How to Strengthen a Baby's Muscles

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Every baby will grow and change at his own pace. It is important to give your baby the space and the encouragement he needs to follow his own natural course. When a baby is pushed too quickly, it can actually be a detriment to his development instead of the intended benefit. Although this is true, you can assist your baby through his development by practicing healthy techniques for strengthening his muscles. These techniques can be used from the time that your child is an infant through the first year of his life (and beyond if he enjoys it).

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Step1

Bicycle your baby’s legs. Lay her on her back on a comfortable surface and slowly move her legs up to her chest and then back down so they are straight again. Move them in a circular motion and alternate between legs, just as if she were pedaling a bike.

Step2

Move your baby’s arms around in various motions. Make wide circles with them; make tiny circles with them. Pull them out in front of your baby, and then push them in towards his body so his elbows are bent.

Step3

Give your baby plenty of room and time to move. When she is still in her first few weeks and months of life, her arms and legs will fly about in random motions and at random times. These early movements are incredibly important, strengthening your baby’s muscles so she will gain the use of her arms and legs to do what she wants them to do. In order to make sure she has the space to fidget and jerk about in this manner, try not to keep her swaddled or otherwise constrained for lengthy periods of time.

Step4

Place your baby on his belly every day for tummy time. Through this exercise, he will gain the strength to lift his head, to push up on his hands and then on to his knees, to roll over and eventually to crawl. Many babies do not enjoy tummy time at first, and they become exhausted quite easily, but continuing the effort will help them in the end.

Step5

Place your baby in a large variety of positions when she is strong enough to do more than simply lay flat. With your continuous support, sit her up, let her stand on her feet, lay her on both of her sides. As she grows, her muscles will gain strength in all areas and will help her while she learns to roll over, to crawl and to walk.