Massage for babies

Massage is a universal treatment method, which has found wide application in many diseases in people of all ages. Special attention should be paid to massage techniques in infants. This type of treatment is prescribed from the first month of life, as indicated by its high efficacy and relative safety. In this article we will consider questions about the mechanism of the therapeutic effect of massage for infants, the method of conducting and contraindications.

Indications for general and local massage for infants

Indications for a massage for infants from 1 month of life are:

• congenital pathology of the joints ( hip dysplasia );
• congenital torticollis (as a result of displacement of cervical vertebrae or muscle spasm);
• rickets;
• hypotrophy;
• umbilical hernia ;
• increased intracranial pressure (with hydrocephalus);
• diseases of the respiratory system (pneumonia, bronchitis, cystic fibrosis);
• a restorative massage for infants will not be superfluous even for a healthy child and promotes the harmonious development of the baby.

Therapeutic and health effects of massage in infants

So, what effect does the pediatrician want to receive by prescribing a massage to the baby? So, in the presence of pathology, the goal, of course, is the elimination of deficiencies.

1. With hypotrophy and rickets, massage helps strengthen the muscular corset and increase muscle mass.
2. With curved therapeutic massage of the neck, the baby helps remove the spasm from the deltoid muscle and stabilizes the cervical vertebrae.
3. Massage of the abdomen with umbilical hernia helps strengthen the abdominal muscles, and small hernias can be tightened. In addition, a tummy massage relieves the baby from colic and spasms.
4. General strengthening massage in an infant helps the child's body to develop harmoniously. So, a general massage for babies in 2 months will help strengthen the muscles of the back and neck, so that the kid confidently will keep the head.
5. Prophylactic massage for a six-month-old child will help him sit down, and keep himself in that position. Massage at the age of 9-10 months for babies will help the child confidently stand on the legs and take their first steps.

How to do massage babies?

Before you begin the procedure of massage, you should give your mother a few recommendations. Massage the baby should be done on an empty stomach either 2 hours after eating. It is strictly forbidden to massage a child during illness, especially when there is temperature. The procedure should be carried out in a bright, clean, well-ventilated room. It is better to do this when the baby wakes up and has a good mood. During the massage, you should talk with the child, sing songs, so that he takes this treatment as an exciting game.

To perform the procedure, you can use baby massage oil or other means to moisturize the skin. While giving a massage to a baby, it is not necessary to exert force, movements should not bring painful sensations. Of the techniques of massage recommend stroking, kneading, rubbing and vibration. Begin and finish the massage should be with the reception stroking. All massage movements must be carried out along the joints, and in no case the reverse. If a relaxing massage is performed, then the methods of stroking and rubbing are used. He is held before going to bed and taking a bath so that the baby calms down and sleeps well.

Thus, massage for babies is an important component in the development of the child. Its effectiveness will be much higher if, together with the massage, morning exercise will be performed and during the day therapeutic gymnastics.