In this article, you will learn how to massage a baby for 3 months (video). Dr. Komarovsky will tell you in more detail about general children's massage month old baby, babies at 3 months. and older.
Indications for massage 3 month old baby
Massage has many additional benefits for babies, especially up to 1.3 months of age, including:
- weight gain;
- help digestion;
- improved blood circulation;
It can help a 3 month old baby:
- develop mentally, socially and physically;
- stay relaxed and not upset;
- crying and fussing less often and to a lesser extent;
- sleep better.
Studies have also shown that it can help babies, before they are 3 months old, recover faster from jaundice.
Massage techniques for newborn babies at 1-3 months
Baby massage for babies at 1-3 months most often consists in gentle but dynamic stroking of the child's body with the hands of the parents. You can apply hypoallergenic oils or moisturizers to help your hands glide smoothly over the surface of your skin.
It is especially useful for premature babies in the framework of special assistance. It stimulates a key nerve called the vagus nerve that connects the brain to vital organs, including the stomach. Massage can help keep a premature baby's heart rate stable.
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Preventive massage for babies at 3 months
As part of a regular massage, at 3 months, it is allowed to gently manipulate the baby's ankles, wrists and fingers. It can be made in the format of a game, and then a baby from 3 months old will definitely like it.
The process will be facilitated by a quiet, measured conversation with the baby or the singing of parents, which will calm and balance the baby.
Soothing hand strokes are designed to stimulate guaranteed well-being due to the release of the hormone - oxytocin.
Treatment oils with a high content of linoleic acid, such as sunflower, are more suitable for the skin of babies than oils with a high content of oleic acid, such as olive oil.
Therapeutic firming massage for a newborn
An effective addition to procedures for hypertonicity (with tone, increased muscle), and in cases where torticollis is diagnosed, for infants, in addition to activities that include a set of special exercises, there will be fitball gymnastics.
There should be no doubt about whether massage is necessary, especially if it is general strengthening, for parents whose children have been diagnosed with PCNS (characteristic of perinatal damage to the organs that form the central nervous system).
For the first few times, you can simply massage your baby's legs with the moistened cream or oil until he gets used to the sensations. Feet are good places to start manipulation because babies are used to having their feet touched during diaper changes.
All the time you need to focus on the reaction of the baby. If it's quiet, you can continue. If you are worried, you should change the manner of performing the manipulation. If the baby cries, then the session should end.
How to do general baby massage for babies
You should move up the legs, slightly squeezing the calves and thighs. Next, take one foot in your hands and gently turn it several times in each direction, and then tap it a little with your fingers in the direction from the ankle down to the toes. Then you need to change the leg and repeat this.
Use your fingers to describe circles on the heels and soles of each foot.
Then you need to alternately take each toe by the base and gently pull it so that your fingers slip off it as a result.
By analogy with the legs, massaging the handles is also performed.
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In the area of \u200b\u200bthe baby’s chest and abdomen, you need to carefully place both of your palms (in a flat state) in the center, and slowly spread them apart. In this case, it is necessary to describe small circles directed outward with the fingers.
After the baby is turned over on his tummy, he follows with his fingertips, describing tiny circles, moving along both sides of the spine from the neck to the buttocks.
Special attention while it is worth concentrating on the neck of the baby.
Massage contraindications
Some contraindications make general massage unsafe for children under the age of 0 in certain situations.
When babies are 3 months old sick, it is unacceptable to massage their certain parts of the body.
For example, the stomach may be overly sensitive in preterm infants under 3 months of age. Their internal organs may be too thin, and bruising may occur if too much pressure is applied.
In addition, babies' skeletons are also thin, and bones can be easily broken if too much pressure is applied in the wrong place, especially in the back area.
Regardless of what kind of course it is (daily, strengthening or other), it will be contraindicated for newborns of 3 months of age if infections or irritations of their skin are present.
Dr. Komarovsky about different types of massage (video)
In order to know how to properly do a developing massage for a child at home, it makes sense to download a video that describes in detail. Their author is Dr. Komarovsky.
Of course, it will be more convenient for many parents of a baby to get acquainted with the methods of how to do baby massage aimed at the development of a newborn, not thanks to the video, but to the materials in the pictures.
Dr. Komarovsky is sure that it will be useful to choose the moment for the session between feeding segments (for example, after a bath, before feeding and sleeping). Then the baby will not be put to sleep and weighed down with food. It is also better not to start it just before preparing for bed.
Dr. Komarovsky's video says that before starting, make sure that the room is warm (about 24 ° C), put the baby on a towel, while he can be completely naked or dressed in something thin.
Be sure to end each session with a hug. Massage is a great opportunity to feel more like caring parents and get closer to your beloved child.
After watching the video of Dr. Komarovsky below, you will learn a lot of new and useful things.
Massage for a 3-month-old child must be done in combination with simple exercises to improve the mental and physical development of the baby, enhance the development of his motor skills and prevent various diseases. A classic massage for a 3-month-old baby is similar to a massage for an adult and includes stroking, rubbing, kneading, vibrations, but it should be remembered that the force with which the baby's body is affected should be much less.
Massage contraindications
- The presence of serious diseases in which the pediatrician prohibits massaging the child;
- Inflammatory processes;
- Elevated temperature.
There are no other contraindications for massage for babies 3 months old. The procedure is recommended to be done regularly, several times a day, given that the period of wakefulness in a child at 3 months increases significantly.
By three months, the baby should confidently hold the head. If the infant cannot master this skill, a neurologist should be consulted. Perhaps the baby simply does not have enough strength to keep his head on the weight, in which case gymnastics and massage for newborns of 3 months will strengthen the muscles and cope with the task. It is necessary to lay the baby on the tummy more often in order for the neck muscles to strengthen, receiving a constant load.
In the process of massaging a 3-month-old child, in order to train attention and memory, you need to repeat certain rhymes, sayings, refrains, linking them with specific exercises.
Complex - exercises and massage for a 3 month old baby
The main task of the physical development of a child of 3 months is to turn from back to stomach. Parents should stimulate the first attempts at such turns by helping the baby. The muscle tone of the arms and legs by this age gradually disappears, which allows you to diversify physical exercise. It is recommended to perform the following set of alternating exercises and massage for a child of 3 months:
These gymnastic exercises and massage for a 3-month-old child will help strengthen muscles and improve coordination, which will allow the baby to quickly learn new movements, positions and develop more actively. The results of scientific research have confirmed that newborns (even premature and weakened from birth), who are regularly massaged in the first months of life, gain weight more intensively and are ahead of their peers in development.
In the presence of certain types of diseases, only a qualified specialist can conduct a massage session for a child of 3 months, in other cases, following the recommendations of the pediatrician, parents can massage the baby on their own.
Most children already hold their heads confidently. If your baby has not yet mastered this skill, be sure to show it to a pediatric neurologist. Most often, these are children born prematurely, gaining weight poorly, they simply do not yet have enough strength to hold a heavy head, because gymnastics is now playing a particularly important role for them. Lay your baby on your stomach more often, the more you put pressure on the neck muscles, the faster they will get stronger.
At 3 months, the baby is cheerful, he is already beginning to gradually lose muscle tone in his arms and legs, because your gymnastic classes can diversify some of the exercises that we will give below. At 3 months, the main physical task of the child is to learn to roll over from his back to his tummy. In every possible way stimulate the baby's first attempts to do this, lay out his favorite toys or bright objects at some distance, and let the baby try to reach them.
For classes, be sure to pick up comic nursery rhymes, rhymes, sentences, to train memory and attention, associate certain exercises with prepared words. You can supplement your classes with songs, many children like it so much that they begin to sing along to their mothers themselves.
A set of exercises for children 3 months:
1. Hand massage. We start with stroking, then add rubbing, ending with shaking. Do not forget about the massage of the palms and fingers. There are many biologically active points on the palms, the massage of which stimulates the work internal organs, and massage of the fingers contributes to the development of fine motor skills of the child and, as a result, his speech and mental development.
2. Crossing the arms over the chest. Take the baby by the handles, spread them to the sides and perform breeding and bringing the arms crosswise on the chest, alternating either the left or the right hand from above. If the child has not lost muscle tone of the flexor arms by this time, then you may not be able to perform such an exercise, then devote more time to massaging movements.
3. Massage the abdomen clockwise in a circle, further exercises for the prevention and treatment of umbilical hernia (similar to those in 1-2 months).
4. Exercises for the abdominal muscles, as well as for the prevention of colic and. Perform bending of the legs at the knees and pressing them to the stomach. Lifting straight legs to the head, lifting alternately each leg to the opposite ear, i.e. touch the fingers of the right foot to the left ear and the right foot to the left ear, respectively.
5. Breeding legs bent at the knees to the sides, you can perform circular movements in the hip joints.
6. Foot massage. Stroke, rub the legs of the crumbs from the heel to the inguinal region. Pay special attention to massaging the piles of crumbs and mobility in the hip and ankle joints. On the feet, as well as on the palms, there are many biologically active points, the stimulation of which will strengthen the body of the crumbs.
7. Back massage. Start by stroking from the bottom up with the back of your palms, from top to bottom with your palms, then rub the back on both sides of the spine from the buttocks to the neck, do not forget to stretch the baby's buttocks as well. Then turn the baby on the side and do a reflex exercise - flexion and extension of the spine.
8. From the side position, teach the baby to roll over on the tummy when he masters this rollover, teach him to roll over from a position lying on his back. To do this, bend at the knee and turn the baby's leg in the direction of rotation and lead him by the hand in the same direction.
9. Extension of the spine lying on the stomach in a canopy - "airplane". Take the baby with one hand under the tummy, hold the baby's feet with the other and lift him in this position, the baby will raise his head and bend his back.
10. Take the baby under the armpits and rest your feet on the table, the baby will be repelled by them from a hard surface, as if dancing.
11. Lifting by the handles. Put your thumbs in the baby's arms and, holding him by them, lift the crumbs, as if seating him. This exercise strengthens the neck muscles and teaches the child to hold his head when lifting. It is enough to perform up to 4-5 such lifts.
Baby massage at 3 months - video:
Exercises for a child of 3 months - video:
Newborns develop very quickly, so from the first months you need to add new elements to gymnastics and massage. By the age of 3-4 months, the kids are already interested in a lot, they want to communicate, so massage and gymnastics are an important point not only for physical development, but also for mental development. At about 3 months of age, the tone of the muscles in the legs and arms decreases in children, so the movements become a little more conscious and precise - this means that passive exercises can be added to gymnastics. The kid will not be able to do them himself yet, but with the help of adults he will cope. In addition, classes can be longer, gradually become more difficult, the massage becomes more intense.
After the third month of life, the baby's body becomes more pliable for physical exertion, so new interesting elements of greater complexity can be introduced into gymnastics and massage.
Why do breastfeeding?
- normalization of muscle tone;
- development of hand skills;
- development of skills in changing the position of the body.
To achieve results, you need to communicate with the baby, talk to him, put a suitable toy in his hand, do various massage and gymnastic movements according to age. Mandatory movements based on reflexes, passive exercises, as well as accompanied by light shaking.
When and where is the best time to practice?
To get the maximum benefit from the classes, you should choose the right time. It is convenient to conduct sessions between feedings, closer to the next one. According to the recommendations of Dr. Komarovsky, the ideal time is in the evening before taking a bath. The baby will not be weighed down with food, he will still be quite vigorous. It is not worth exercising immediately before bedtime, as this has an exciting effect on the body - it will be more difficult for him to fall asleep.
Sessions of charging and general massage with babies at 3 months are carried out in a regular room. It should be ventilated in advance, the most suitable temperature is 20-22 C. The baby is placed on a comfortable table, laying a diaper or towel. The baby can be completely undressed or dressed in a very light vest.
Classes at 3-4 months
It is not difficult to make a restorative massage for a child at 3 months old, you must observe simple rules and perform all movements smoothly and calmly. There should be no sudden movements, you can not pull the child by the arms and legs. If he is not in the mood, then you need to either postpone the lesson for a while, or distract him with an affectionate conversation, a bright toy. Most often, children respond with pleasure to massage and gymnastics, which are done by their mother or someone close to them. At this age, it is necessary to add new movements to everyday activities.
Sample lesson plan
- hand massage;
- "boxing";
- foot massage;
- stepping over;
- flexion-extension of the legs;
- "coachman";
- tummy massage;
- corner;
- coup on the tummy;
- "swimming";
- massage of the back and buttocks;
- crawl simulation;
- bouncing on the ball.
Massage of the arms, legs, torso, buttocks is performed in the same way as in more early age. The tummy is massaged clockwise. Swinging on the ball on the tummy and on the back remains relevant. Now we will talk about new exercises and movements that will be useful to the child.
New exercises
- "Boxing" is performed when the child lies on the back. An adult puts his thumbs into his palms and holds his hands. An adult bends and unbends the arms, as if imitating the movements of a boxer. The movements should be smooth, but intense, so that the baby turns from side to side. Do 5-6 repetitions with each arm - this exercise strengthens the muscles of the arms and shoulder.
- Stepping is performed when the baby is lying on its back. First, an adult takes the child by the ankles and, bending his legs at the knees, presses the feet to the table. After that, the baby's legs need to be bent and unbent in such a way as to imitate steps on the table. It is necessary to perform 4-5 repetitions.
- Leg curl exercise performed together and alternately in the supine position. The adult takes the baby by the knees so that the thumbs are on top. We calmly bend both legs at the same time, spreading our knees and slightly pressing on the tummy. After that, we unbend the legs. If the child does not want to unbend the legs, you can shake them slightly to relax the muscles. Then we do the same, only alternately with each leg.
- When performing "coachman movements" the thumbs of an adult are put into the palms of a child, the hands are slightly adhered to. We spread the arms to the sides, then bring them together, crossing on the chest. The left and right hands are on top alternately. Repeat 5-6 times at a slow pace.
- Exercise "corner" strengthens the muscles of the anterior wall of the abdomen. It is necessary to raise the legs of the child lying on the back to a vertical position. The legs should be straightened, but if the muscle tone is still high and the legs are difficult to straighten, shake them a little. After lifting, the legs slowly lower to a horizontal position.
Body exercises
- Turns from back to tummy while performed with the help of an adult. In this case, not only the strengthening of some muscle groups occurs, but also the training of the baby to turn over. You need to repeat it 2-3 times. The index finger of the adult's left hand is inserted into the child's palm, the hand is held. Right hand bend the child's leg and turn the pelvis to the right. He will reflexively turn his head and upper body to the right. Holding the hand, we slightly help the baby turn, but hold it a little on its side to train the muscles. A flip is also performed on the tummy through the other side.
- "Swimming" is performed in the supine position. We slightly raise the baby's legs with the left hand, and put the right hand under the tummy. We slightly raise the child above the table and hold for a few seconds. This exercise is useful for strengthening the back muscles.
Sample lesson plan
- hand massage;
- "coachman";
- foot massage;
- "boxing";
- breeding and mixing legs;
- massage of the abdomen (more in the article:);
- sitting down by the handles;
- coup on the tummy;
- back and buttocks massage;
- "swimming";
- crawling on the tummy;
- hand circles;
- flexion and extension of the legs.
Classes help children develop and grow healthy. Adults at this time communicate with them, teach them various movements.
New movements
- Breeding and adduction of legs the baby is made in the supine position. The child's legs are bent at the knees and hips. An adult holds them by the shins. The legs are spread apart, and then brought together. It is performed 4-6 times.
- Sitting on the handles useful for the muscles of the neck and abs. It must be done carefully so that the baby does not hit the back of the head when lowering. It is not yet worth planting a child at this age, so we just lift it by the handles and gently lower it back onto the table. Lowering, we put it not on the back, but on the side, alternately on the left and right.
- To encourage baby to crawl. An adult grabs the baby's feet, bends and unbends his legs, imitating the movements of the frog's legs. When you have done a few repetitions, you need to leave your legs bent and let the baby push off on their own. To make it more interesting for him, put a bright toy not far in front. When he manages to push off, he will move forward a little, then bend the legs again and let him push off himself.
- Another new movement "circles with hands". The child lies on his back, holding his hands on the thumbs of an adult. An adult performs circular movements with the child's hands: first to the sides, then to the head, and then forward and down. Movements are performed smoothly, calmly. Two circles are made in one direction, then two circles in the other direction. The exercise is suitable only for those kids who have already learned "boxing" and "coachman".
Remember that children are constantly growing and developing - this means that they need to regularly increase the load. If it is obvious that some exercises the baby is still unable to do, do not force things. Most likely, after a while the baby will master all the movements.
Do breast massage?
I will make a reservation right away, we had no indications for a massage. However, when we were at the pediatrician, she said that massage would help relieve muscle tone and in general would not hurt absolutely anyone. Naturally, coupons for free procedures are given only if there is evidence, and the queue there is almost like in Kindergarten😄 Therefore, to massage a baby or not is a purely financial matter.
If finances do not sing romances, then it remains to find a competent, proven specialist. We were lucky - a month earlier, a friend gave a business card to the masseuse Svetlana, whom she highly recommended. I made inquiries and found out that half of the local mothers use the services of this specialist and everyone is very satisfied. And then our dad insisted ... Well, let's try!
When to start breast massage
However, our masseuse fell ill, and we, taking advantage of a hitch, went to the country (read), which meant that the course would have to be started again ... The fact is that in the massage course, both for adults and for children, there should not be breaks. The maximum is two days. To the credit of the specialist, she did not charge us for the first three sessions, which turned out to be like trial ones)
After the trip, we decided to resume the massage, as we were already 4 months old, and we were still in no hurry to roll over. And also, the arrival of a massage therapist is a whole entertainment for mom! 😄 After all, you can chat about your own about women, get advice from an experienced mother and a specialist with 20 years of experience, it’s a sin not to use this. This greatly diversified our maternity days :) Every day we were happy to wait for the sessions, my daughter really liked it - she smiled for 30 minutes.
Features of massage for babies
This time Svetlana asked us to buy fitball, and we performed part of the exercises on it. In the process, I also learned how to do them, so now gymnastics on the ball has been added to our leisure time with the child.
Many mothers mistakenly believe that they can handle the massage themselves. Seeing what Svetlana is doing with the child, I can say that our mother's gentle massage was not even close to a professional one. They do such tricks with a baby that at first I almost screamed in surprise! The most difficult thing is to learn to trust a specialist. After all, he has in his hands the most precious thing that you have.
During the massage course, the baby is recommended take soothing baths a day later - we were advised needles. However, I found the baby had a rash after it, and we did not do it anymore. For the same reason, olive oil was canceled and dry massage was performed.
Our baby massage results
What can be said about the results of the massage this time? After the third session, my daughter finally started to roll over and try to crawl! Muscle tone is finally gone, although for most this happens only by 6 months. Sleep has improved even without herbal baths - we always bathe in ordinary water. And how she passed out after the session! Immediately for two hours, which was nonsense, since before our daytime sleep did not exceed half an hour. Night sleep also got better - suddenly the daughter stopped waking up every two hours, and often slept from 9 pm to 2-3 am, or even until 6 am. Imagine - as much as 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep! At 4 months old! On GW! Happiness)
The next time we were recommended to take a course at 7-8 months, before getting up on our feet and taking our first steps, and we will definitely repeat the course. Therefore, if you have the opportunity to invite a massage therapist to your house, I strongly advise you to do this. I myself had gone to a therapeutic massage a year earlier, although there were no indications as such. But how I flew after him! Atlanta just straightened his shoulders :) Therefore, I wanted the same feeling for my baby, and judging by her reaction, she really liked it.
If you want to ask something about in-home massage therapy, first check out my answers to the most frequently asked questions.
Have you had a general massage with a baby for 3 months? How did it go and did you see any results?
