Proper massage for a baby in the first three months of life. Massage for children under one year of age: basic rules for conducting Infant massage from 1 year of age

When is it possible and when not to massage your baby? What effect does massage have on a child’s development and behavior? How to properly massage from 0 to 3 months?

Massage for newborns, as a rule, is the kind of action that babies like, especially if they are performed by mother’s caring hands.

Sudden or incorrect movements can harm a small, fragile person, and therefore you need to know the main conditions for carrying out this procedure. If a child has indications for massage for medicinal purposes or has a neurological condition, then it is better to seek help from a specialist.

When performing massage actions, it is best to follow the order of the massaged areas of the body. Usually the legs and arms are massaged first.

Then smooth movements move to the stomach, which is massaged clockwise. Finish the procedure with a back massage.

When performing a massage, it is important to know the essence of blood circulation in the veins and lymph flow in the human body. Movements from the periphery to the center are carried out in their directions.

There are places that it is advisable not to touch. For example, the inner thighs. The largest number of blood vessels and nerve endings are concentrated there, and this place is considered the most sensitive. It is not recommended to touch one more place – the front surface of the shin. After all, there is almost no muscle tissue and very thin skin.

It is also better to limit exposure to the elbow and knee joints to avoid injury.

Back rub

Direct effects on the liver can harm the baby, which is why abdominal massage should be done carefully. Especially in the area of ​​the right hypochondrium.

Particularly sensitive areas, such as the genitals, nipples, and painful spots on the spine in the area of ​​the spinous processes, are also excluded from the affected areas.

There are four main techniques in massage: stroking, rubbing, kneading and vibration.

• Stroking is usually performed at the beginning of the procedure and is aimed at preparing the body for the main effect. This technique activates blood circulation, calms the nervous system and relaxes muscles.
• Rubbing helps nourish tissues and has a positive effect not only on the skin, but also on tendons, ligaments and muscles.
• Kneading activates the flow of blood and lymph in the body, affecting not only the superficial muscles, but also those that are located quite deep. Kneading also has a beneficial effect on the respiratory system.
• Vibration tones the child’s nervous system and provides mild pain relief. In the first three months of life, the best option for this method is shaking. From the fourth month you can already use light tapping with your fingers.

The essence of the basic principles of massage is that actions are performed from simple to complex. The load should be increased gradually by repeating the same exercise.

For the first time, the child can repeat the actions 2-3 times, and after a few days he can easily withstand them 4-5 times. During the exercises, the baby should not become overtired. Everything should be a joy for him.

Massage and health gymnastics

Massage will help your baby become stronger, quickly master the necessary skills of crawling and turning over, and in the future, stand confidently on his feet and take his first steps. Every parent can learn simple sets of exercises. In addition, in addition to unconditional health benefits, massage helps to establish close contact between loved ones.

Tummy massage

Such procedures accelerate the maturation of lymphocytes, and their phagocytic activity increases, which means that blood moves faster through the veins and arteries, organs receive the necessary blood supply, and the body is better cleansed of unnecessary, already waste substances. In addition, massage promotes the production of endorphins - hormones of happiness. And harmonious growth and development can only happen in a joyful atmosphere.

From the age of two months, you can already add gymnastic exercises to the massage. Gymnastics for newborns is a special set of exercises that helps improve coordination of movements and strengthen the musculoskeletal system.

Gymnastics for children

Gymnastics classes provide an incentive for mental and physical development. They give a previously unfamiliar feeling of “muscular joy” and speed up the baby’s acquaintance with the world around him. Gymnastics can be done with pleasant music. This will also serve to develop the child’s sense of rhythm.

Passive gymnastics

Passive is a kind of active massage, where an adult does the exercises for the child. The benefits of such exercises are very high, and there is enough pleasure for everyone. Such gymnastic exercises not only establish psychological contact, but also improve the emotional connection between mother and baby.

There are many different exercises in this method. Here are some of them.

• We bend the child’s legs at the knees and clap the soles of each other like palms.
• We bend and unbend the child’s arms at the wrists. We raise our hands up and lower them down.
• We clasp the baby’s arms around his chest, then spread the arms wide to the sides.
• We make circular movements of the baby's arms in the area of ​​the shoulder and elbow joints. Then we try to reach the top of his head with our hands.
• We quietly clap our palms on the child’s body several times. We smile and praise him for every exercise.
• We bend the newborn's legs at the knee joints, as if riding a bicycle.

We check the reflex flexion and extension of the feet. To do this, we support the child’s leg with our left hand, and with the thumb of our right hand we press the foot at the base of the toes. It happens that in newborns the thumb is extended upward. He is tense. To relieve this condition, you can press on the base of this finger, and it will bend. And if you run your finger along the outer edge of the foot, from the little toe to the heel, pressing lightly on the sole, then all the toes will immediately straighten.

Newborn reflexes

You can also test “reflex walking.” In healthy children, it appears from the first day of life. To do this, you need to take the child under the arms and turn his back to you. Its legs should touch a hard surface. The baby reflexively begins to move his legs, as if walking. It is important that it rests not on the tips of the toes, but on the entire foot. During the exercise, the baby must be suspended all the time.

During the exercises, you can recite poems and jokes and communicate with the baby in a positive tone. Then the baby will perform the procedures again and again with joy and look forward to new ones.

Massage for a four month old baby

Time passes, and now your baby is already four months old. Hypertonicity goes away. The little person is purposefully trying to move towards the intended goal, perhaps starting from side to side, trying to master crawling skills. To prevent motor activity from being impaired, you should not swaddle him tightly.

The duration of the massage increases at this age. Mom's movements become more intense. You can already use additional elements, such as a fitball, which will better coordinate movements, orient it in space and strengthen the abdominal muscles. A bath will also be very helpful. Kids love it if only previous encounters with water went smoothly. Exercises in water tone and strengthen. In addition, they develop their first swimming skills.

Baby is 4 months old

You can add light pinching and more intense felting to the stroking and rubbing. Actions should still be careful and not cause discomfort. Areas to be avoided are also left out of the massage action. Before the session, hunger should be excluded; the best time will be when an hour or an hour and a half has passed after eating.

The four-month-old baby is cheerful, he likes the procedure, he smiles and gurgles. Otherwise, it is better to immediately interrupt the session and reschedule for a more favorable time.

Let massage and gymnastics be a daily and long-awaited ritual for your child!

Video on the topic

In the first months of life, many basic skills are laid, the character and psychological portrait of the baby, his understanding of the world begins to form. He learns to react to what is happening, to express emotions. The child’s growth and development proceeds at a rapid pace: every day is equal to a new mastered skill, movement, reaction, sound or smell. The task of parents is to support the baby, teach him to perceive the world correctly, prepare his muscles and ligaments, relax and calm him down. Correct and timely massage copes with all these tasks.

Doctors call the newborn's condition physiological tone. It is characterized by clenched fists, bent arms, and the baby's body often assumes a fetal position. Movements of the arms and legs are often erratic. Massage for a newborn from 0 months is aimed at eliminating tone and creating conscious and controlled movements.

A gentle skin massage helps improve the condition of internal organs, awakens muscles and stimulates their development, improves blood circulation. Through the first touches, the baby learns to understand the world, recognize mom and dad, and realizes that he is safe. As a result of regular procedures:

• The child’s risk of occurrence and development of infectious diseases is reduced;
• The risk of intestinal colic, diarrhea and constipation is reduced;
• The musculoskeletal system is stimulated and its proper development occurs;
• Correct posture is formed;
• Metabolism is normalized;
• Appetite improves;
• The lungs develop;
• Sleep is normalized.

Stroking movements during massage help reduce cortisol, the stress hormone. This hormone is responsible not only for emotions, but also for the state of the immune system. The less it is, the better the child’s immunity will be.

In infants, hearing and vision are poorly developed, and he perceives everything that happens around him through the skin and touch. Gentle and calm stroking can calm the baby. A large number of nerve impulses sent to the brain during a massage contributes to proper physical and mental development.

Children's massage is divided into three types: preventive, therapeutic and prophylactic and therapeutic.

Therapeutic massage is performed at home or in a clinic by specialists. It is necessary to massage the baby when:

• Congenital dislocations and dysplasia;
• Hypertonicity of muscle tissue;
• Curvature of legs;
• Rickets;
• Scoliosis;
• Hypotonicity;
• Pneumonia;
• Asthma;
• Hernias;
• CNS disorders.

Preventive massage is done by parents and at home in the absence of contraindications. And treatment and prophylaxis is prescribed if there are problems with the lungs, gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular system.

How often should a child massage?

Massage begins no earlier than three weeks of age. If therapeutic massage is prescribed, it is done in courses of 10 sessions every three months. In rare cases - with a break of a month. This interval is explained by the increased load on the still fragile body in the first month of a newborn’s life.

Preventative massage at home is softer. If the baby's reaction is normal, it can be done daily or even several times a day. Introductory sessions last no more than 5 minutes. The time of massage procedures increases gradually. By 3 months the session lasts about 20 minutes, and by 6 months it lasts 35-40 minutes along with exercises.

Contraindications

Massage sessions are not performed in cases of fever and elevated temperature, skin disorders and colds, increased excitability and diseases of the circulatory system. Babies with heart defects can receive massage only in consultation with a pediatrician and cardiologist. If there is an umbilical hernia, then movements do not affect the navel area.

Otherwise, you can provoke a pinched hernia.

Basic impact techniques

For babies 0-3 months of age you can do:

• Stroking with the palm to relax, improve blood circulation, increase tone;
• Rubbing. They improve the nutrition of muscle tissue, calm the nervous system, and warm up the muscles. The technique differs from stroking in the intensity of movements;
• Kneading. Performed as a deeper rubbing. Pass the middle, ring and index fingers in a circular motion.

When massaging newborns up to 3 months at home, it is forbidden to touch the area of ​​the fontanelle and elbows, armpits, groin area and under the knees.

Strong pressure, tapping, and rolling are contraindicated for babies.

Preparation for the procedure

Before the session, you should take care of a comfortable temperature in the children's room: it should be from +18 to +22°C. The room must be ventilated and all windows must be tightly closed. You need to massage on a flat and wide surface covered with a soft diaper. When carrying out the procedure at home, jewelry is removed from the hands. A long manicure is also undesirable - nails can scratch the child’s delicate skin.

Hands are lubricated with natural oil or cream for children. You can use coconut or lavender oil, argan, jojoba or shea, almond or tea tree oil, sandalwood.

Any synthetic, edible, or heating oils are not suitable for use. The components they contain are dangerous for an infant: they can cause allergies and poisoning.

Sessions are carried out 60-90 minutes after meals. It is recommended to turn on calm music: children's classical music, the sound of the ocean and the singing of birds in the rain forest, the sounds of rain or any meditative melody are suitable.

How to do a massage correctly

Basic rules for massage:

• Hand movements should be light and soft;
• All circular movements are done clockwise;
• The massage is stopped if the baby falls asleep, shows dissatisfaction, or is capricious.

During the session you need to talk to the child in a calm and quiet voice, it is also recommended to turn off the phone. Any sharp and loud sounds can frighten a child.

When performing any techniques, use the direction of movement from bottom to top or from the sides to the center. The massage begins with the hands. First, massage the fingers, then the palms and wrists. The thumb is placed in the baby's palm and allowed to grab hold. With the second hand, massage the area from the wrist to the shoulder.

The legs are massaged starting from the feet and toes. With one hand they clasp the shin, and with the thumb of the other they rub the foot, making intense circular movements. Then they begin stroking the lower leg and thigh. When massaging the leg, it is necessary to stretch all the muscles evenly, but avoid the knee area. The knee joints of a newborn are weak, so any work can damage them. During the massage, the arms and legs cannot be extended - they remain in a natural half-bent state.

The tummy is stroked from the navel area in a circular motion. The hands are moved to the middle of the abdomen and continue to slide the palms over the skin with minimal pressure. Then the oblique and transverse muscles are rubbed.

Place your palms under your lower back and massage your sides. The chest is massaged from the front to the shoulders, then moved to the sides, but the area of ​​the mammary glands is not touched.

The baby is turned over on his stomach and work begins on his back. Stroking the baby's back is done with the backs of the palms, and the direction of movement is from the buttocks to the neck. After several strokes, the direction is changed. When the baby begins to raise and hold his head in response to hand movements, the massage is stopped.

We complete the session by turning the child over to the left side: holding him by the side, run his fingers along the spine from the sacrum to the neck. When massaging the muscles of the neck and back, the correct reaction of the child will be to want to bend forward. The procedure is repeated three times, after which it is turned over onto the right side.

After the massage, you can offer the child some water or feed him to restore energy. But most children fall asleep immediately after the session.

The first half of the day is suitable for a general tonic effect - from eight in the morning to three in the afternoon. It should be remembered that feeding a child is in no way combined with external stimulation of his body, which occurs during massage. The child needs time to rest and digest food calmly. Therefore, after feeding, it is advisable to take an hour break and then begin exercises with a calm, rested child.

How many times a day should you massage your newborn?

How many times should you massage a newborn? As a rule, at first, experts insist that such events should not be carried out more than once a day. Massage for 1.5 month old children can be increased to two approaches per day. Also, the number of impacts may vary depending on individual needs, if there are personal recommendations from a specialist.

Another important point: many fathers and mothers, convinced that quantity can replace quality, massage their newborns two or more times a day. This is a mistake because only proper technique and careful caring can lead to rapid success.

Thus, if the full harmonious development of the baby is a priority for his parents, then they definitely need to massage the newborn. It is at this stage that the foundations for the child’s well-being are laid, which depends on timely and proper care for him.

From the first minutes of birth until 3 months, a newborn baby is in the most critical age period. During this interval, the child masters his first movements and begins to explore the world. This helps with massage for newborns 1-3 months old, which you can do yourself.

Indications for prescribing massage for newborns

From birth to 3 months, the baby is just learning to control its movements. Its legs are bent, and its arms are almost always clenched into fists. In the first weeks of life, the baby's movements seem erratic.

There is no need to panic when a newborn’s legs and arms are tightly pressed to the body, and also bent. This is a normal condition and is explained by muscle hypertonicity. In this case, a special massage prescribed by the doctor will help.

Massage for a newborn from 0 to 3 months is indicated in the following cases:

• if there is suspicion of malnutrition. This is the name of the pathological process that occurs in tissue structures and is associated with malnutrition. If you ignore the diagnosis, the baby will develop incorrectly;
• rickets;
• overstrain of muscle tissue (hypertonicity);
• flat feet;
• valgus deformity of the joints, when the baby’s legs resemble the letter X;
• the baby still has the reflexes of a newborn;
• shaking (tremor) of any part of the baby’s body;
• problems with the nervous system;
• umbilical hernia;
• joint pathologies;
• torticollis;
• clubfoot;
• deformation of the legs of various types;
• scoliosis;
• abnormal development of the chest.

Massage for a newborn from 0 to 3 can be prescribed for pneumonia, bronchial asthma, broken limbs, and even constipation. The procedure is usually prescribed as an additional remedy to complex therapeutic treatment.

Massage for newborns at 3 months is indicated in the following cases:

• overweight;
• digestive problems;
• problems with blood circulation;
• Relieving pain during teething.

Sessions help 3-month-old babies stay in a good mood. Babies cry less often, do not fuss, and sleep becomes calmer.

Types of massage for infants

There are the following types of massage for newborns 1-3 months:

• medicinal;
• for preventive purposes;
• therapeutic and prophylactic.

The therapeutic type of procedure can only be prescribed and performed by a pediatrician. Each type has a specific technique and is recommended for different situations.

Medicinal

Therapeutic massage at 1 month of a newborn’s life is indicated for the following problems:

• overstrain or weakness of muscle tissue;
• articular dysplasia;
• joint dislocations at birth;
• congenital or acquired clubfoot;
• umbilical hernia;
• pathologies associated with the central nervous system;
• congenital flat feet;
• deformation of the knee joints. The baby's legs look like the letter O or X.

Only a doctor can prescribe a treatment.

Prophylactic

As a preventive measure, a prophylactic type of procedure is indicated for newborns. It is recommended for all children to perform it in the absence of any indications.

After the preventive procedure, the newborn’s sleep and appetite improve, and increased excitability goes away.

Preventive measures are usually carried out by parents themselves. During massage movements, the newborn learns to communicate with mom and dad.

Treatment and prophylaxis

The event, performed for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes, is also prescribed only by a doctor. This is a full body massage, where, if necessary, special attention is paid to certain problem areas.
Sessions as prevention and simultaneous treatment are indicated if there are problems with breathing, digestion or the genitourinary system.

Contraindications

Among the contraindications to massage for a newborn from 0 to 1 month are the following cases:

• elevated temperature;
• damage to the skin of various types, especially with purulent contents;
• pathologies associated with the circulatory system;
• fragility of bone tissue;
• any disease, including a cold, occurring in an acute form;
• although massage is indicated for eliminating an umbilical hernia, the activity can only be performed under the strict supervision of a pediatric doctor;
• congenital heart defects. Sessions are possible, but under medical supervision;
• severe nervousness of the baby.

Rules for performing massage for newborns

Massage for infants is performed on the 20th day of life, not earlier. Until the newborn is 3 months old, the fontanel and the area under the knees should not be touched during a massage. Do not massage the armpits, elbow bend or inner thigh.

Any forceful movements in the form of pressing, tapping and patting are prohibited.

During the procedure, the newborn should experience only positive emotions. Discomfort during the session is unacceptable.

To get the expected result from massage for a newborn aged 1-3 months, you must adhere to the following rules:

1. it is important that the procedure room has comfortable temperature. For a baby this is 23 degrees. Many parents are of the erroneous opinion that during a massage session the baby’s body will warm up. This rule applies exclusively to adults;
2. massage performed on a special changing table, or on any flat surface. Place a waterproof diaper on the surface;
3. everything that is necessary for execution must be prepared and placed nearby. You should not leave a newborn alone for a minute, otherwise he may fall and get injured;
4. it is necessary that the fingernails were short. Remove rings and other jewelry to prevent damage to the baby's skin;
5. choose the right time to perform the procedure. It's best when 2 hours have passed since the last feeding, but the baby doesn’t want to sleep yet. The massage will not have the desired result if the baby is capricious and feels discomfort;
6. during the session you need talk gently to your child, sing songs or tell stories.

How to massage a baby?

Important Note: During the session, you need to exclude any forceful movements. The basis of massage for infants is stroking movements without pressure.

You can watch this video on how to massage babies.

Massaging a newborn is performed in the following sequence:

1. session starts with massaging baby's hands. You need to massage your fingers, then carefully open your fists and stroke your palms. Then they stroke the wrists and the upper part of the arms. The armpits are not affected;
2. next comes transition to baby's feet. First, the feet are stroked, then the toes are massaged. The legs are stroked from bottom to top. Do not treat areas under the knees or apply massage movements to the joints. The legs should be half-bent;
3. Further tummy is easily stroked. The navel is massaged in a clockwise direction. Make the following movement: join your hands on the imaginary midline of the tummy, and stroke with one hand from above, the other from below;
4. massaging the chest, you cannot treat the mammary glands. Massaging, stroking movements are performed from the sternum to the shoulders, then to the sides;
5. now a baby turn over on tummy. Stroking of the neck begins. If during massaging the newborn wants to raise his head, then you need to take a break;
6. Next comes the turn of the back. Need a back rub from the lumbar region with a transition to the shoulders, then in the direction from the spine to the sides. The spinal column itself is not affected. The buttocks are massaged on the sides, moving towards the tailbone;
7. The baby is turned over onto his left side. In progress massage strokes on the sides paravertebral zone, and are directed from the sacrum to the head. It is correct if at this moment the baby begins to bend forward on his own. There should be 3 such movements, then similar strokes are performed on the right side;
8. the baby lies on his back, and they begin stroking movements on the head. You cannot massage the fontanel. You need to stroke your ears.

At the end of the massage procedure, you need to gently stroke the newborn, touching the entire body.

Important: all movements during the procedure go in the direction from bottom to top.

The duration of one massage session for a newborn is from 15 to 20 minutes. As the child grows, you can increase the duration of the massage session and at the same time complicate the exercises. But, before changing the procedure, you must definitely consult with your children's doctor.

Benefits of massage

Almost all human nerve receptors are located on the skin. During the massage, blood flow is normalized, as a result, each organ receives the necessary nutrition. Therefore, massage is indicated for infants in the first weeks of life.

For young children, massage replaces physical exercise. Thanks to massage movements, it becomes easier for the baby to perceive the objects around them.

Regardless of the type of massage, the procedure supports the newborn’s immunity. The baby is thus protected from viral and infectious diseases.

Thanks to the massage, the baby digests food better, as a result, colic and tummy pain are eliminated. The newborn develops correct posture.

The first month of a newborn's life is a very important period. The baby's body begins to form. According to pediatric doctors, massage for a newborn is necessary from the first days of life to strengthen, develop and improve the child’s health. Features of massage for newborns of different ages vary. We will look at how, when and why to perform the procedure on a one-month-old baby.

Every mother can do a restorative massage for a newborn at home. From the first days it is important for the baby to feel touch.

Massage the baby with soft, delicate movements. The benefits of massage are as follows:

• Prevention of musculoskeletal system disorders.
• Healing effect on the development of the nervous system.
• The cardiovascular system and immunity are strengthened.
• Blood circulation and breathing of the baby improves.
• The child eats and sleeps better.

The baby develops in two directions: physical and mental.

There is a special massage technology for infants from 1 month, which involves all organs (from the face to the feet). Massage for therapeutic purposes should only be performed by a specialist.

Basic impact techniques

At this age, the massage technique has its own characteristics. The massage technique for a one-month-old baby consists of light rubbing and stroking, turning into gentle pressure. If the procedure is carried out correctly, the baby will perk up and his skin will turn pink. At this age, you can easily harm a child, since the bones are at the stage of formation.

Prohibited:

• Patting.
• Impact movements.
• Strong and sharp pressure.
• Pressing on the chest.

Avoid massaging in the groin area, on the inside of the thigh, on the knees, elbows, fontanel, kidneys, and armpits. Any massage is prohibited immediately after feeding and waking up. The actions depend on the goal: a relaxing massage calms the baby, improves his sleep, an invigorating massage gives a positive charge and lifts his spirits.

Preparing for a massage

Before the procedure, the massage therapist needs to prepare accessories (towel, oil, cream or lotion) and prepare the room.

Massage therapist training

The person doing the massage needs:

• Cut your nails short.
• Remove jewelry from hands.
• Prepare the skin of your hands (warm, pleasant to the touch).

Preparing the premises

Be sure to ventilate the room. Avoid hypothermia of the baby. The room temperature should be between 21–24°C. When the baby is cold, hiccups begin, the nose and back of the head become cold.

Stages of massage

As mentioned earlier, a massage session for a one-month-old baby consists of stroking and rubbing. It is carried out in the following order:

1. The baby lies on his back, his limbs are massaged, starting with the arms.
2. Place the baby on the stomach to massage the back.
3. Rolling onto your back - stroking your tummy. Stroking and rubbing the feet. The legs are bent and straightened.
4. Turns from one barrel to another.

In order to strengthen the abdominal and neck muscles, it is recommended to place the baby on his tummy as often as possible.

How to massage

When the room is prepared and the baby is in a positive mood, the session begins. Below is an example of a restorative massage for 1 month old newborns.

Breast

Gentle stroking from the intercostal space to the sides. Do it several times. It should give you a pleasant feeling.

On the tummy

The position on the stomach helps the correct formation of the spinal axis. So the baby strives to raise his head and hold it, the neck muscles are trained. Using circular strokes, walk along the back (from the vertebra to the sides), along the buttocks towards the spine, along the surface of the thighs.

Head

Lightly stroke with fingertips from the crown to the forehead, without touching the fontanel area. From the top of the head, smoothly move to the temporal part and the back of the head. Leisurely massage your face with your fingertips from the forehead to the temples. A figure eight is smoothly drawn around the circle of the eye sockets. The sides of the neck are stroked. In an arc, from the nose to the ears, massage the cheeks.

Spinal extension

The child may reflexively arch his back in response to external stimulation. To do this, place him on a barrel and gently move his hand along the spinal column, stepping aside 1 cm. The baby experiences a response - an arched bend of the back. Make sure that the exercise does not cause discomfort to the child.

Tummy massage

From birth to 3 months, children develop a digestive system, their body adapts to new food resources. At this age, the following problems with a baby's tummy are common:

• Colic.
• Bloating.
• Constipation.

The baby is placed on his back on a flat surface, and the bent legs are lightly pressed against the tummy. The legs are bent and unbent several times.

The abdomen is stimulated with stroking circular movements in a clockwise direction. Finish with complete stimulation of the intestines. Stroking from the hypochondrium to the navel, rising to the stomach. Do not touch the right hypochondrium and genitals.

Hands and feet

Slowly open your fists and massage your palms. Draw the number eight or seven on your feet with your thumb. Reflexively, the baby will clench and unclench his toes.

This massage session is restorative and tonic. But, recently, muscle hypertonicity has been monitored in newborn children. A different type of massage is needed here.

Massage for hypertonicity in newborns (relaxing)

You can notice muscle hypertonicity by the following signs:

• Baby's restlessness.
• When a baby cries, he throws his head back and arches his back.
• Tense limbs are brought together.

Massage for a 1 month old baby with hypertension is necessary. But to get a positive result, be sure to follow the procedure technique:

• Movements of the massage therapist's hands in the direction of the blood vessels (on the legs - massage from the foot towards the groin, on the arms - from the palms to the shoulder). First they work with the handles.
• Gently touch each hand from the fingers upward, then massage the fingers.
• Legs - light touches from the foot to the shin and thighs. Do not touch the inner thighs, groin, knees. Flexion and extension of the legs at the knees and hip joints.
• Using sliding, gentle movements, make spiral-shaped lines several times along the baby’s foot.

The proposed scheme is a partially relaxing massage for hypertonicity of a newborn. You can do these exercises yourself.

Contraindications

You need to start massaging your newborn very carefully. It is prohibited to perform massage sessions on infants if:

• Blood diseases.
• Elevated body temperature.
• Skin diseases.
• Acute diseases (cystitis, pyelonephritis).
• Hepatitis, umbilical hernia.
• Severe form of rickets.
• Bleeding, damage to the skin and limbs.
• Heart defect.
• Bone tuberculosis.
• Excessive nervousness of the baby.

Before you start massaging your baby on your own, you need to consult a doctor, specifying how many times you need to carry out the procedure.

Timing

At what time to massage a 1 month old baby depends on the purpose of the procedure and the individual characteristics of the baby. If you are planning a relaxing session, the best time for the session is after swimming and before bed. A toning session is carried out in the first half of the day. The first massage for a 1 month old baby lasts about 10 minutes, with a gradual increase to 20 minutes. Thanks to the massage that the mother does, her bond with the child is strengthened. A newborn baby is very vulnerable as it adapts to life. By contacting the mother, the child will be calmer. All this will have a positive impact on his harmonious development.