It’s sometimes difficult for some children to get on all fours on their own, so parents should help the baby. In order not to harm the baby and really help, it is worth using special development programs. Choose a special program will help you choose a pediatrician.
Norms according to which the child should get on all fours
There are norms according to which a newborn baby must develop. Such a framework also determines the time when the baby should get up on all fours, swing, crawl. Norms can vary depending on hereditary factors, external influences and desires of the child himself. It is possible to determine exactly when the child gets on all fours by certain signs.
First, the baby must learn to roll on his stomach. This should happen in about 4-5 months. Literally immediately, the baby will try to move on the tummy, pushing off with legs and arms.
Literally in a month, and this is in 5-6 months, the baby will already learn to get on all fours. Confident and long-lasting stand.
The child gets on all fours and sways almost simultaneously, literally in one week. Rocking is carried out back and forth. At first, a swing can be made without trying to rearrange the legs and arms.
Further skills are formed in order to later move vertically.
Does the child need help?
Neurologists and pediatricians have their own standards for when the baby should get on all fours, start crawling or sitting. If their schedules do not meet the schedules, doctors often talk about developmental delay.
In fact, each child is completely individual, therefore, the norms for mastering the skill of crawling are a period of 4 months (from 5 to 9 months). Usually it’s very difficult for kids to get on all fours, because this requires strong and developed muscles. In addition to muscle development, problems may arise with the baby's fear of making an effort to fall.
If you wish, you can help the baby so that the baby quickly learns a difficult skill for himself - standing on all fours. If there is no certainty or too early, it is better to wait a bit and let the crumb independently cope with this obstacle.
What help can be offered to the child?
Each pediatrician usually presents his methods and solutions. As experience shows, it is better to use several options in the complex.
To get on all fours can help these actions:
- Massage that strengthens the muscles of the crumbs.
- Exercises.
- Gymnastics.
- Personal example.
- Educational games with a moving plot.
Parents can choose a program that will include several items for the quickest possible training.
We motivate the child with our own example.
Sometimes, to help the baby get on all fours, the parents themselves need to become small children. Everyone knows that children actively repeat everything after adults. The same applies to the formation of skills.
Parents must show by their own example how to get up on all fours correctly. In addition to the physical skill technique itself, it is worth showing that it is useful:
- You can get a toy.
- Move in space.
- Enjoy the boom on the soft bed.
It is necessary to get up on all fours a few times a day, to show how to act.
Firming massage for the baby
If the baby for a long time does not manage to raise his body on elongated arms and legs, then the problem is in weak muscles. Before you learn to get up on all fours, the crumbs need to be well prepared. First you need to work on the muscles, as strong muscles are the key to success. In this situation, a strengthening massage will help:
- Lay the baby on the tummy.
- Make light stroking movements throughout the body.
- It is worth moving to the bottom of the limbs, warming up each finger.
- It is worth paying special attention to the neck. Movements should be circular.
- Lay the crumbs on your back and massage the abdomen, inguinal zone, arms and legs.
- It is better to massage with fingers, using only the pads.
A complex of massage movements can be provided by a pediatrician or a professional masseur. It is worth considering that the baby should be in a good mood, not to be capricious. It is advisable to ventilate the room before the massage and turn on quiet music for children. The surface should be comfortable, medium hard.
Developing exercises with and without inventory
Asking the question of how to teach a child to get on all fours, it is worth examining the recommendations that indicate entire exercise programs.
Exercises can be a complex consisting of physical activity using gymnastic equipment:
- Turn the baby over on the tummy and put a roller from a towel or a baby bedspread in the chest area. At this time, the baby's hands will begin to sort freely in the air, which will allow him to train the pectoral muscles and the hands themselves.
- If the child is already lifting in his arms, then you can help to establish the correct legs. You need to easily bend your knees and set to the surface.
- Place a pillow under your arms. And legs in a bent position should remain outside the subject. Gradually pull the pillow towards you, which will make the baby move behind the subject.
- It is necessary to perform the exercise “wheelbarrow” in the lightweight version. Put baby on belly. Supporting the baby by the chest, raise his legs, and allow the baby to move around on the handles.
There are a lot of such exercises, it is worth choosing the ones that are right for your child. Previously, it is worth considering the already developed skills in the baby.
Development game for the baby to crawl
Exercise and massage may not always appeal to the crumbs. It is also worth considering that children better absorb information and learn during the game. At such an age, manipulating toys or interesting equipment will help make a child stand on all fours.
You can take a fitball and do simple, but effective exercises that will surely appeal to the crumbs. Holding the sphere with your knees, lay the baby on the ball with his tummy. While holding the baby by the legs in the knees, push forward a little, and then return to its original position. While holding the baby in the same position, move the housing clockwise. The same movements can be done on the back. It is worth monitoring the position of the head - it should not hang from the ball and hang out in the process of performing movements. Usually, after such a game, the child quickly gets on all fours and sways.
Lay the baby on the back, wait until the baby rises to stand in his arms. Near your face place your favorite toy crumbs. The child will try to somehow grab the object, gradually lifting the whole body.
There are a lot of developing games of this format, so parents can choose any option.