The hip sequence involves bending and stretching your baby's legs. The movements are adapted from the core of Hatha yoga, which aims to open the hip and knee joints, to help tone the deeper muscles around the base of the spine.
The 3 movements below are easy and acceptable to most babies. The alternating pressure and release movements helps to massage your baby's intestines, hence improving digestion and relieving constipation.
Starting position:
Hold your baby's thighs loosely, with your fingers resting on top of her thighs and your thumbs on the underside of her thighs.
Knees to Chest:
Slowly lift your baby's knees up towards her chest. Bring her thighs firmly towards her abdomen. Hold for 3 to 10 seconds. Release and repeat 2-3 times, adjusting the pressure to suit your baby. Stop if your baby is not happy.
Knees from Side to Side:
Keeping your hands in the same position, move your baby's legs to the left and then to the right. Press firmly on each side of her abdomen, taking time to release the pressure before changing sides.
Hip Rolls (Round and Round)
Keeping your hands in the same position, roll your baby's legs in a circle to the left and then to the right, as close to your baby's body as possible. Start with a small movement for younger babies and make the movement bigger as your baby gets used to it.
* To promote baby's digestion and bowel movement, you may want to focus on circling your baby's thighs clockwise to follow the direction of the gut.
Songs:
Sing your favourite song to accompany the movements, watching all the while to see if your baby is enjoying the movement. I sing a simple "If you are happy, and you know it, bend your knees" etc to accompany the 3 movements above.
Baby Gloria enjoying her hip sequence at her playmat.
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