Contents:
- Medical Video: Teach Children Skiing | Episode 1 : Introduction and Equipment
- When do babies start sports?
- The importance of exercise for babies
- What kind of exercise is good for babies?
- For babies aged 0-6 months
- For babies aged 6-12 months
Medical Video: Teach Children Skiing | Episode 1 : Introduction and Equipment
Maybe you have thought that exercise is only needed by adults and children. But it turns out that exercise is also needed by toddlers, even since he was a baby. Yes, everyone needs exercise at all ages. Then, should it be when the baby starts sports and what kind of exercise for babies is good to do?
When do babies start sports?
Babies can be introduced to exercise as early as possible, even from the age of 0 months. The context of the sport here is that it is important for the active baby to do various things, the active baby moves. It's not like your shadow that maybe babies do sports like adults. Of course, exercise for babies is done with the help of parents and is done by paying attention to the safety of the baby.
The importance of exercise for babies
Sports are very important for babies, not inferior to adults. Babies need to be physically active. This may not be understood by everyone. In fact, sports performed by babies can support their development and growth.
Infancy and toddlers are times when a baby's brain develops pathways and connections to muscles. And, sports at this time can support this development. Infants and toddlers who do not do enough exercise may lose the opportunity to make connections between the brain and strong muscles.
In fact, a good connection between the brain and muscle is needed to make physical activity easier. As the child grows into adulthood, this can then make the child easy to exercise because he has become accustomed to sports since childhood and the child also considers exercise as something fun.
Not only that, exercise since childhood can also reduce the risk of obesity later on, even until the child grows up. Of course, this is important for the overall health of the child because a normal weight can protect children from the risk of certain diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease.
What kind of exercise is good for babies?
Reporting from WebMD, the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) suggests that parents or caregivers should encourage babies to move. Place the baby in a situation that can encourage him to do physical activity and do not limit the movement of the baby for a long time. Just keeping your baby in bed or in a chair can inhibit the child's physical and mental growth and development.
Also quoted from health.gov.au, recommendations for physical activity for infants aged 0-1 years are movements that include reaching and grasping, pulling and pushing, moving the head, body, and limbs, and playing on the floor, includingtummy time. Of course everything is done under supervision. These movements are expected to help the development of the baby.
The following are examples of sports movements that babies can do to make babies more active.
For babies aged 0-6 months
- Movement finger towing. Place the baby on his back on the bed. Then put your two index fingers in the baby's hands. When the baby grasps your index finger, raise the baby's hand up and slowly lift the baby, then slowly return the baby to its original position. The tighter the baby holds your index finger, the better. Be careful when lifting a baby, adjust to his abilities. Your baby may be able to do this movement at around 6 weeks old.
- Bicycle movement. Place the baby on his back on the bed. Hold and lift the baby's feet up in a 90 degree angle. Then, gently push one of the baby's feet towards his chest, leaving the other leg free. Then, move the baby's feet alternately like the movement of pedaling a bicycle.
- Tummy time. Place the baby face down for about 3-5 minutes, this helps build the muscles of the neck, arms, shoulders, back and abdomen. In this position, the baby is about two months old, may try to lift his head. Older babies may learn to crawl slowly.
For babies aged 6-12 months
- Foot movements. Place the baby on his back, then lift his legs straight. Push the baby's right leg straight toward the baby's left ear, leaving the other leg straight, and return the baby's foot to all positions. Perform this movement alternately with the other foot.
- Movement elbow stand. Place the baby face down and position the baby's hand to bend next to the baby's shoulder. Gently lift the baby's hip until it forms 45 degrees to the floor. Let the baby's hand stick to the floor and make sure the baby's head is facing to the side. Try to lift your baby's feet even higher.
We recommend that you do the movement carefully and adjust to your baby's abilities, do not let the baby get injured. Remember, every baby has different abilities.
So to be safe, you are also advised to consult directly with your pediatrician to determine the type of exercise for your baby that is most appropriate.
