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Baby fitness
Milivoj Jovančević, Andrea Čalopek Butković
Exercises which are part of a “Baby fitness” programme have multiple benefits. The building of the brain continues even after birth. Millions of nerve cells are created, travel to their destinations and become interconnected. Exercises stimulate the central nervous system and improve the aforementioned process. Brain functions (and, consequently, the effects of our actions) can be measured through the child’s psychomotor and emotional development. The exercises should be done twice a day, for around 20 minutes – provided the child is in a good mood.
Numerous times we have witnessed how pleasant it is to exercise with the child and how many warm emotions are created and exchanged in the process. Exercising creates closeness, second only to the closeness achieved during breastfeeding. Mothers familiarise themselves with their children by touching them, getting to know their soft and warm little hands, their smell, their voice and the emotions they show in response to expressions of love and attention.
Sometimes, due to their own personal problems, mothers initially have a hard time accepting their newborn infant. Engaging in joint exercises has a strong motivational effect, mobilises all of the mother’s senses and emotions, which helps establish a harmonious relationship and communication, which is a prerequisite for normal infant growth and development. The mother sheds her fears and insecurities, creating space for pleasure and expressions of love. We therefore recommended that, during each exercise, you give yourself over to emotions and communication. Gently touch the skin of the entire body, speak, hum, smile and kiss. This is a unique opportunity to experience what may be some of the happiest moments of your life. Seize the occasion and enjoy yourself.
Seeking consent
Before commencing the massage and exercises, you should ask your child whether or not he/she wants to be massaged and to exercise with you. Touch can be a means of communication when words are not an option – use it to establish communication with your child. Speak to the child in the way you usually do and ask, “Do you want me to massage you? Shall we exercise?” Of course, a verbal answer is not forthcoming, but over time, as you establish communication, the child may respond to this question by smiling or expressing joy. Since this should be a pleasant experience, the child will remember what comes after this question and will want to participate in it. Do this at the beginning of each session. End the activity in the same manner, except this time you will thank your infant for participating and sharing this pleasant experience with you. As you ask questions in the beginning and say thank you at the end, slide your hand gently over the child’s head (avoid covering the eyes), chest and legs. Do this several times in a row and accompany the movement with appropriate words.
No. | AGE | DESCRIPTION |
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1 | 1 month | ![]() The foot will reflexively move away towards the outer edge (towards the stimulating finger). |
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“Decubitus” head and injury to the neck muscles
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Feet on the surface The position of the infant is the same as in Exercise 1. Close your hands around the lower legs and feet. Place the feet on the surface and then lift them. |
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The infant is lying on the back. Close your hands around the legs in the knee area, push the knees towards the stomach, and then stretch them out on the surface. |
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Hip exercise The infant is lying on the back. The legs are bent at the hips and knees. Hold the knees and lower legs and spread each leg to one side as far as you can. Try to spread them to the side, keeping the knees at hip level and pressing them towards the surface as much as you can. |
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13 | Run the infant’s open palm across his lower arm, stomach, legs (first one, then the other leg), the infant’s face and the mother’s face.
The infant is lying on the stomach. Open the palm against a surface that should be smooth and tight so as not to trigger a fist-clenching reflex. |
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14 | 2 months | The infant is lying on the stomach. The underarms are under the chest, next to the body. One leg is bent at the hip and knee and placed below the stomach. The other leg is also bent, but placed lower than the first leg. Interchange the leg positions in an imitation of crawling.![]() |
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16 | 3 months | ![]() |
17 | 4 months |
The infant is lying on the back. Hold the infant’s hands and bring them close to the infant’s feet. When the infant has got hold of his feet, help him bring them close to his face. |
18 | 5 months |
The infant is lying on the back. The infant is lying on the back. Hold the infant’s lower legs and lift him up from the surface (so that he is hanging upside down). Allow him to press against a surface with his arms or gently rest against the surface. This can be followed by a full rotation onto the chest. |
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“Airplane”
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20 | 6 months |
Sitting up diagonally The infant is lying on the side. The bottom leg is bent towards the stomach, while the upper leg is placed across it, with the foot on the surface. Pull the upper arm until the infant is supporting himself with the bottom underarm. |
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The infant is crawling on all fours. Rotate the body at the hip to create stimulation. Try to move the knees under the infant’s body (pelvis) so the infant is not moving the knees to the sides of the body like a frog. |
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22 | 7 months | The four-legged position
Lift the infant’s pelvis from the surface and place the knees below the body, while simultaneously making sure the arms remain below the chest. At first, the infant uses his upper arms, later only the hands for support. The four-legged position The infant uses the arms (underarms or hands) for support; at the same time, both outstretched legs are raised (as in a “wheelbarrow race”). |
23 | 8 months | ![]() |
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25 | 10 months | ![]() |
26 | 11 months | ![]() |
27 | 12 months | ![]() |