How to massage a child 9-12 months?

Between the ages of 9 and 12 months, massaging a child can be a great way to improve the bond between parent and child. Babies are growing quickly at this age, becoming more active, and investigating their environment. They can feel more at ease, sleep better, and have their developing muscles and joints supported by a light massage.

It’s crucial to give a playful massage and to adjust your style according to the baby’s mood. While some babies might like a massage that lasts longer than a few minutes, others might not. Seeing how your baby responds will help you design a cozy and joyful environment.

Make sure the space is quiet and warm before beginning. To help your hands glide over your baby’s skin more smoothly, keep some natural, baby-safe oil on hand. You can also lay your baby on a soft blanket or towel. Never use too much pressure and always use soft, calming strokes.

Why massage?

By 9 months, your baby has mastered many new movements and skills. He is no longer the helpless lump that you brought home from the maternity hospital. Usually, at 9-12 months, children change the position of their body in space perfectly, roll over from side to side, from back to side and onto their stomach, from stomach to back, etc. . Children sit, and sit on their own. Many crawl well and are already trying to get up. Some stand well in a playpen or crib and are already trying to take their first steps. The load on the musculoskeletal system of an active and inquisitive child has increased tenfold, especially if the baby is overweight. Massage in this case will help to compensate for the load, distribute it correctly so that the musculoskeletal system, all bones, joints and ligaments develop harmoniously and correctly.

At this age, a child has excellent passive speech. Even if he does not pronounce distinct words, believe me, he understands perfectly well what adults say. Massage, accompanied by games, communication, exercise and gymnastics, promotes the development of speech, psychomotor skills, and the emotional sphere of the child. As at an earlier age, massage in the last months of the first year of life helps strengthen the immune system. Children whose parents continue to massage them get sick less often and develop more intensively. Massage procedures help calm a hyperactive child and invigorate an obvious phlegmatic. And, of course, massage is strongly recommended for children who suffer from delayed physical development.

Are there any contraindications?

• teething;
• bad mood and capriciousness of the child;
• infectious and non-infectious diseases associated with the appearance of rashes, pustules, eczema, diaper rash, etc. on the skin. d.;
• epilepsy and tendency to seizures;
• mental illnesses;
• general malaise;
• hernias of any localization.

Therapeutic massage is typically performed by a licensed massage therapist at a professional location; it is typically prescribed for kids with illnesses of the musculoskeletal system, central nervous system, and other systems. To strengthen muscles and ligaments, parents independently carry out general developmental sessions at home.

Preparation for the procedure

Since your baby has grown, it will be difficult to carry out massage at 9, 10, 11 and 12 months on a table or changing table. Moreover, the child spins, turns over, which is fraught with him falling from a height and getting fractures and traumatic brain injuries. At this age, experienced parents usually carry out massage and gymnastics on the floor. For this, you will need a gymnastic mat made of polyurethane foam, which does not let in the cold from the floor, a clean and dry diaper, which you can lay on the mat during the massage, and a small oilcloth that will protect your carpet and the mat – "foam", if suddenly the baby wets himself during the session.

Additionally, get ready any supplies that might be required for the prophylactic procedure: wet wipes, baby cream, and hypoallergenic massage oil. Assemble toys, balls, a fitball, and other items needed for the post-massage exercises.

Remember that babies’ skin is extremely sensitive. It is easily injured, just like when massaging a baby. Check to see if the massage therapist’s hands are free of watches, bracelets, or rings. Warm and clean hands are ideal.

The room’s air temperature shouldn’t be higher than 21 degrees Celsius. There should be enough humidity in the space. The recommended range for air humidity is 50–70%.

As at a younger age, it is important to choose the right time for the session – do not massage the child immediately after eating – he may vomit, and physical activity will make digestion difficult. You should also not impose developmental activities on a hungry baby, he will cry and to be indignant, which obviously will not benefit either the child or the mother"s psyche. An hour before feeding or an hour after feeding is the best time for massage and gymnastics. If you are doing a calming massage, do it in the evening before bathing and going to bed. Developing and strengthening massage is best done in the first half of the day, since it tones the nervous system, it can be quite difficult to fall asleep after it.

A child’s physical and emotional development can be greatly aided by massage therapy when they are between the ages of 9 and 12 months. At this point, a light massage can help the infant become more calm, sleep better, and develop stronger muscles as they begin to stand and crawl. The secret is to ensure the child is comfortable and enjoying the experience by using gentle, calming strokes and paying attention to their responses. Acquiring basic skills can assist parents and other caregivers in establishing a soothing and strengthening routine that enhances the child’s general health.

Features

For a child aged nine to twelve months, traditional massage techniques such as rubbing, kneading, and vibration are still used. However, it varies from the traditional infant massage in that it permits more vigorous massaging and kneading of the muscles, each technique is performed for a longer period of time, and the entire session, including the gymnastics complex, now lasts up to 40 minutes rather than the previous 15 minutes.

The baby will now be working closely with his mother on many exercises, as he is already capable of complying with some of her requests, like rolling over onto his stomach when asked to do so. You won’t be able to keep the child entertained by yourself, so mom will need to attach a lot of fantasies to make the massage fascinating and engaging. We require fresh perspectives, fresh products, and skillful application.

The approach of Irina Krasikova, a renowned pediatric exercise therapist and one of Russia’s top pediatric massage instructors, suggests massage and a series of exercises for kids in this age range. In addition to considering the possibility of massaging the child’s muscles in a passive manner, it suggests applying a simultaneous physiological load to them. Let’s examine its methodology for children aged 9 to 12 months in more detail.

Lesson plan

Prepare for the massage, which will be given in a variety of beginning positions, including sitting, standing, and lying down. When the child is between 10 and 11 months old, the massage starts in a standing position; if the child is under 20 months old, it starts in a sitting position.

Boxing is the first exercise. Warm up the baby’s hands by rubbing them together and placing rattles or other intriguing items in the palms of his hands that he can fully grasp. Alternatively, insert the hands forward while making boxing motions with them held by the elbows.

Lying on the floor, the legs are massaged in the initial position. Proceed to the heel after starting on the toes. Pay close attention to the instep region; it needs to be massaged with distinction and selectivity. Massage the outer portion of the baby’s foot if he is standing with support on the inner part, and the inner part of the arch if he is leaning on the outer. This will support the development of stronger foot muscles for proper leg alignment. Kneading and massaging the back, sides, and shins is another aspect of leg massage. There is no contact with the popliteal fossa or knee.

The Krasikova method states that the legs should be massaged using flexion and extension that are alternated, simultaneous, synchronous, and ("Bicycle").

Ask the child to turn over onto their right and left sides, then onto their stomach, after gently massaging their abdomen and chest while they are lying down. Five to six rolls should be performed. After that, you can stroke your back while massaging it, being careful not to press on any vertebrae specifically or the spinal column as a whole.

If the infant is still too young to roll over on command, pique his interest with a colorful toy, place it on the side, and ask him to reach.

Parents should follow a specific protocol when massaging their child’s back: start by rubbing the area with their palms, work your way up to the long, longitudinal muscles with pinches, and finish with sawing motions using the edges of your palms. Proceed to the buttocks from the neck. Stop the effect when the back starts to turn pink.

Once the back has been massaged, start lifting the baby up and over so that he is standing upright. To do this, let him hold onto your fingers and place him on your knees. Then, slowly raise your arms so the baby can start to stand up on his own two feet.

You can then go on to bending after this. With his back to you, turn the infant over and use his tummy to support his body while you support his knees to prevent them from bending. Place a toy or something bright on the ground in front of the infant. He should be able to pick up the object with your assistance by bending over without bending his legs. Bending should not be done if the child is unable to stand without assistance.

Children who have mastered standing in a crib or playpen will find squats useful. Take them by the hands and squat down with them multiple times to accomplish this.

A gentle tapping motion in the intercostal region and gentle strokes of the upper and lower chest are used in chest massages. Step 2: Walk on your hands after the massage of your chest. Irina Krasikova refers to this exercise as the "Wheelbarrow" in her course description. As you move with the infant along the rug in a prone position, they will lean on your arms to approach a lovely toy.

After receiving general praise and gentle strokes at the conclusion of the massage, you can attempt to walk. With his back to you, position the child so that his feet rest on top of yours. Ask him to take a stroll. Take a few leisurely steps together. Grasp the infant’s body with both hands.

Ensure that the baby needs to exert effort to turn over, lift his legs, or stand up, so that the ratio of passive techniques—when the mother rubs, kneads, massages, and strokes the child while they are lying quietly—to active techniques is roughly equal.

Make sure to discuss the use of verticalizing exercises with your physician. Exercises on all fours should be substituted for these if the child is 9 months old and struggles to stand and crawl. This will encourage a more active crawling motion. You run the risk of hurting the baby if you ignore their unique characteristics (weak back, weak abdominal muscles, etc.).

Avoid doing any active exercises while giving a soothing massage. These should only be passive methods that involve light kneading and rubbing. It’s best to stick to gentle, calming strokes of the arms and legs, followed by clockwise movements of the stomach, chest, back, bottom, feet, and legs.

Giving a child between the ages of 9 and 12 a massage can be a great way to encourage their growth and deepen your relationship. You can help them digest food, increase circulation, and relax their muscles by using soft movements and techniques. It’s also a unique opportunity to touch and connect with each other.

Never forget to pay attention to your child’s cues and make sure they’re at ease and content while getting a massage. To establish a relaxing atmosphere, apply light pressure and make slow, soothing movements. In order to maximize enjoyment, keep sessions brief and modify them in response to your child’s needs and mood.

Frequent massages can help you feel more comfortable emotionally as well as physically, making them a treasured part of your routine. Make it a loving and caring time, giving your child a secure and supportive environment.

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