Simple and he althy exercises on the ball for babies

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 12:45

Currently, modern parents and many medical professionals are of the opinion that the child must be developed from a very early age. Today, many techniques and exercises are used on the gymnastic ball for babies.

What is a gym ball?

Gymnastic ball, or fitball, sometimes called a Swiss ball or fitness ball - is a sphere made of elastic rubber, can be either smooth or have some structure (massage type), usually presented in several sizes from small (for children) to large (for adults). On a large fitball, you can practice with a child, but accompanied by an adult, because it is necessary to hold and secure.

Due to elasticity and vibration, the fitball has a soft and gentle effect on the human bone and muscle systems. At the same time, the result of working with him is very impressive and important. The gymnastic ball is used today not only in rehabilitation centers, hospitals or sanatoriums, but alsoit is widely used in gyms and even delivery rooms.

Gymnastic ball for babies: contraindications

Exercise on the ball for babies is a great opportunity to work out all muscle groups. It is very easy to use, safe and has an anti-explosion system. Despite such an easy and soft use of the ball, it has a number of contraindications in which you should not exercise with its use. Let's take a closer look:

• The baby's umbilical wound has not completely healed yet.
• For any ailments of the baby (illness, fever, feeling unwell).
• Child does not want to do gymnastics for some reason.

Definitely, the baby needs to be accustomed to gymnastics gradually, despite the fact that most children enjoy ball exercises. For babies, this can be some stress, so it is important to monitor the time spent on the fitball, the smoothness of movements and other factors.

The positive aspects of training on a fitball

Exercise on the ball for babies, of course, are of great benefit. With the right approach to exercise, the baby arrives not only in a great mood, but also gets a huge development of the entire muscular system as a whole.

Why is exercise on a fitness ball so good for babies:

• Give the opportunity to reduce muscle hypertonicity in the baby.
• Contributestrengthening all muscle groups.
• Help develop motor coordination.
• Promote correct posture.
• Train the vestibular apparatus.
• Contribute to the development of the musculoskeletal system.
• Normalize the work of the cardiovascular system.
• Strengthen immunity.
• Activate metabolism.
• Increase the endurance of the body.
• Helps improve digestion by relaxing the abdominal muscles.

Of course, exercising on a gymnastic ball is much more interesting and fun than simple exercises or simple laying out of the baby on the tummy. Gymnastics with a fitball is more diverse and dynamic, which is especially useful for a growing organism and sets the necessary pace for its development.

How to choose a fitball for a newborn?

When choosing a ball, first of all, be guided by the size. If you take a small one, then it will not be very convenient for you to do all the exercises on a gymnastic ball for babies, so choose the maximum size, its diameter is about 75-80 cm. Even adults and older children can easily use this ball.

Besides the size, it is important to look at other parameters:

• Material. It should be dense, uniform, without noticeable seams and smell. Usually a large ball must withstandweight up to 150 kg, check this point before buying.
• The so-called anti-explosive system or, in other words, ABS-Anti-Burst System. An important indicator for the safe use of the ball.
• Nipple - must be soldered inside the ball.

• Producer. It is best to use proven manufacturers who guarantee quality, as this sports equipment will be used for the development of the baby.

The rules of gymnastics on a fitness ball for newborns

In addition to the above parameters that are important to pay attention to, I would like to note a few more rules that are important to follow before proceeding with the practical part of using the gymnastic ball:

• You can start training on the ball with a child at the age of 2-3 weeks, but only after consulting a pediatrician and, accordingly, his permission.
• Up to 3-4 months, it is necessary to lay a diaper on the fitball, on which the baby will lie down in the future.
• Must take a break after eating, at least an hour and a half of rest, no gymnastics.
• It is worth starting classes with a few minutes (about 4-6), gradually increasing the duration of the exercises next time.
• Baby must be undressed before gymnastics.
• Morning hours are the best time to practice when the baby is happy and calm.

• It's good if the classes will have a calm musical accompaniment.
• Woduring the exercises, avoid the opportunity to hold or even more so pull the child by the feet or hands, this is too heavy a load for him at this age.
• If the child is not in the mood for exercise, postpone it for another time.

Remember: the gym ball has the important advantage of being easy to use, don't be afraid that something might go wrong. But if in doubt, you can contact the instructor for the first lesson.

Exercise

Classes on a fitness ball for babies can be considered general developmental and restorative. It is important to know that exercises on a gymnastic ball are useful for every child, the main thing is that there are no contraindications.

Gymnastic ball exercises with newborns start with the simplest elements. Further, already when gaining experience and in the process of growing up a child, gymnastics can be supplemented, complicated and made more diverse. And the training itself, respectively, will become longer and more productive at this stage of the child's development.

Children from 2 weeks to six months

For children in this age group, you should use the simplest exercises:

• Swaying on the stomach. It is an exercise on the ball for babies 2 months or more, where the baby is located on the gymnastic ball with his stomach down, which allows him to grasp the ball with his legs and arms. Parents' hands shouldsit on his back, thus providing support. With smooth movements of the baby, first shake back and forth, then from side to side, and then in a circle. The main thing is to make movements gently and smoothly so as not to scare the baby. This exercise is especially helpful for intestinal colic, because it allows the muscles of the peritoneum to relax.
• Swaying on the back. This exercise is similar to the previous one, only it is already performed by the child lying on his back, the parents respectively provide support for the stomach and chest. This exercise on the ball for babies 4 months and not only allows you to relax the muscles of the back and at the same time makes the abdominal muscles work.
• "Football". The baby is located on the back, on the couch, bed or on the floor. Gently roll the gym ball to his legs. The child will instinctively push it away. This ball exercise for babies 3 months helps to develop and strengthen the muscles of the legs and abs.

Exercise for children six months and older

For children of this age, you can choose exercises on the fitness ball that are more varied, complex and active.

Baby Ball Exercise 6 Months:

• Jumping on a gymnastic ball. It is necessary to fix the ball near the wall with your feet, put the baby on it, holding the body with your hands, show how the fitball can spring and that the child has the opportunity to jump on it. This exercise easily turns into a fun game.
• "Handles-legs". This exercise requires two adults. Place the baby on the back, one person takes the child gently by the shins, the other by the forearms. With smooth movements, roll the baby on the ball back and forth. This exercise allows you to strengthen the spine.
• Catch the toy. An excellent exercise for children who have already learned to grab and hold different objects with their hands. In front of the ball, it is necessary to scatter the baby’s favorite toys, place it on the fitball on the stomach. While holding the child by the hips, gently roll the ball forward so that the child can grab a toy.

These are the most common exercises for babies on the gym ball. Remember that such gymnastics is best treated as a game. Because the baby perceives all these activities in this way. Exercise in a good mood.