The first difficulties are behind: here you are at home with your baby, he lies in his crib and smiles with the most tender smile. The first months the newborn spends most of the time lying down, but already from 3-4 months he begins to show an active interest in the outside world. Many babies already know how to roll over to the side, and those who are just trying to master the first movements need parental help. How to understand that the time has come for more outdoor games, how can a baby learn to roll over or crawl? So, first things first.
Factors that influence the development of the baby
Many young mothers like to compare their baby with others; and if peers have already learned some skill that their child has not yet mastered, they begin to worry greatly or think that their child is lagging behind in development. However, it should be remembered that each child has his own individual plan for growth and strengthening, which may differ slightly from the medical standards for the development of infants in the first year of life.
The overall maturation of the child depends on many factors: on individual physical data, on the way of nutrition, psychological state, as well as on the care of the baby. Many underestimate the importance of proper care for the baby, but meanwhile, both the health and growth of the baby depend on it.
Baby Care
One of the most important components of competent care for a newborn is a thoughtful regime of the day, which includes the following points: feeding, sleeping, bathing, developing games by age, as well as gymnastics and various exercises. In the first months of a newborn’s life, it is important to monitor the cleanliness and order of the house, it is necessary to create favorable conditions in the apartment, set a comfortable temperature, eliminate noise sources and monitor the air humidity in the room where the child sleeps.
As the baby grows up, mom will need to devote more time and effort to him, because he needs help. Many parents in this period are puzzled by the question of how to teach a baby to roll, crawl or walk. It is not so difficult if you know when it is necessary to apply certain child development techniques.
The development of the child in the first six months
Here is a calendar of generally accepted norms for the development of crumbs by months, according to which you can tentatively monitor the growth and formation of your baby, and also find out whether it is time to teach the baby to turn from the abdomen to the back or vice versa.
- The first month of life is the period of adaptation of the baby, he sleeps almost all the time, wakes up only for feeding.
- Starting from the second month, the baby begins to hold its head, because its back and neck muscles grow stronger with each drink of a sip of breast milk.
- 3-4 months is a period of “revitalization” of the baby, it is already much more active, begins to make sounds and tries to hold its head when it is tummy tucked down on a hard surface, it is during this period that you can already begin to prepare the child for more complex skills (in the article methods are given on how to teach a baby to roll over and crawl).
- At 5 months, the baby is already learning to roll over, makes progress in holding items, and becomes more emotional.
- From 6 months, the child begins to develop even more actively, he is already calmly lying on his tummy with his head raised and makes the first attempts to crawl to the toy.
Half-year-old baby skills
The first six months are the most difficult, because during this period the child learns the basic things. He already knows a lot: he recognizes family members, knows his name and sometimes responds to it, reacts to toys and sounds, knows how to roll over, reaches for an object of interest, holds things in his hands for a long time, examines and studies them, tastes the first meal, and even trying to crawl. What happens in the following months?
Child development after the 6th month
There comes another interesting stage in the life of the baby and mother, which will largely determine the future of the child. So, as a little man grows up:
- It is believed that the 7th and 8th months are the most responsible, parents should not leave the baby unattended, because he has already turned into a real fidget! He knows how to roll over, sit and play with toys. And some babies are already standing, holding on to a support.
- From the 9th to the 10th month, the little one is already creeping confidently, standing and moving, holding on to the edges of the furniture.
- Many strong men take their first steps from the 11th to the 12th month. At this time, it is very important to be near and support them when they stumble and fall.
How to determine that a child is ready for coups?
Before you teach your child to roll over from the back to the tummy, you need to make sure that he is ready for this. Most babies ripen for upheavals as early as 4 months of age. Here are the main signs by which you can find out if your baby is ready for the skills of self-turning from one side to the other.
- he raises his head high and holds his head confidently when he lies on his stomach;
- easily bends and unbends legs;
- if he pulls his legs to his chest and tries to grab them with his hands, it also suggests that his muscles are strong enough to learn new skills.
If you observe these signs in your baby, then it is time to teach the baby to roll from the abdomen to the back, and vice versa. Read about how to do this better and what methods to use.
How to teach babies to roll over? Expert advice and recommendations
At monthly medical examinations, the doctor, as a rule, gives an assessment of the general condition of the child, his development and physical data. If any lag is detected, the pediatrician must inform the parents about this and prescribe preventive procedures. Each mother wants to help her baby in the difficult process of knowing the world and its capabilities, but due to a lack of knowledge or experience, her attempts to help can lead to unpleasant consequences. To teach a baby to roll over from the back or help him learn to crawl is not difficult for young parents if you follow the recommendations of professionals.
Many pediatricians agree that the success of a baby’s development and its ability to learn various skills largely depends on prior preparation. And the longer this preparation was, the faster the child learns something new. One of the most effective training methods is baby massage and regular gymnastics.
Massage as a strengthening of the muscles of the baby
The basics of massage will be useful to learn every mother. Indeed, you must admit that both the baby and the mother will be much more pleasant to carry out this procedure together than to invite a specialist every day. Perhaps the child, not yet accustomed to contact with strangers, will begin to cry if the massage is performed by a doctor. With mom, on the contrary: the baby will feel safe, which means that the procedure of gymnastics and massage will be not only good for him, but for joy!
How to teach a baby to roll on her back with massage? The main thing is regularity, so try not to miss the appointed dates of the procedure. So, how to do a firming massage:
- Undress the baby and put it on its tummy down, then gently stroke and rub the back for 5-10 minutes.
- Pay special attention to the legs: knead each foot and muscle of the calf separately.
- Then, with gentle movements at a slow pace, turn the child on his back, while first it is better to gently bend the child’s handle under the tummy, then hold the baby on a barrel, and only then put it on his back.
Pediatricians are confident that daily gymnastics is able to teach a baby to roll on her stomach and back on her back. Here is a small, but still significant tip: before starting the massage, make sure that your baby is in a good mood, otherwise the whole procedure will turn into an unpleasant scene for both of you.