When to massage a newborn before meals or. When can you massage a newborn? When to perform the procedure

Massage for newborns is an important routine moment in the life of a baby. Its implementation is not just desirable, but mandatory. That is why, when visiting a children's clinic in a healthy child's room, nurses show the mother how to do massage and its elements suitable for a particular age. In this article I would like to dwell in more detail on the types of massage, the principles of its implementation and its importance for the development of a child.

Why is it so important to massage an infant?

Massage is a universal way to influence the baby’s body as a whole. A newborn baby has underdeveloped various body systems, but skin analyzers are quite ready for work. Therefore, massage sessions bring maximum benefits. They help physical and speech development, improve coordination of movements and contribute to the establishment of a deeper emotional connection between mother and child. Naturally, provided that she gives the baby a relaxing massage on her own, and does not use the services of a massage therapist.

Children's massage is divided into two types

• General strengthening or general;
• Medicinal.

A mother can do a restorative massage on her own at home. To do this, she needs to learn massage movements, properly prepare the room and table, and also purchase in advance all the necessary equipment for the massage. Therapeutic massage is prescribed by a pediatrician - an orthopedist, surgeon or neurologist. It is better to entrust its implementation to specialists, although after training and observing several procedures, the mother can master the rules and movements herself.

Principles of restorative massage:

• When to start a massage? From 2-3 weeks of life.
• Movements are carried out along massage lines - from the periphery to the center.
• The speed of hand movement - 2 cm per second - should coincide with the speed of lymph flow.
• Avoid the spine, lymph nodes, liver and heart areas.
• Gently work on the neck.
• Stroking the tummy is done only clockwise.
• All movements should be light; excessive pressure should not be applied.
• Perform a massage for infants accompanied by classical music or your own singing. You can also recite rhymes and nursery rhymes.

At what age should you start massage?

You can practice conducting restorative massage sessions when the child reaches the age of half a month. Until the baby reaches 1.5 months, the only movement should be stroking. Gentle touches massage the baby's legs and arms, tummy and back, and fingers. Later (after 3-4 months), rubbing, patting, kneading and elements of gymnastics can be introduced.

Massage movements to help cope with problems

A restorative massage for infants is carried out if they are healthy and developing normally. If the baby has problems, then special massage exercises or even their complexes will help to cope with them.

A general tummy massage is beneficial for the baby, as it improves digestion. And if a child suffers from intestinal colic, a special massage for colic will help. You need to alternately lower your left and then your right hand along the baby’s ribs. Next, you should clasp the baby’s legs with your right hand, and gently massage the tummy with your left, and then press the legs bent at the knees to the tummy.

Exercises on a fitball help with hypertension. A fitball is a large exercise ball. Place the baby with his tummy on the surface of the ball and gently rock him from side to side. This exercise also helps relieve gas.

Dacryocystitis is a disease in which the lacrimal sac and lacrimal system become inflamed. For children, a very effective solution to the problem is a special massage. Massage for dacryocystitis is performed as follows. You need to press on the point located at the outer corner of the eye and move towards the bridge of the nose, making pressing movements. Effective implementation of this procedure in combination with anti-inflammatory drops can replace surgical intervention.

It can also help with constipation. However, this measure should be taken as prescribed by a doctor. He will choose the appropriate technique, and a professional massage therapist will provide the necessary pressure.

For a small umbilical hernia, the following treatment methods are practiced: general massage, physical therapy, lying on the stomach, massage of the anterior abdominal wall. The first two methods are carried out by a massage therapist and a physical therapy doctor, and the last two can easily be practiced by a mother on her own. It involves stroking the belly in a clockwise direction. It is recommended to lay the baby on his stomach for 5-10 minutes before each feeding.

A neurologist can prescribe a neck massage if he determines that a child has torticollis. The complex consists of exercises that gradually bring the neck to a normal state. It is better to entrust it to a specialist.

For infants, mother's attention and physical contact with her are important. A massage will allow the baby to feel mother’s gentle hands, her touch, giving care and health, freeing him from health problems.

A massage complex from a practicing pediatrician that can be performed at home

Articles for our site are written by various specialists who have not only knowledge, but also practical experience. Pediatrician Elena Borisova wrote a wonderful article about this for our website.

Hi guys! Lena Zhabinskaya is with you! Nowadays, massage for newborns is becoming increasingly popular. In search of a good specialist who will carry it out, people turn to clinics, early development centers, and private offices, finally. They believe that such manipulations with their baby will help him grow up faster.

But is everything so unequivocally good in this matter, or are there situations when there is more harm than good? Or are such manipulations contraindicated in principle? Let's find out today!

The fashion for massage began when mothers who actively practiced it began to claim that it made their babies calmer and more sociable. They started doing it almost from 0 months, arguing that it was during this period that the baby’s auditory and visual receptors were still poorly developed, as a result of which he perceived the world around him only through touch.

Regular gentle stroking allows him to truly develop a stable emotional state - he is less capricious and cries. Massage is also an excellent prevention of many childhood diseases that can arise as a result of inconsistency in the functioning of internal organs and systems.

A striking example of this is the gastrointestinal tract. How many mothers have experienced newborn constipation? But it was a properly performed massage that helped many people solve this problem.

Moreover, gentle massage movements:

• relieve muscle tension and hypertonicity;
• eliminate increased excitability;
• improve sleep;
• promote the development of motor activity and affect posture and physical fitness.

Overall, massage is incredibly beneficial for a newborn. The only time it can cause harm is neglecting contraindications for it, as well as inviting an outsider to perform it. Then the baby is afraid, capricious,... But we'll talk about this a little later.

Kinds

There are three types of massage according to purpose. It happens:

1. medicinal;
2. therapeutic and prophylactic;
3. preventive.

Each of them has its own advantages and implementation features. But first things first.

Massotherapy

It is easy to guess that it should be carried out exclusively by a specialist, and this is not surprising, because it helps to get rid of many ailments, namely:

• hypotonicity, hypertonicity;
• hip dysplasia;
• torticollis;
• asymmetry of muscle tone of the body and limbs;
• congenital dislocation;
• congenital and acquired clubfoot;
• umbilical hernia;
• leg deformities;
• flat-valgus foot;
• diseases of the central nervous system.

Treatment for all these diseases using massage is carried out using different techniques. All of them are owned by a specialist who can help the baby. Positive results from his sessions are observed within a few days.

Treatment and prophylaxis

This type of massage involves kneading the entire body, with special attention paid to problem areas. What could it be? Most often the tummy and respiratory organs. Therapeutic and preventive massage can be recommended for colic and disorders of the digestive system, diseases of the genitourinary system, and bronchitis.

Due to the fact that it has its own subtleties and secrets, only a specialist can perform such a massage. After just a few sessions of working with it, the following is noted:

• normalization of blood circulation;
• improving the functioning of the cardiovascular system;
• elimination of defects in the muscular and skeletal systems.

Thanks to therapeutic and prophylactic massage, a newborn learns to quickly roll over onto his stomach, crawl, sit down, stand on his feet, and walk.

Prophylactic

The purpose of this massage is:

• improved blood circulation and breathing;
• improved metabolism and appetite;
• normalization of sleep and behavior, which is especially important for easily excitable children.

• about high temperature (37.5 and above);
• blood diseases;
• tuberculosis of bones and joints;
• severe form of rickets;
• hepatitis;
• limb injuries, open wounds and burns;
• diseases of the genitourinary system in acute form (pyelonephritis, cystitis);
• skin ailments;
• about the age of 1 month and earlier - at this time massage can only do harm;
• heart defects (however, exceptions are possible here, which can only be determined by a doctor);
• bleeding;
• extensive inguinal or umbilical hernias;
• hernias prone to strangulation;
• recent and upcoming vaccinations.

You should not do a massage if you have colds, flu, or ARVI. The only exception to this rule is percussion massage, the purpose of which is to facilitate the discharge of sputum.

Tearfulness, capriciousness and a negative attitude of the baby in general are also serious contraindications to massage. If it is inevitable, it is necessary to find out the reason for the child’s bad mood, and then, having created a favorable background and improved it, begin to implement it.

When is a massage necessary?

In order not to blindly follow fashion, you need to understand the norm and deviation from it. The latter are the main factors for the pediatrician and neurologist that indicate in favor of prescribing massage. It is recommended if:

• at the age of 1.5 - 2 months the child does not hold, but very poorly in the tummy position;
• at 4–5 months he does not try to roll over onto his back or tummy;
• at six months he does not try to sit up;
• at 7 - 7.5 months he still sits uncertainly, every now and then, leaning to one side, arching his back;
• at 8–9 months he cannot crawl and does not intend to;
• at 9 months does not want to stand up independently, holding onto a support;
• at the age of one year he cannot even walk by hand.

All this indicates the presence of problems with muscle tone, which prevents him from learning something new and catching up in the development of his peers. Ideally, only a doctor after an examination can tell exactly what kind of massage will help a particular child.

When asked at what age to start doing it, all experts confidently say 4 – 5 weeks. It is believed that at this time the pain is delayed, and the child finally adapts to the environment.

Meanwhile, most young parents are inclined to start giving massage to their children at 3 months. When contact with him has already been established, and he himself is cheerful and calm.

Rules

How to properly massage a newborn? It turns out that you need to start with preparation.

• The room temperature should be 21 - 22 degrees, and the room itself should be well ventilated.
• When exactly can you start? All manipulations should be carried out no later than an hour before meals and no earlier than 1 hour after.
• The massage therapist's hands should be warm. All jewelry should be removed.
• The baby should only be placed on a hard, warm surface.
• To massage healthy babies, additional moisturizers are not needed.
• The optimal duration of sessions is 5 – 10 minutes with a slight gradual increase in time.

Who should do

It is quite possible for parents themselves to perform therapeutic, prophylactic and prophylactic massages directly after a detailed study of special literature and consultation with a specialist. This option has a number of undoubted advantages:

1. the child is not afraid and enjoys contact with his beloved mom and dad;
2. you perform a massage at any time and place convenient for you;
3. you control the strength and intensity of the manipulations and can interrupt them at any time;
4. it's absolutely free.

If you prefer to invite a specialist, carefully monitor the baby’s reaction to a stranger. If the little one gets scared, screams and cries, such a massage will do more harm than good.

The child’s psyche is structured in such a way that he feels his mother acutely and is extremely rarely ready to make close contact with strangers.

For a visiting specialist, in most cases, your child is just a job that needs to be done quickly in order to rush to the next little client, and there is no extra time to establish contact and calm down.

The stress received by a baby during a painful massage performed by someone else's aunt can negatively affect the formation of a healthy psyche in a newborn. After all, as you know, all problems come from childhood.

Therefore, if you have such a desire, do not be lazy, learn simple techniques and massage your child yourself.

Techniques and techniques

For newborn children aged 1 - 3 months, forceful movements are not used. Only light stroking and kneading are allowed.

• Begin the massage with the hands. At this stage, gently knead the fingers, then the palms, wrists, and shoulders.
  
• After this, they move on to their legs, stretching their fingers, feet, and thighs in the same way.
  
• Then it's time for the chest. How to massage in this area? Use gentle circular movements from the sternum to the shoulders, avoiding the breast areas.
• Afterwards, the baby is placed on one side, kneading the other, and so on one by one. Interestingly, in this position he should try to arch his back, which will indicate his correct development.
  
• The final stage is massaging the head and ears, bypassing the fontanel area.

After this, the baby can be stroked all over the body.

It is important to know: in children aged 1 - 3 months, the areas of the elbow, armpit, inner thigh, under the knee, and fontanel are not massaged.

After the doctor's permission, you can massage the hip joint. It consists of preliminary stroking this area, as well as performing the “Toad” exercise, when the legs are spread apart.

If you want, you should try the ball. The baby is placed on its surface and rocked, holding it.

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Massage for children is a soft, measured stroking of the child’s body with your own hands. You can use oil or so that your hands can glide smoothly over the baby's skin.

As part of the massage process, you can gently manipulate your child's ankles, wrists, and fingers for passive joint exercises. During the massage, speak softly, hum, or sing to your baby. This will make your manipulations even more soothing for the baby.

Soothing hand strokes activate the production of the happiness hormone, oxytocin, in all participants in the massage session.

Positive properties of massage for infants

There are many benefits of baby massage that can have a positive impact not only on the newborn baby, but also on his parents.

Massage will help your child:

• develop physically, cognitively, socially;
• stay relaxed and don't get upset;
• cry and fuss less;
• sleep better.

One study found that massaging a newborn can help them recover faster from jaundice.

Massage sessions are especially useful for premature babies, As a result, several improvements will be observed:

1. Faster weight gain, especially when using oils. Massage activates a key nerve called the vagus nerve, which connects the brain to major parts of the body, including the stomach. Activation of this nerve improves digestion and bowel movements, helping the baby gain weight.
2. Stable heart rate. Massage improves the functioning of the nervous system, which regulates the functioning of our organs. Thus, massage can help keep the baby's heart rate constant.
3. Calmer behavior under stress and pain.
4. More stable brain activity. Premature babies who receive massage tend to have normally developing brain activity. Premature babies who have not had massage experience a decrease in brain activity.

Massage for a baby from 0 to 3 months consists, first of all, of training the child’s body for various movements, lowering the legs, arms, and also actively developing the neck muscles, strengthening the upper pectoral, back muscles and shoulder girdle.

Massage for a 1 month old baby is also carried out in order to promote the normal functioning of internal organs, relax muscles and improve metabolism.

Sharp and hard pressure is not permissible when giving a massage to a one-month-old baby. This is especially significant when massaging the baby’s face and head. After all, the baby’s bones are still forming, and they are very sensitive and fragile.

• massage for infants from 1 month includes soft stroking, gradually turning to light pressure;
• A massage for a 2-month-old baby contains soft stroking and may also include rubbing, kneading and vibration. Massage for a 2-month-old baby is intended to relieve colic, relax the muscles of the legs and arms, which are still toned. Massage should also help calm the nervous system. Rubbing should be done carefully, because children's skin is still very delicate and thin. You should refrain from rubbing if you notice rashes on the baby’s skin;
• Regular massage for a 3-month-old child helps prevent the appearance of colic and colic, has a beneficial effect on the nervous system, strengthens muscles and joints, and improves blood circulation. Massaging the palms and arms has a positive effect on the development of fine motor skills, and therefore on the child’s speech and cognitive skills in the future. General massage for a three-month-old baby includes gentle stroking, rubbing and gymnastic exercises.

How to massage newborns at home?

Before deciding how to massage your newborn, choose a place that is safe for you to massage your baby. It should be comfortable both for you, so that it is convenient to massage the baby, and for the baby itself.

Until your baby can roll over or move around a lot, you just need to make sure that he is lying on a stable surface.

As soon as the child can roll over, it is better to choose a surface from which he cannot fall. Babies can roll over in the blink of an eye, especially if the baby is covered in oil and is slippery.

The middle of the bed or even the floor will do just fine. Just place a clean towel or sheet under your baby. And never leave your baby unattended.

Make sure the room temperature is comfortable and there are no direct air flows or drafts. If the weather is hot, do not massage your baby directly under a fan or directly under the air conditioner. The baby will not enjoy the massage if it feels cold.

Since this is a special moment for you and your child, make sure there are no distractions in the room. If you have a pet, move it to another room and put your cell phone on silent. You may even want to play relaxing music at a low volume so your child can hear you being spoken to.

Have everything you need for a massage at hand.

You need to prepare:

• massage oil;
• towels to wipe off excess oil or cream;
• clothes for changing a child's clothes;
• regular diaper changing kit;
• child and a towel if you are bathing your baby after the massage.

How to massage a newborn? Basic massage techniques

Babies love established routines and repetition.

So if you massage your baby the same way every time, he will know what to expect and enjoy the experience.

1. Start massaging the baby from the legs, gradually moving to the body, ending with the head. Feet are a great place to start a massage session because your baby is used to having their feet touched when their diaper is changed.
2. Pour a few drops of cream or oil onto your hands. Heat the oil or cream by rubbing it between your palms.
3. Rub it very gently into your baby's skin, starting from the feet.
4. Work your way up your legs. You can then gently stroke from your hips to your toes.
5. Follow the same sequence on your hands. Massage them from shoulders to toes. It is useful to combine massage with light exercises.
6. Exercise for fingers. Lightly pinch a finger between your thumb and forefinger and slowly bend and straighten it. Repeat with each finger. It is useful to accompany such exercises with nursery rhymes.
7. Exercises for the chest and tummy include circular strokes in a clockwise direction. Circular stroking of the tummy, done with gentle pressure, helps move food through the digestive tract.
8. Hold your child's legs below the knee and, as you lift your legs up, gently press your knees onto your stomach. This will help the excess gases escape.
9. Finish massaging the front of your baby's body with extensive strokes from the chest to the hips.
10. Turn your baby onto his stomach to massage his back. Use large, counterclockwise circular motions, moving up your back from the base to your shoulders.

    Do not press on the spinal column area. This may harm your baby.

11. Finish the back massage by stroking with a large amplitude from the shoulders to the hips, as you did on the front of the body.

Baby head massage

In India, no baby massage is done without a head massage.

Some children enjoy having their head touched more than any other part of their body.

If your child is one of those who does not like having their head touched, do not insist on this type of massage. Wait until your baby has grown a little and then try again. As your child becomes more familiar with massage, he or she may begin to love scalp massage as well.

How should you massage your baby's head?

It is necessary to be very gentle with the newborn's head, since the bones of the skull are not yet fused.

Upon examination, you can notice soft spots that sometimes pulsate. They are called fontanelles. There are two fontanelles, one located on the crown (large fontanel), the other on the back of the head (small fontanel) of the child. The posterior fontanel closes when your baby is about 6 weeks old, but the fontanel on the top of the head closes by 18 months.

In the first six weeks, do not apply pressure when performing a head massage. Simply pat all parts of your head gently with the oil and let it absorb on its own.

Once baby's head is stiff, you can apply gentle pressure with your fingers, making small circular motions as you work your way around baby's head.

But never apply pressure to the top of the baby's head, where the larger fontanelle is still soft.

The fontanelles close and harden on their own as the bones of the child’s head grow and fuse together.

Until the child can hold his head up on his own, apply oil to the head when the baby is lying on his back. This way, any oil that drips will not fall on his face. When the baby is holding his head up on his own, you can apply the oil while he is lying on his stomach. This will make the exercise position even more comfortable.

If your baby has seborrheic dermatitis, do not scratch the crust while applying the oil. You will find that leaving the oil on your baby's head overnight will help soften the crust, which may then fall off on its own during bathing or when you wash or comb your baby's hair.

Even if this is not the case, seborrheic dermatitis does not bother the baby and is very common among children. It often goes away on its own as the baby grows up.

By combing out the crust, you risk damaging your scalp and causing infection.

How often should you get a massage?

Traditionally, the baby is given a massage every day before or after bathing. Some parents massage twice a day for the first three months. But there is no ideal number of massage sessions.

How often you do this depends on the time you have and how the child is feeling during the massage. If you are a working mother, then most likely, giving your baby a daily massage will be difficult.

Even if your child receives massage only occasionally, all the benefits of massage will still be present.

Duration of massage session

The duration of the massage changes with the age of the child. Some babies love it from birth, and then it takes up to 30 minutes to massage the whole body.

If your baby doesn't like massage initially, keep the sessions short. As your baby begins to crawl or walk, you may notice that he won't want to lie down for as long. Then you need to massage for 5 - 10 minutes.

Just “read” the signs your child gives. They will let you know if he likes the massage or not.

Give your baby a massage when he is not hungry or tired. This way he will like the massage more. This can happen at any time of the day.

Babies love predictability, so if you do things at the same time and in the same sequence, they feel safe and happy. For example, if you start with a massage, followed by bathing, feeding and finally sleep, the baby will learn to recognize this pattern and will expect it.

This can be difficult to do with a newborn when frequent feedings are necessary and the baby sleeps almost all the time. As he grows up and spends more time awake, you can take your time.

Since massage relaxes your baby, you can even make it part of your bedtime routine. A massage before bedtime will help your baby relax after an active day and calm down, ready for rest.

If your baby cries frequently at night, an evening massage may help reduce the likelihood of crying. Over time, you will get to know your baby better and be able to find appropriate times for massage and bathing. Let the baby become your guide.

When is massage contraindicated?

If your child has a rash, do not apply cream or oil to the skin without first consulting a doctor.

If it becomes clear that the rash is caused by the cream or oil that was used to massage your baby, stop using it and contact your doctor to find out which oils or creams are best for your baby.

Some experts believe that it is better not to massage when your baby is sick or sick. Others claim that gentle massage during a viral illness can help relieve body pain.

If your child has a fever, consult a doctor before getting a massage.

Always accept and explain signals from your child to yourself. When sick, he may become fussy and refuse massage. On the other hand, if your touch eases pain in the body, the baby will be able to calm down and fall asleep faster with your gentle strokes.

If your child's fever increases, he or she may feel cold. So you can simply iron and rub it over your clothes without undressing it. However, if the fever goes down, your baby may feel hot and may want to take off his clothes.

Keep an eye on the child. Always try to understand what makes his condition most comfortable.

In winter, you also need to massage. But the baby will only like it if he doesn’t feel cold. Therefore, make sure the room is warm enough before undressing your baby.

How to massage a baby is largely determined by the child himself. The ability to read the signals of his behavior is the most important aspect of massage. Your child will show himself when it should end, which strokes the baby likes and which ones he doesn’t.

Every mother should be able to massage her infant. These are mandatory hygiene procedures that are carried out daily. The general importance of massage movements for the development of a baby cannot be overestimated. At birth, the child has full tactile sensitivity. But at the same time, many internal organs and systems are in a state of ongoing development. The correct baby massage techniques will help them develop correctly.

These procedures are useful for relieving muscle hypertonicity, developing sensitivity, improving blood flow and lymph movement, preventing umbilical hernias, strengthening muscles, improving digestion processes, and hardening the baby.

General principles of massage for infants:

• procedures should begin with 10-15 minutes;
• the child must be completely undressed;
• The massage is done on the hard surface of the changing table, which is covered;
• hands should be lubricated with baby cream and all jewelry should be removed;
• you need to monitor the child’s body temperature - if the occipital region is warm, then cold fingers and toes are not taken into account;
• talk during a massage with your baby;
• increase the time of procedures gradually up to 30 minutes per day.

Massaging an infant is strictly prohibited when:

• increased body temperature;
• digestive disorders;
• immediately after feeding;
• hernias around the umbilical ring;
• irritations on the skin;
• pustules;
• colds.

Before you start regularly massaging your infant, consult a doctor who is monitoring his condition. Your baby may need special massage techniques to correct a particular condition.

At what month can you start massage for newborns?

Many parents wonder at what month they can start doing massage for newborn babies. In maternity wards, massage for healthy, full-term babies in combination with air baths is provided from the second day after birth. At home, after discharge, massage can be done as soon as the umbilical cord stump falls off. Until this time, it is not recommended to perform any manipulations with the child’s body without sufficient experience. Wrong actions of parents can lead to the development of an umbilical hernia in the future.

Therefore, wait until the umbilical wound has completely healed and begin to accustom your baby to daily massage. In this case, the area around the umbilical ring should be massaged gradually, starting with capturing the skin around it. Stimulation of cutaneous nerve receptors will help increase muscle tone of the linea alba and reduce the risk of umbilical hernia.

Practical techniques for baby massage

We begin massaging the infant. To do this, we warm the air in the room to 25-28 °C. Be sure to wash your hands with baby soap and remove all jewelry. Warm your hands to body temperature. We carefully place the baby on the changing table and gradually undress. It is best to do a massage immediately after the child wakes up from sleep and recovers his natural physiological needs.

When the child is undressed, begin to slowly stroke the feet from the big toe to the heel. It is recommended to stretch each finger thoroughly. There are a large number of reflex points on the foot that stimulate the functioning of internal organs. Be sure to talk to your child during procedures, tell him fairy tales and songs.

• massage your legs with light stroking movements, moving from the foot to the groin area, avoiding touching the inner thigh and groin area;
• straighten each of the baby’s legs several times, lift the baby and try to put him on his legs, but at the same time supporting the body weight in your arms;
• hand massage consists of stimulating the palms to unclench and the grasping reflex - straighten the child’s palm, massage the fingers, provoke the child to grab your fingers. After this, by stroking and lightly patting, massage the inner and outer surfaces of the forearm and shoulder girdle;
• turn the child over onto his tummy and massage the back and gluteal region with circular stroking movements clockwise and counterclockwise - avoid pressure on the spinal column and neck;
• We complete the massage by turning the baby onto his back and lightly stroking movements along the front chest wall, then place your palms on the baby’s tummy and lightly knead it with soft circular movements.

How to massage the abdomen for colic?

In infants, at the time of birth, the digestive tract is in a state of ongoing development and restructuring to accommodate a new source of nutrients.

In this regard, specific problems can often arise, which include:

• intestinal colic;
• bloating;
• violation of the act;
• decreased appetite.

You can help your baby with regular tummy massages. You can do a massage for colic only if you have accurate information about the child’s absence of congenital colic. To do this, you need to consult a doctor.

In the absence of contraindications, massaging the tummy and placing the baby on the stomach will help normalize the process of intestinal development and prevent the development of negative symptoms. If problems have already arisen, try doing abdominal mass for colic. In some cases this technique helps. For this:

• expose your baby's tummy and legs;
• place the child on his back on a hard surface;
• bend the child’s legs several times, pulling the knees towards the front surface of the abdomen;
• Using circular movements clockwise, massage first the upper abdomen, then the lower;
• Using gentle pressing movements, move along the entire course of the intestines - you should start from the right hypochondrium along the diaphragm, then going down and rising around the navel to the stomach area.

Repeat all these techniques for the child 3-5 times. Complete the procedure by placing your baby on his tummy for a few minutes. In combination with other techniques that your doctor tells you, this should help get rid of colic and possible bloating.

In order for a child to actively develop, master new movements and acquire skills in time, massage is very useful for him. It is good if during the first year of life the baby undergoes several courses of restorative massage under the guidance of a specially trained person, each of which lasts 10 days. After this you need to take a 2-3 month break.

But besides this, it is imperative to massage newborns at home. It has a remarkable effect on the condition of the entire body, because during the session blood flows to the massaged area, enhancing all metabolic processes in it. Babies begin to hold their heads up earlier, learn to roll over onto their tummy more actively, and strive to explore the world.

At what age can newborns be massaged?

If there are no special indications, then massage in a children's clinic is not prescribed before 2-3 months. You can start doing it at home when the baby is 3 weeks old and the umbilical wound has already healed.

When can and should you massage a newborn?

The best time for massage sessions is when the baby is awake and in a good mood. If the time has come, and the child is capricious, then it is better to postpone the lesson until a more opportune moment. It is advisable to develop a specific schedule - this will be convenient for both the mother and more familiar to the baby.

Typically, all physical exercises, including massage, are carried out in the morning or afternoon. Some children become very active after classes, but most soon fall asleep. You should not do it before bedtime, because the child’s reaction can be unpredictable.

After the last feeding, at least an hour should pass, but even before meals you should not start a massage, because the child will not be able to relax, but will actively protest, demanding food.

How to properly massage a newborn?

Massage for newborns, like any other, is carried out with movements from bottom to top on the limbs and from the center to the periphery on the body. All movements, especially at first, should be light and stroking. More active methods should be left to professionals. At home, you should limit yourself to simple movements.

The child needs to be completely undressed, and if the room is cold, alternately uncover the massaged area, and then wrap it up again.

Newborn massage technique

Massage of a newborn baby is carried out using stroking and twisting techniques. If everything is clear with the first one, then twisting is a light movement, as when squeezing out laundry. Light stretching is also used.

A mother should consult a doctor about what kind of massage to give to her newborn. Usually these are simple manipulations that do not take more than 10 minutes.

Legs

Using stroking circular movements, starting from the toes towards the thigh, each leg is worked in turn from bottom to top, several approaches. Then the mother presses her thumb on the foot near the toes - they reflexively tuck. After this, the finger is drawn down to the heel, and the fingers unclench again.

Pens

Each hand is rubbed from hand to shoulder, then shaken lightly. Insert your thumb into the baby's palm and massage it clockwise.

Torso

When the baby is lying on his back, his chest is stroked from the center to the sides, the same is done with the back, in the position - the baby is on his stomach. The tummy is massaged in a circle with gentle movements.