Guest Author - Linda Hamill

Is stress in his/her life? Stress aggravates Is your baby or child having heartburn and colic in infants and children. Exercise helps to eliminate stress. Here are some exercises to help your baby or child relax.

3 – 6 MONTHS

The first thing to do is for you to get yourself relaxed, so that you and the baby/child will be relaxed. Do some stretching, relaxation, visualization, or deep breathing. When you are ready, remove the baby’s clothes and have the following available, in case you need them.

Items to have ready:
• Decrease light, noise, and visual distraction.
• Make sure that the room is warm
• Add music to heighten the effects of fun
• Do these exercises when the baby is in a quiet, but wake able state.

Exercising the Arms - To stretch and relax arms

Position: Use the carpeted floor or a table and put a pad and cloth on it to make the baby comfortable.

Action: Try and get the baby to grip your forefingers. If he/she does not do that, then grasp baby’s upper arms lightly. Carefully/slowly take baby’s arms out sideways and then slowly bring them back to his/her chest.

Massage - To relax arms, shoulders and hand

Position: Put the baby flat on back on the carpet or on a table with a soft pad.

Before Massage: use baby lotion or oil and warm it with your hands. Natural oil products are the best to use such as almond, sesame, peanut, and safflower.
Action: Pat the baby gently on the shoulder to relax him/her/; slowly massage the arm starting from the shoulder down to the hands. When the baby has opened his/her hand, help the infant stroke his/her body and face as well as yours. It helps to have a supply of diapers on hand; towels, pillows, and some small toys to have some play time, and help with any messy cleanups that might take place.

*If the baby does not want to stay on his back, which is the preferred position, then try lying him/her on his/her stomach on your lap, or on his/her side, if the other positions do not work.

Stretching the Legs - To relax and straighten legs

Position: Place baby flat on back on the carpet or on covered pad on a table.

Action: Relax baby first by supporting baby's legs under the knee joint. Gently toss legs up and down. Then, with one hand on the knees, carefully straighten legs. The hips should be in contact with the surface.