the heart, liver, lymph nodes in the armpits and under the knees.

It is advisable to carry out massage procedures at a set time for five minutes. During the session, talk quietly with the baby, hum songs, read simple rhymes. At the end of each treatment, praise your baby lovingly.

After 3-4 months

Massage for a 3-month-old newborn baby can be complicated. Rubbing and kneading movements are added, and light pats cause joyful humming of babies. Now the duration of the session is increased by several minutes. If the baby loves these procedures, then over time they can be brought up to half an hour.


For babies 3 - 4 months old, the massage becomes more complicated: now the arms, legs, neck, tummy, back, chest, ears, etc. are massaged. And also gymnastics and various exercises join

Arms and legs

The massage begins with the arms and legs. First, all the fingers on the hands are massaged, the fists are unclenched and compressed, the wrists are gently rubbed. The armpits are not involved.

We pass to the legs: we massage the feet, fingers, go up to the groin. Do not press on your knees, otherwise you may damage your joints. It is not recommended to massage the area under the knees and inner thighs.

Tummy

Massage the baby's tummy by stroking it clockwise. From the midline of the tummy, smooth out the body with sliding movements of the hands (one up, the other down), not reaching the groin area.

Rib cage

The chest at 3-4 months is still very fragile, so we massage the baby, gently stroking the hand from the sternum to the shoulders, then to the sides, without touching the mammary glands.

Neck

The baby's neck is massaged for up to a year when he lies on his tummy. With light strokes, lead from the upper vertebra to the shoulders, from the back of the head to the back. If your baby raises or turns his head during this time, stop the massage.

Back

Massage the child's back not along the spine, but along it with the backs of the palms. Directions - along and to the sides. Then the ass is stroked from the hips to the tailbone.

Another exercise: when the crumb lies on each side, slide your finger along the spine from the pelvis to the neck. Not along the spine, but along it, lightly pressing with your finger. This causes back extension and back muscle training.

Head

The baby's head is massaged very carefully, carefully, without touching the fontanelle. Together with the head, lightly run your fingers over the ears.

Pull-ups

When the baby learns to hold the head, hone the grasping skills. From a prone position, have him grab onto your index fingers and stretch them to sit down.

Steps

Lift the child by the armpits, tilt it slightly forward so that his legs rest on a horizontal surface. See how the little man begins to step over his legs and take small steps.

Head down

When the baby is lying on his tummy, gently lift his hips upside down. This causes a congestion of blood to the head. If the child is uncomfortable, do not repeat the exercise.

Gymnastics

Massage for newborns in the third month is enhanced by chest gymnastics, which helps to strengthen the muscle corset.

Lying on your back exercises:

  • cross the handles and spread them to the sides;
  • box with handles;
  • pull them up and down;
  • knees together, apart,
  • roll from side to side.

A 3-month-old baby should be laid out on the tummy. This stimulates the digestion, removes gases faster, which is the prevention of colic.

Turn to tummy

After massage of the abdomen and chest, we teach the baby to turn from the back to the tummy.

Draw the attention of the crumbs to the bright toy and place it on the side of it, repeating the exercises on both sides. Let the kid reach for the toy.

6-9 month

General massage after the sixth month changes and becomes more complicated due to the fact that the baby has grown up and already knows a lot himself. Now he is learning to crawl, to coordinate movements. The session time is lengthened.

The massage is done using the old techniques, but new ones are added. The procedure begins with a massage of the hands, feet and feet. Next, active exercises join.

Crawling

When the baby, who is 6 months old, is lying on his tummy, put your favorite toy in front of him. Then, gradually pushing aside and encouraging, invite him to take the toy. If the surface is hard enough, the little one will reach and crawl after the toy.


It's time to learn to crawl (it is also a useful exercise for the muscles). A toy will help you with this. Put it in front of the baby at some distance, and the baby will try to reach it. At some point, he will definitely crawl

We stand on our feet

The exercise is called walking with the baby. The point of the exercise is to teach the child to keep balance. First, we hold the crumb by two handles, then by one. The hands should be at shoulder level or lower.


In order for the baby to learn to walk faster, parents need to drive him first with two handles, and then with one

9th - 12th month

Starting from the ninth month, gymnastics becomes more difficult. Exercises for raising the legs from a prone position, squats, bending forward from a standing position and even bending with a turn to get a bright toy are now allowed.

Ball

When practicing at home, it is very good to use a massage ball. When asked what age it is better for babies to use the ball, we answer: "From the 2nd month."

  • While the baby is small, just swing it on the ball on its tummy.
  • A three-month ride on the side and back.
  • A six-month-old baby is put on a ball, put on its legs.
  • And at 9-10 months, the child can take small steps, holding the ball with handles.


The ball can also be used for massage. For this, the baby is placed on top of the ball on the tummy and shaken

Conclusion

Undoubtedly, a massage for a baby will be effectively and correctly performed by a professional massage therapist, but if a mother masters a simple technique of how to massage a newborn and she herself deals with the baby, then this will bring more joy and pleasure from communicating with each other.