Premature Baby Development

Your baby is born, but you feel both happy and concerned because the long-awaited event occurred prematurely? No need to worry! With due care and following all the instruction from your doctor, your premature baby will grow up healthy and strong. The immune system and basic adaptive mechanisms which help us to survive in this world are formed within the first year of life. This period is especially important for the premature baby. A child’s body shows the highest regenerative ability during the first twelve months. All their systems and organs are very mobile.

Massage therapy benefits premature infants

Therefore, childhood development may be enhanced through professional general massage. Timely and consistent baby massage helps to significantly improve your premature baby’s health as well as prevent various pathologies. It also cure some of the major diseases. Efficiency of this method has been proven by numerous medical studies. It helps to get rid of skin conditions, jitteriness, stomach cramps and much more. Hundreds of real-life cases confirm the positive effect of infant massage on premature baby development. In the first months after birth, premature baby may be apathetic, level of motor activity they display below norm. Their primitive reflexes diminished or completely absent. They have smaller volumes of brain matter as their cerebral cortex is underdeveloped at the time of birth. They face such challenges as imperfect metabolic processes and thermoregulation, abnormal functioning of the respiratory system which hasn’t been fully developed yet. Thus preterm infant exercises or baby massage considers the individual needs of every child based on the condition of their organs and systems.

Objectives of massage and exercise therapy for premature baby

Massage and exercises is a vital part of the caretaking for premature babies. Therapeutic exercise program is set up with regard to the individual psychomotor development. According to the newest scientific data, the rehabilitation of preterm babies covers both the psychological and physical aspects. Primary goal of massage and exercise therapy is the improvement of health and endurance, catching up with the normal development milestones.

Close attention should be paid to developing gross motor skills such as rolling over, crawling and walking. Besides turning to the belly and later on to the back, supporting their own weight on their feet. Positive emotional background is also of great importance for acquiring the audial, visual and speaking skills, development of vestibular system (organ of balance).

The best time to introduce exercise and massage therapy for healthy preterm infants is at the age of 2-3 weeks. Gymnastic complex or a massage technique should be desided upon carefully bearing in mind the birth weight, gestational age and developmental challenges of a child. First training exercises are aimed at evoking primitive reflex responses. Also, gentle exercises (active, not passive) are recommended for premature babies alongside with positional therapy, remedial gymnastics, general (classic) massage and accupressure. Both massage and exercise training may be implemented simultaniously within one session. Otherwise, if it is too long and tiring for a child, they can can be carried out separately. Everything depends on the health condition of a child, whether they are ready and strong enough or have any diseases at the time of training.

As a rule, the amount of exercise depends on the duration of the session. Number of repetitions, speed of exercise execution, time needed for every massage technique. Also complexity of each exercise, number of rest pauses and breathing exercises are all taken into consideration.

Parents’ care can help premature baby

Encourage your child’s progress with a smile and a praise. Without even understanding what you say, babies are very sensitive to intonation. The duration of infant massage or baby gymnastics depends on your child’s mood, level of interest and state – whether their hands and feet are warm, and their skin has that healthy rosy pink tone. Positive and steady attitude and your confidence is a key to success in fostering child development. 

Boston Infant Trainer can help your child grow up healthy, strong and intelligent. Contact us for 50% off your introductory session in Boston, Massachusetts area.