The first three months of life having wheezed past for my infant (no longer newborn), I strive to settle into a routine that is beneficial for both of us. The period of newness and survival after the long pregnancy journey is over.
As my body sheds the last of its pregnancy remnants and fistfuls of hair, it is time for some adjustments in our daily routines.
When we wake up in the morning, I wipe the baby down, lotion him generously thanks to eczema and take him to a room where he can play for an hour.
We play foot piano to encourage lower body movements. Since his hands have started grabbing onto things now, I also provide him with something to hold on to while he plays the piano. This way, he is learning to control multiple parts of his body at the same time.
We then switch to a padded blanket and do physical workouts, like bicycle legs, arm movements and rollover practices. Afterwards, I prop him up on the breastfeeding pillow for some much-needed (and deeply hated) tummy time. I often provide toys and mirrors to distract him from this activity.
By the time an hour is up, the kid is tired and often ready for a feed and a nap. The hour we get in the morning does not only help us work on his physical development but a mental and psychological development. The first few months are crucial in creating a bond with your child. I have started noticing that in the last few weeks, my son knows my face and often gets irritated when he has not been with me for a long time.
I'm not an occupational therapist of any kind. I'm just a mother eager to help her child on his way to adulthood. Sometimes when I am doing all these things, I wonder what would happen if I didn't. Surely a child will grow regardless of simple exercises done in the morning, right? Yes. He will surely grow whether we do floor play or not, but what we gain during that hour as mother and son transcends the physical.
Getting him used to having a routine like this every day of the week also helps his body in regulating his sleep patterns. It helps me plan for my day and makes me realise quickly if something is amiss with him. By having a morning and evening routine, it helps shape the baby's day and lets their brain know what time of the day it is and what to do at this time.
