The baby should strengthen his back muscles from the moment he is born. This is how you can ensure that he subsequently has a beautiful gait and correct posture.
You need to know that in addition to the development of the spine, the back muscles are also responsible for the development of the chest, and with their help all internal organs are controlled.
To strengthen your baby's back and neck muscles, place him on his tummy more often and massage his back regularly, starting from a very young age.
If you are worried that you do not have experience, then this work can be entrusted to qualified specialists, and you can find out the price of a back massage in specialized salons. Just remember to carefully check the qualifications of the people you are going to entrust your child to.
How to properly massage a child's back?
This is exactly what this article will focus on. It would be useful to say that between the techniques that you use to massage the child’s back, you will need to stroke it with gentle movements.
1. Boats.
The baby should be placed on his stomach so that he is supported by his own hands. You will need to stroke the baby’s back with your own hands (the back of them). The exercise is repeated 4-5 times.
2. River.
Place your hands, palms down, on your child's upper back. Slightly spread your fingers to the sides and, using vibrating manipulations, move towards the lower back, repeating this exercise 2-5 times.
3. File.
Using the edge of your palms, moving them along the baby’s entire back, make “sawing” movements, placing your palms at a distance of a couple of centimeters from each other. And as soon as you notice that the child’s skin has begun to turn pink, the movements will need to be completed.
4. Snail.
Having slightly bent your thumbs and moving them away from your palms, make light massage movements from bottom to top along the spine in the direction from the sacrum to the neck, and you should move your hands alternately, otherwise you risk stretching the child’s skin.
Be sure to remember that when massaging the back of both a child and an adult, you should not put undue pressure on the spine. It is also prohibited to carry out patting movements in the kidney area.
Massage has a positive effect on the body. However, few people do it for prevention purposes. Most people turn to a massage therapist only when a health problem has already appeared. And that's wrong.
Even in children, a course of preventive massage will help prevent the development of many diseases. A back massage for a child will not only strengthen the muscles, but also help get rid of many problems. How to do this procedure correctly?
Babies
Immediately after birth, the child’s body is defenseless against many diseases. A back massage for a 1-2 month old baby will help strengthen muscles if the back is uneven, strengthen the immune system and activate blood circulation.
In addition, the light touch of his mother's hands will help him calm down and feel protected. Massaging the back of a child 3 months and older will have the same effect.
- The first stage is stroking. First, they affect the entire back, reaching the buttocks. Then you should pay attention to each part of the back separately. Movements can be directed in different directions. There is no need to touch the spine itself!
- The next movement is rubbing. Hands should be placed on both sides of the spinal column. Rub your child's back by moving your hands in a circle. Movements can go from top to bottom and back. You cannot press on the spine while rubbing. Movements at this stage also affect the buttocks.
- The last part is stroking the legs and feet.
After the exposure is over, the baby needs to rest.
The above procedures are indicated for newborns. What does a massage look like to strengthen the back of a 6-month-old baby? It must obey a few simple rules:
- During the process, under no circumstances should you put pressure on the spine.
- Before the session, you need to warm your hands, remove all jewelry and trim your nails.
- During the process, you need to talk to the baby - this will help create an atmosphere of comfort for him.
- The load should not be strong. It needs to be increased gradually. You can see what your son or daughter likes most.
- A relaxing back massage for 6, 7, 8 and 9 month olds should live up to its name. This means that all movements should be light and gentle. Strong impact on joints and muscles can lead to injury.
- At 6, 7 or more months, the procedure should be carried out approximately half an hour after feeding.
Special situation
A massage to strengthen the back muscles helps the child cope with such an unpleasant problem as coughing. When coughing, this procedure has a very powerful effect on the child’s body:
- Liquefies mucus and speeds up the process of its removal.
- Improves blood circulation.
- Strengthens the muscles of the back and respiratory organs.
- Enhances the effect of taking medications prescribed by a doctor.
- Brings breathing back to normal.
The technique is quite simple:
- The baby should lie on his stomach. You can put a small pillow under his chest. This will allow the head to be lower than the body and speed up the removal of mucus.
- As in the previous case, it all starts with light stroking.
- Then you need to place your fingers on both sides of the spine at approximately the level of the lower back. Lightly pinching the skin, move up to the shoulders. Do 20 reps.
- Move your arms closer to your sides. Repeat previous steps. Do this until your fingers are on your sides.
- Place your palm with an edge. Perform 20 taps in the direction from the lower back to the shoulders diagonally (very lightly!).
- Repeat the tapping, only this time with your fist, but also lightly.
- Turn over and let cough.
The entire session will take approximately 10 minutes. But even in this short time, you can improve the baby’s condition.
Other problems
It happens that treatment procedures are required for older patients, for example, 4 years or 6 years and older. The indication for them is scoliosis. For scoliosis, such treatment has the following goals:
- prevent the development of the disease;
- calm down;
- make ligaments more elastic;
- normalize blood circulation;
- improve metabolism;
- take care of your skin condition.
Back massage for a child under 10 years of age and older has several features:
- It begins immediately after the doctor discovers the problem.
- All movements must take into account the skeletal characteristics of each individual patient.
- The movements used are stroking, tapping, rubbing, etc. By the way, it is with stroking that you should start and end the session.
The procedure is performed only by a specialist in children's massage with medical education! Scoliosis is a serious problem in which one wrong movement can aggravate the situation.
Precautionary measures
Massage has a powerful effect on the body. Very often, after a session, the baby may behave unusually, for example, arching his back, and sometimes children’s temperature rises slightly. Is this normal?
- After a back massage, your child's temperature may rise. And this is not a reason to panic. Typically the fluctuations are 1-1.5 degrees. The alarm should be sounded only in cases where the difference is more than 2 degrees, after half an hour the temperature has not returned to normal, the condition has been aggravated by convulsions, swelling, tics and other neurological manifestations.
- If a child arches his back after a massage, this is also not always a cause for concern. Often this can be explained by banal curiosity and an attempt to consider something aside, by whims. But sometimes this behavior is a symptom of muscle hypertonicity, intracranial pressure and intestinal colic.
Back massage for children is a great way to take care of their health. The procedure will not only strengthen the muscles, but will also avoid the development of many serious diseases.
Denial of responsibility
The information in the articles is for general information purposes only and should not be used for self-diagnosis of health problems or for therapeutic purposes. This article is not a substitute for medical advice from a doctor (neurologist, therapist). Please consult your doctor first to know the exact cause of your health problem.
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Stroking - back massage for a child
Starting position - lying on your stomach, with your feet towards the massage therapist.
Stroking is performed along the spine (the spinal column itself cannot be massaged). The baby's head should be slightly raised, with his arms under the chest. This exercise helps to develop the child’s posture and strengthen the back muscles. When the direction of movement is from the buttocks to the head, the technique is performed with the back of the hand, in the direction from the head to the buttocks - with the inner side of the hand. To achieve better results, the exercise should be repeated 4-5 times.
In the first months of life, the child, lying on his stomach, feels discomfort, so during the procedure he should be held by the legs with the left hand just above the ankle joint. Massage the child's back with the right hand. Starting from the age of three months, you can massage your baby’s back with both hands.
Direct rubbing - child's back massage
After smooth stroking, you should move on to direct rubbing of the back.
The massage procedure consists of lightly moving the skin of the back; when moving, the right hand moves from bottom to top, and the left hand moves from top to bottom.
Hand movements are carried out simultaneously.
Spiral rubbing - child's back massage
The massage is performed with both hands; The fingers of the right hand should move clockwise, and the fingers of the left hand should move counterclockwise.
The movement during the massage is carried out from the bottom up, without affecting the spine area.
During the procedure, the skin on the child's back should turn slightly red.
The back massage should be completed with smooth stroking.
Reflex extension of the spine - back massage for a child
Starting position - lying on your side.
This exercise is designed for the child’s unconditioned reflex associated with irritation of the back muscles, as a result of which the flexor and extensor muscles work. Massage helps strengthen the back muscles. It is recommended to do it 2-3 times a day.
Use your thumb and forefinger to move along the child’s back along the spine (to the right and left of the spinal column, respectively), and hold his legs with your free hand.
In this case, the child will reflexively bend and straighten the spine.
Repeat 3 times on the right and left sides.
Now you know how to massage a child's back.
How to massage a child's belly?
Abdominal massage is recommended to be done in combination with other types of massage, as well as separately from other exercises. Massage promotes the development of abdominal muscles, and also improves intestinal function, helps with constipation and flatulence.
Stroking - massage of the baby's belly
Starting position - lying on your back.
The main techniques of abdominal massage are various types of stroking: on the oblique muscles of the abdomen, counter, circular. Each technique must be repeated 4 times.
Massage the baby's abdomen begins with circular strokes in a clockwise direction.
Stroking can be done with the palmar surface of the hand or its back.
During the massage, it is prohibited to touch the child’s genitals and the area of the right hypochondrium. After this, it is necessary to stroke the oblique abdominal muscles; Massaging movements should be directed towards the spine and towards the navel.
Rubbing - massage of the child's belly
After stroking, you should move on to rubbing the abdominal muscles - first perform a circular rubbing, and then along the rectus muscles.
To perform circular rubbing, you need to make circular movements with one hand clockwise in the area from the navel to the ribs.
Then rub the rectus abdominis muscles with both hands; all movements should be active and rhythmic. By the end of the procedure, the child's skin should turn slightly red.
Counter stroking - massage of the child’s abdomen
To do this, you need to make smooth counter movements with your hands so that the back of the fingers of your left hand is at the bottom of the right half of the abdomen, and the palm of the right hand is at the top of the left half of the abdomen.
Hands should alternately move up and down.
Stroking the oblique muscles - massage the baby's abdomen
After counter stroking the abdomen, they begin to stroke the oblique muscles of the abdomen.
Your arms should be at your sides slightly below your lower back.
To perform this procedure, you need to smoothly move your hands towards each other.
At the end of the exercise, the massage therapist's fingers should connect just above the child's waist. Repeat 7 times.
At the end of the reception, you must return to circular stroking of the abdomen. After stroking the belly, you can move on to stroking the chest.
Now you know how to massage your baby's belly.
The foundations of health and harmonious development, as is known, are laid in childhood, when the child is actively growing, when all systems of his body are formed and improved. Preschool age(from 3 to 7 years) is especially important in this regard. This is the time of the most intensive development, mastering a huge amount of information, nurturing habits and life attitudes, and the development of the child as an individual.
Unfortunately, many parents underestimate the importance of this age, viewing it as a transition from infancy (when the child received a lot of attention) to the school period (when attention will be needed again), as a kind of “rest.” But right now, basic motor skills are being formed, such as walking, running, jumping; posture and the ability to control your body are developed; character traits such as initiative, perseverance and independence are manifested. It is at this age that the child values movement as a way of self-expression, a way of understanding the world around him, receiving great pleasure from new skills and abilities.
But how often do parents, while developing their children intellectually and aesthetically, forget about physical education and treat it as something secondary, something that happens on its own. As a result, and I am convinced of this every day when working with children in kindergarten and in the clinic, many 4-5-6 year old boys and girls run poorly, walk incorrectly, cannot climb a ladder or gymnastic wall, do not know how to catch and throw a ball, etc. The natural need for active movements, characteristic of children of this age age, is suppressed by adults (Don’t run! Don’t make noise! Don’t disturb!), which has the most negative effect on the child’s mood and overall well-being.
I, as a doctor, am particularly concerned about the widespread prevalence of defects and diseases of the locomotor system among preschoolers, such as flat feet, poor posture, and scoliosis.
Parents often justify their inaction by the difficult conditions of modern life, employment, lack of special knowledge and material opportunities. But physical education does not require special conditions and preparation. Teach your child to play with a ball, jump rope, show him the games you played as a child, walk with him more on an equipped playground or in a park, where there is an opportunity to run and climb, organize a simple sports corner at home. Try in every way to encourage your child’s desire to move actively, to instill in him interest and love for his body.
FEATURES OF CHILDREN'S MASSAGE
Massage is a scientifically based method, tested by many years of practice, the most adequate and physiological (i.e. close to the human body) method that allows you to successfully solve problems of both prevention and treatment of various diseases. This is what makes massage popular, especially in children's practice.
The child’s body is in a state of development, growth, and constant change. Any impact, be it living conditions, nutrition, games, physical education, massage, medical measures (procedures, medications), etc., have a much greater impact on him than on the body of an adult, already formed person. A child is surprisingly flexible and receptive, which is why a serious and responsible approach to everything that concerns his health is so important.
Children's massage stands out as a special type of massage because it contributes not only to the health or treatment of the child, but also to a more rapid and harmonious psychophysical development. Moreover, the younger the child, the stronger the effect of the massage.
For greater effectiveness, massage is used in combination with gymnastic exercises, which are performed during the procedure or immediately after it. However, you should not tire your child with too complex or prolonged exercises, since massage itself is some kind of stress on the body. Passive movements (i.e., movements performed by a child with the help of an adult), various corrective poses and styling are widely used.
An important feature of baby massage is caution in choosing techniques. All techniques of classical massage, elements of acupressure and other types of reflexology are used, but preference should be given to softer and gentle influences. Various stroking, gentle rubbing (preferably with the pads of the fingers, which increases the sensitivity of the massaging hands), gentle kneading, light striking techniques - all this allows you to achieve the desired result without causing the child any unpleasant sensations. This does not mean that such a massage is shallow and ineffective; on the contrary, having a good command of the technique and knowing the effect of various techniques, you can change the nature of the impact.
Depending on the purpose, the massage can be tonic or relaxing. A toning massage is performed at a faster pace, all basic techniques are used, but rubbing and kneading are performed more energetically, and more percussive techniques are used. A relaxing massage is characterized by a smooth and uniform rhythm of movements, a large number of stroking, relaxing vibrations (for example, shaking), rubbing and kneading are used - slower and deeper, with fewer percussive techniques.
In any case, the massage should be painless. This is perhaps the main difference between children's massage and adult massage, where some painful effects are allowed (many adults consider painless massage too weak and, therefore, ineffective). In a child, painful techniques can cause various pathological reactions (for example, reflex muscle tension), and in addition, fear appears, which nullifies the entire positive effect and creates a stable negative attitude.
The main criterion for the correctness of the massage is the child’s mood. If a child loves massage and becomes stronger and more cheerful, then everything is done well.
CONDITIONS FOR CORRECT MASSAGE
The place for the massage can be any hard surface, preferably a special massage table, but at home a trestle bed, a wide bench, a table, etc. are suitable. You can do the massage on the floor or on a hard board placed on upholstered furniture. The most important condition is solid support, otherwise your efforts will extend not only (and not so much) to the child’s body, but also to a soft sofa or bed. It is desirable to be able to approach the child from different sides and change your support (sitting or standing for half an hour in the same position is quite tiring). The air in the room should be warm, but fresh; in the warm season, you can carry out a massage with an open vent (window) or in the air, thus combining it with hardening.
The massage is carried out no earlier than 30 minutes after eating; it is also unreasonable to do it with a hungry child. Under no circumstances should you give your child food (cookies, sweets, fruits) during a massage - this is simply dangerous, the child may choke. If the baby is capricious, it means there are reasons for this; the massage can be postponed for a while, even postponed to the next day. If the child’s well-being worsens, or if he experiences unpleasant sensations, the session time should be reduced or even temporarily canceled.
The massager's hands should be perfectly clean, dry, soft and warm, and the nails should be cut short. Watches, rings, anything that interferes with the movements of fingers and hands should be removed. Clothing should be comfortable and light, arms should be open to the elbows.
In children's massage, oils, creams, ointments, powders, and talc are not used. It is best to massage with clean hands, as oily substances increase slip and reduce the effectiveness of techniques such as rubbing and kneading, and talc dries out the baby’s skin. In addition, an allergic reaction to these drugs is possible. If your hands are too dry, lubricate them with cream before the massage; if your palms sweat excessively, powder them with a small amount of talcum powder.
During the massage, be sure to talk to your child and keep him in a good mood.
INDICATIONS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS
A properly performed massage is beneficial to everyone, and it is almost impossible to harm them. Indications for massage are very wide, especially in pediatric practice, where it is one of the main methods of treatment or is part of a complex of therapeutic measures for a wide variety of diseases. Developmental disorders or diseases of the musculoskeletal system, the most common of which are: flat feet, plano-valgus feet, clubfoot, curvature of the bones of the lower extremities, postural disorders, scoliosis, joint instability, chest deformities, etc. Respiratory diseases (bronchitis , pneumonia, bronchial asthma), circulatory organs (heart defects, vegetative-vascular dystonia), digestive organs (biliary dyskinesia, colitis, gastritis), some kidney diseases, nocturnal enuresis, disorders metabolic processes(obesity, malnutrition), etc. Particular attention is paid to massage in the treatment of diseases or developmental disorders of the nervous system, both peripheral and central.
The effect of massage on the entire body as a whole allows you to achieve good and lasting results. However, there are a number of conditions and diseases for which massage is contraindicated.
Contraindications:
any acute febrile conditions (accompanied by increased body temperature and symptoms of general intoxication); acute inflammatory diseases of the skin, subcutaneous tissue, lymph nodes, muscles, joints (manifested by local reactions, redness, swelling, pain, fever, sometimes general deterioration of the condition) (see above); blood diseases, bleeding tendency; osteomyelitis, tuberculosis of bones and joints; active phase of pulmonary tuberculosis; diseases accompanied by brittle bones; exacerbation of any chronic diseases; congenital heart defects with signs of decompensation; diabetes; tumors of any nature, neoplasms on the skin; skin diseases of infectious and fungal nature.
The main contraindications are listed here, however, in order not to harm your child with your actions, consult a doctor and enlist his support.
CLASSICAL MASSAGE TECHNIQUES
The massage technique consists of many individual techniques, which can be reduced to the following five main ones:
- stroking;
- trituration;
- kneading;
- striking techniques;
- vibration.
In addition to the above basic techniques, auxiliary ones are also used, which are essentially variants of the main ones listed.
STROKING
The essence of this technique, as the name suggests, is stroking a given area of the body, performed in a certain direction. A massage most often begins with stroking, and it usually ends with stroking.
In addition, stroking is also performed between other massage techniques.
Stroking has a significant effect on the central and peripheral nervous system, skin, blood circulation and lymph flow.
When the technique is performed slowly and gently, the excitability of the nervous system decreases, i.e., a pronounced calming effect appears. This type of stroking allows you to relieve or reduce pain in injuries and diseases of the neuromuscular system.
Quick and energetic stroking helps to slightly increase the tone of the nervous system.
Stroking cleanses the skin of dead epidermal cells, dust particles and microbes. At the same time, the ducts of the sweat and sebaceous glands open, their activity and skin respiration improve, blood circulation and skin nutrition increase (it becomes softer and more elastic), and the local temperature rises.
Stroking improves the outflow of lymph and blood (not only from the vessels subject to compression, but also from the vessels of adjacent areas), which helps reduce congestion and tissue swelling.
Varieties of techniques: planar stroking; embracing stroking.
Plane stroking.
Planar stroking, in turn, is divided into superficial stroking and pressing (with weight).
The movement of the hands occurs in various directions: longitudinal, transverse, circular, zigzag, etc.
Embracing stroking.
Embracing stroking is divided into: grasping superficial stroking; grasping deep stroking; grasping intermittent stroking.
Enveloping intermittent stroking has a stimulating effect and is used to revive local blood circulation in tissues, enhance muscle contractility, excite the vascular walls of deep vessels, as well as irritate deep nerve trunks.
The specificity of performing all types of stroking depends on the area being massaged. where it is not possible to use basic techniques, auxiliary ones are used. such as: comb-like (with the knuckles, used in places of massive muscles), ironing (with the back of the hand), rake-like stroking (with the tips of the fingers apart), pincer-like stroking (light pinching).
TRITURATION
The essence of the technique is to displace or stretch tissue in different directions. When rubbing, the massaging hand should move, displace the skin, and not slide over it. In other words: rubbing is a massage of deeper tissues through the skin.
Displacement and stretching of tissues leads to increased blood circulation by dilating blood vessels and accelerating blood flow. At the same time, the skin temperature rises by 1.5 - 3 degrees. More oxygen, nutrients and biologically active substances are delivered to the tissues, metabolic products are removed faster, hardening, pathological deposits and fluid accumulations in the tissues are resolved.
This rubbing action is widely used in therapeutic and sports massage.
Vigorous rubbing increases contractile function and muscle tone, increases elasticity and tissue mobility.
There are several types of reception: rubbing with fingertips; rubbing with the base of the palm; rubbing the back surface of fingers folded into a fist; rubbing the thumb, index or middle finger separately with a pad; rubbing with the elbow edge of the hand.
Auxiliary techniques include: hatching, planing, rake-like and comb-like rubbing, sawing and crossing, pincer-like rubbing.
KNEWING
Kneading consists of grasping, lifting, squeezing and displacing tissue. This is a labor-intensive and technically complex technique that takes a lot of time in almost any type of massage.
Kneading has a stronger effect on the neuromuscular system than all other techniques.
Under the influence of kneading, lymph and blood circulation in the muscles significantly increases, redox processes are activated, tissue nutrition is improved, and the elimination of metabolic products is accelerated, which contributes to a faster restoration of muscle performance (especially tired ones). The muscles become stronger and more elastic, so kneading can be considered as a kind of passive gymnastics for the muscles and can be effectively used for preventive purposes or to eliminate atrophy of the muscular system.
With a slow kneading pace, but strong and prolonged, excitability and muscle tone usually decrease (relaxing effect), and vice versa, with a faster pace, superficial and short-term kneading, an increase in excitatory processes and muscle tone occurs (tonic effect).
Varieties of reception: transverse kneading and longitudinal.
Auxiliary kneading techniques include: felting, rolling, sliding, stretching, pressing, tong-like kneading, pinching, squeezing.
VIBRATION
Vibration is characterized by the use of rapid oscillatory and jerking movements that cause tissue shaking.
Due to the elasticity of tissues, mechanical vibrations that arise on the surface propagate in the form of waves. Moreover, depending on the strength and power of vibrations, waves can pass not only through superficial tissues and muscles, but can penetrate deeper and cause vibration of internal organs, deep-lying vessels and nerves.
A slight shaking of tissues has a calming effect on the nervous system, and an intense one has a stimulating effect. Tissue shaking has an analgesic effect, which is used for various injuries and diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
Vibration in combination with other massage techniques promotes better outflow of lymph, interstitial fluid and venous blood, and increases muscle contractility. The intake has a stimulating effect on the function of the adrenal cortex, activates tissue restoration and reduces the time required for the formation of callus.
Concussions caused by vibration have a stimulating effect on the function of internal organs (increased intestinal motility, secretory function of the stomach, liver, bronchi.
There are point and continuous vibrations
Auxiliary techniques of continuous vibration include: shaking, shaking, shaking, pushing.
STRIKES
When performing percussion techniques, body tissues are subjected to rhythmic and frequent blows performed by various parts of the massage therapist’s hand and fingers.
When performed energetically and quickly, percussive techniques have a tonic effect on the central nervous system and neuromuscular system and are often used only for this purpose. In various pathological processes, they help reduce and even stop pain, and therefore can be used as a “distracting” agent when massaging tissues located next to painful areas.
Types of reception: puncturing; effleurage; pat; chopping; quilting.
COMBINED TECHNIQUES
Very often combinations of massage techniques are used, which are called combined, for example:
- kneading and shaking;
- sliding and pressing;
- compression and stretching;
- stretching and vibration;
- pressure and vibration;
- pressing and rubbing;
- stroking and shaking.
The combination of individual techniques, summing up the effects produced by individual massage techniques, has great physiological significance. In addition, by combining various techniques and changing their sequence, you can change the working muscles of your hands and thus make the massage easier.
For children, especially under one year old, general massage is indicated. This massage develops muscles, joint flexibility, and more than 80% of children of this age experience hyper- or hypotonicity of muscles. All pediatricians confirm the beneficial effects of massage on the nervous and physical development of infants. General massage is also useful for older children. Massage improves your health, relieves nervous tension and fatigue. Parents can easily master a simple massage.
Massage techniques must be selected with caution - it should evoke exclusively positive emotions. Your pediatrician will show you some exercises. Daily massage can be started from 1.5-2 months. Best time for him - before meals or after, about an hour later. In order for the baby to get used to the exercises and react positively to them, do not start the massage when the child is capricious and crying. Do not use any massage creams or oils. Do the exercises with warm, dry hands and place your baby on a soft, flat surface covered with a natural fiber cloth. The temperature in the room should be comfortable. Massage methods should be gentle: stroking, patting, rubbing, kneading. Before the massage, prepare your child - talk to him kindly and kindly. Gently knead and rub your baby without causing pain. After some time, when he is prepared, complicate the exercises. Apply pinching, vibration, pressure without making any visible effort. The child should experience pleasure and joy from exercise. Even light touches will give a positive result. Be especially careful when massaging your baby's limbs. Protect his head from shocks, hold it. Try not to make sudden, energetic movements. Massage your back without touching the spine area. Massage only muscles and joints. Observe the child’s reaction all the time, do more often those exercises from which he especially enjoys. Stop the massage immediately if your baby is unhappy, doesn't like it or is tired. Start the massage by simply stroking the entire surface of the body, arms, hands, legs, feet. Such techniques will warm up the skin and relax the muscles. Do strokes in the direction of lymph flow to the nearest lymph nodes. Massage the arms - from the fingers to the armpits, the legs - from the toes to the groin. Massage your abdomen, making light circular movements in a clockwise direction. Avoid pressing on the liver area (right hypochondrium). Massage the chest, stroking up and down 2-3 times, then in the direction of the ribs and around the nipples: with your left hand move counterclockwise, with your right hand in the direction of the clock hand. If your baby is not yet a year old, then perform all the exercises gently, touching his skin only with the pads of your fingers, making movements in a straight line, in a spiral. Grab the baby's arms and then the baby's shins with the ring of your fingers. Hand movements should be counter-moving, sliding, and not crushing the child’s skin.
Before the age of 3 months, give your baby only simple vibration techniques - light shaking and shaking. Only after three months can tapping with your fingertips be used in the massage complex. Massage your baby while playing, with jokes and songs. He'll like it.
