Happier and Healthier Babies: Benefits of Baby Exercises
Baby exercises are a great way to keep your baby happy and healthy. They can be done at any time, in any location, without the need for expensive equipment or even other people. Baby exercises improve motor skills, strength, balance, and coordination while also improving mental health.
Crawling Exercises
Improve your baby’s motor skills with crawling exercises. Crawling is the first significant milestone in a child’s life, and it is so important. Helping them learn to crawl will help them develop their upper body strength and help improve balance. If you prefer not to do these on hard surfaces like tile or wood floors, try using soft exercise mats for comfort while still absorbing shock from falls. Also great if they aren’t yet mobile enough to crawl around very far by themselves.
Tummy Time
Babies who spend time practicing tummy time during playtime tend to have fewer issues with colic later in childhood than those who don’t practice this activity often. This is because tummy time can be done several times throughout any given day and is excellent for strengthening their core muscles. Keep in mind, though, that you should be watching your baby during this time to make sure they don’t roll over onto their bellies while not being monitored.
Incorporate A Exercise Ball
Laying a baby on the floor with an exercise ball underneath them will encourage movement towards crawling. Allowing babies to play on these balls helps strengthen ankles and legs as well as working on balance. All critical skills when it comes to walking. You can also do tummy time exercises by laying the child down with some toys or other exciting objects directly below them, so they have something fun to look at from this position.
Playing Catch
Another activity that’s good for building strength is playing catch. Babies often love the rhythm and movement of throwing and catching a ball, as it can be very soothing for them. Make sure you’re always watching your baby when doing this activity so they don’t accidentally put something in their mouth. Not to mention that if they were to throw the object at themselves or someone else, there could be potential damage done.
Keep It Interesting
Whether you choose activities with toys made especially for babies or just use objects around the house like blocks and balls. Any novelty will help keep your child interested. The more interesting it is, the better chance they can pay attention throughout an entire exercise routine without getting bored too quickly. Just remember: repetition leads to boredom which leads to bad habits forming later on down the road. So keep your baby interested, but don’t go overboard, or you may create a problem later on down the road.
Babies are always learning new things about their bodies and surroundings every day, so it makes sense that exercise is good for them all around. Keep in mind that some exercises can be more beneficial than others depending on your child’s age. If they’re still very young, then tummy time might not do much for them until they get slightly older. However, if you do pick up a problem with your baby’s spinal alignment during any of these exercises, take them to a chiropractor as soon as possible. As long as you keep these suggestions in mind when thinking of fun ways to exercise with your little one, there should never again be an excuse for why getting active just isn’t possible right now.
