How to properly harden a child at home: effective hardening tips. When to start and how to strengthen a child with weak immunity: air and sun baths, water procedures and physical activity

Maria Muraleva
Consultation for parents “Toughening up children 3–4 years old at home”

Consultation for parents

"Hardening children 3-4 years old at home".

To those whom parents began to harden them from the first days of life, undoubtedly, it will be easier to study, they will not have to miss classes due to frequent runny noses and sore throats. But having started hardening a child at three or four years old and even at five or six years old can accomplish a lot.

The child’s daily routine must include, with the same commitment as food, sleep, walks, hardening procedures. We offer the following schedule.

In the morning - an air bath for 15 minutes; We recommend doing gymnastics for 6-7 minutes of this time.

After an air bath and gymnastics, wash up to the waist with water, the temperature of which is 16-14 degrees, and if water procedures have not been carried out before, 27 degrees.

Before and after washing, gargle. In the first days warm water- 36-33 degrees; every 5 days, reduce its temperature by 1 degree, bringing it to 18-16. This procedure is especially useful for weakened and often ill children. The initial water temperature for them is the same, but it must be reduced more slowly - every 7 days. If the child is sick, do not stop rinsing, but the water temperature should not be reduced. It is even better to gargle with warmer water - one degree higher than before the disease.

The most favorable time For sunbathing- from 8 to 11 hours, duration up to 30 minutes, but in two doses. The child lay down in the sun for 5-15 minutes, then rested in the shade and again in direct sunlight for 5-15 minutes.

Seasoned For a child, morning washing up to the waist can be replaced with a general douche or shower; or, getting out of bed, let him wash himself and wash himself to the waist, and douse himself after a sunbath.

Foot contrast baths - after a nap.

This procedure can be replaced by dousing the feet. The initial water temperature is 28 degrees, lowering it every 8-4 days (for weakened children - every 7 days, bring to 16 degrees.

All hardening It is better to carry out procedures in the morning and afternoon, around 9 and 15 hours. Research has shown that at this time of day, children preschool age Adaptive reactions to temperature fluctuations develop better.

Basic Rules hardening the child

1. Get started hardening possible at any time of the year.

2. Hardening effective only when it is carried out systematically; without constant reinforcement results achieved are decreasing.

3. Do not sharply increase duration and strength. hardening effects. Violation of the principle of gradualness can cause hypothermia and illness in the child.

4. Hardening procedures cannot be started if the child is sick.

5. Efficiency hardening procedures increases if they are carried out comprehensively.

6. The procedure should please the child and evoke positive emotions.

Together with mom and dad

It is known that children love to imitate adults, and it will be very good if this child’s ability parents use it for to instill in him a strong habit of gymnastics and hardening procedures. Morning exercises for children and parents can do together!

Special observations have established that children that even only three times a week (dressed accordingly in autumn and winter) perform gymnastic exercises in the air, the activity of the bacterial flora of the nasopharynx decreases, in other words, they begin to be less threatened by acute respiratory diseases.

By the age of 4, the child is already noticeably more resilient than in the third. He can, for example, walk continuously for 20 to 40 minutes. Get him used to walking! A walk with mom and dad outside the city, to the park, will leave him with a joyful impression and will be very useful.

One of my favorites summer classes children this age - cycling. At 3-4 years old, children can easily master a three-wheeled vehicle, and from the age of 5, two-wheeled ones. The duration of continuous cycling is from 15 to 30 minutes.

in winter children always attracts sledding down the mountains. Very good! Let only the child, according to the famous Russian proverb, fall in love with the sleigh carry: make sure he climbs the mountain with them himself! This way he won’t get cold, and physical training will be more effective.

Teach from 4-5 years old children go skiing; first, stand on them correctly, then walk without sticks, and only when they have mastered this skill well, can you hand them the sticks.

A 4-5 year old child can also be put on skates. At first he will get tired after 10-15 minutes, but the more confident he begins to feel on the ice, the longer he will be able to skate - 40-60 minutes each (with breaks every 20 minutes).

Bathing and swimming.

Swimming in open water is the most effective hardening procedure. Many parents now they are successfully teaching swimming in home bath infants. Children early age They teach swimming in the pools of children's clinics. But if your child isn't a swimmer, use the summer to teach him how to float.

Of course, the baby can start swimming at an air temperature of at least 25 degrees (if he hardened - not lower than 24, on windless days and only in a clean body of water, with a gently sloping sandy shore, where there are no snags, algae, or stones. Teach him to calmly enter the water and not be afraid to open his eyes in the water. Let him play with the ball, try to take a dip, and you, standing next to him, help him maintain his balance. And watch - is he cold? If appeared « goose pimples» - Go ashore now, dry yourself off and warm up in the sun!

After the first acquaintance with water, task games are already possible to prepare for swimming.

"Get it". The child must quickly find a toy or stone placed on the bottom (in shallow water, of course).

"Who is faster". Enter the water up to your waist, turn to face the shore and, on command, quickly run to the shore.

"Who is taller". Sit down and jump out of the water as high as possible.

"Hide Underwater". Plunge headlong without covering your nose and mouth with your hands.

First explain to your child how to breathe properly in water. Let him, after taking a short breath, lower his face into the water and slowly exhale through his mouth, as if blowing on hot tea, but so that small bubbles form on the surface of the water. On account "once" inhale over the water "two three four five"- exhale into the water. After repeating this exercise 12-16 times, you can proceed to the next stage of preparatory exercises.

"Rinsing laundry". Enter the water so that it is just below your waist, put your feet apart, bend over, put your hands in the water and move them left and right, back and forth.

"Mill". Row with your hands in water: One hand rows, the other flies through the air.

"Float". While standing in the water, take a breath, hold your breath, sit down, immersed under the water, clasp your knees with your hands, and press your chin to your chest. The water will push the baby to the surface.

"Jellyfish". After the baby learns to do "float" After completing this exercise, spread your arms and legs to the sides.

"Scissors". Sit near the shore in shallow water and move your straightened legs up and down.

If within a few days the child becomes comfortable with these exercises and does them with pleasure, try placing his chest on a rubber circle with his arms extended forward. By kicking the water from top to bottom, balance is maintained, and the child floats. At first, without immersing your face, then exhaling into the water, and to inhale, turning your face to the side.

The next stage is to learn to lie on your back. Let the child, standing with his back to the shore, slowly sit down so that his chin touches the water, maintain balance with his arms extended to the sides, then tilt his head back, immersing the back of his head in the water and gradually accepting supine position. Helping himself with movements of his hands, he will lie on the water.

If this doesn’t work out right away, it doesn’t matter; at first, lightly support the beginning swimmer.

All that remains is to learn how to slide on your chest. Having entered the water, the child should turn to face the shore, sit down, extend his arms with palms down and, after inhaling, push off from the bottom. Show him how to swim to the shore in a position resembling an arrow; then teach him to alternate rowing with his arms and quick movements with his legs.

The child’s thermoregulatory mechanisms are trained under the influence of both strong, but short-term cooling and relatively weak, longer-term cooling. In addition, the researchers found that hardening It is most effective when not only individual areas of the body are cooled, but the entire body. This means that contrasting foot baths or douses alone, for all their benefits, will not give maximum effect. If you want your child to grow up strong, use the whole complex that we talked about!

If you temper the child is not the first year, we can recommend a combination of water procedures followed by air baths, first in the room, and in the summer and in the open air. After dousing or showering, do not wipe your child dry. Remove only large drops of water with light touches terry towel. Let it dry while remaining naked: As a result of evaporation of moisture, further cooling of the body occurs.

But you cannot allow the child to tremble. If he is cold, you need to give him a light massage, rub him with a towel. Over the course of several days, repeat the dousing followed by an air bath - and the child will get used to it, no additional warming will be required.

We remind you that this is a strong procedure, and start with it hardening is not possible.

Caution, gradualism, systematicity - three principles that must be strictly adhered to, hardening the child.

Our expert is a senior researcher at the Laboratory of Hygiene in Training and Education of the Research Institute of Hygiene and Health Protection of Children and Adolescents at the Scientific Center for Health Protection of Children and Adolescents of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Candidate of Medical Sciences Nadezhda Berezina.

From morning to evening

Where to begin? From everyday hardening. This means: the child’s morning should begin with exercise. After it - proper washing. At first, wash your child with warm water, and when he gets used to it, wash it with cold water (room temperature or lower, focus on the child’s reaction). For a child over 3 years old, after a month to a month and a half, extended washing with cool water is recommended: face, arms up to the elbows, neck, top part breasts

From the age of 3, teach your child to rinse his mouth, and from the age of 4–5 to rinse his throat: you need to start with warm water (not lower than 26 °C), duration – 1 minute; gradually increase the duration of the procedure to 2-3 minutes and reduce the water temperature (to room temperature and below). The same thing is repeated in the evening.

The child should walk as much as possible, while actively moving. And do not forget that hardening should continue during sleep (the temperature in the nursery at night should be 2-3 degrees lower than usual during the day).

Important! An effective way of hardening is contrasting dousing of the feet and legs. The child’s feet are alternately doused with warm and cool water several times in a row. Repeat 3-4 times. If the child does not have chronic diseases, the series of douches ends with cool water. If the baby’s body is weakened, then the procedure should be completed with warm water.

To the country house or to the sea?

The optimal rest option for a frequently ill child is in the middle zone: firstly, there is less contact, and secondly, there is no need for adaptive restructuring, for which the body spends a lot of effort.

The more time the baby spends outside, the better. Children under 3 years old definitely need a playground with a sandbox under an awning.

After three, use active games and walks: in the morning, while it is not hot, you can go with your baby through the surrounding meadows, but after 11 am, forest walks are preferable.

Don't forget about wearing the right clothes: at an air temperature of 22–24 °C: panties, a cotton T-shirt with short sleeves, shorts, socks, sandals. If the baby is thin and not at all hardened, wear a T-shirt with long sleeves and cotton long trousers. When the air temperature is 25 °C and above, you can limit yourself to only panties and shorts (or a light sundress for girls), without socks.

Light air baths should only be taken from 9 to 12 noon. You can start swimming when the water temperature is not lower than 24–25 °C, and the air temperature is 24–26 °C.

And another great country procedure is walking barefoot. On the lawn, paths. And the most useful thing is the dew.

Start with 15–30 minutes, gradually increase the duration of the “training”. It is useful to combine barefoot walking with foot baths: if it is hot outside and your feet are warm, use water at room temperature; and after running through puddles, your feet need to be warmed up and then doused with cool water.

To be continued

But what to do if the child still gets sick? It depends on what. For example, with a mild form of acute respiratory infection, in the absence of fever, you can continue your daily routine. water procedures: extended washing, rinsing, washing feet (leaving the water temperature at the same level). As for special hardening methods (contrast shower, dousing...), whether they can be continued during illness must be decided with the attending physician.

If the child’s fever lasted no more than three days, you can return to hardening after 7–10 days; if longer, 2 weeks after recovery. But after bronchitis or pneumonia (and other serious illnesses) – the terms of “return” must be discussed with the pediatrician. If the break in hardening was 10 days or more, you need to start all over again. The water temperature must be reduced again gradually, but faster than the first time - by one to two degrees every day.

If the break in the procedures is less than 5 days, then the hardening scheme continues as if it had not been interrupted. And during a break of 5 to 10 days, the water temperature should be 2–3 °C higher compared to the temperature of the last procedure.

The indoor air conditions should not be changed during illness. Ventilate the nursery more often, just make sure there is no draft.

Important! For chronic kidney and heart diseases, water procedures with a decrease in temperature (foot baths, douses...) are prohibited. It is necessary to select the temperature regime of water procedures for nervous diseases very carefully.

Children with decompensated heart defects and endocrinological diseases are limited in their exposure to the sun. For any chronic disease, specific recommendations for hardening should only be obtained from the attending physician.

Hardening newborns is an effective, efficient, time-tested way to strengthen the health and immunity of a little person. High adaptability infants allows you to start the hardening process from the first days.

Adaptation mechanisms in newborns are very developed; in other words, the baby is born hardened. The creation of greenhouse conditions - constant ambient temperature, sterile food, lack of air movement - disables the innate adaptation as unnecessary and after a month the baby begins to sneeze from the slightest draft. One only has to support the baby’s natural abilities by creating a temperature contrast and positive contact with nature, that is, carrying out hardening procedures and walking with the child in any weather.

The essence of hardening and expected results

The hardening process consists of a constant dosed change in environmental conditions. Natural factors best helpers in hardening. The process can be carried out everywhere during dressing, bathing, sleeping, and gymnastics. It is not necessary to set aside a special time for hardening. All procedures should fit naturally into your daily routine.

Hardening together with physical exercise, which is carried out regularly, leads to amazing results. The body’s work is activated, and the following improves:

disease resistance;
adaptive mechanisms;
circulation;
metabolism;
psycho-emotional state;
appetite.

Regular hardening will be an excellent prevention against colds. A seasoned baby develops faster. He begins to sit up, crawl, walk and talk earlier than his peers.

Important hardening rules

Before starting hardening, you should contact your treating pediatrician for advice. He must examine the baby to make sure there are no contraindications.

Hardening cannot be started if the child has:

respiratory disease;
decompensated heart disease;
decreased hemoglobin ();
increased temperature;
increased nervous excitability;
severe exhaustion;
there is a disturbance in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
sleep is disturbed.

To achieve the effectiveness of hardening, you must strictly follow following rules:

Regularity. The procedures are carried out systematically, without breaks for a single day.
Gradualism. The temperature of the hardening medium (air or water) should change gradually, in small steps. A sharp change in heat or cold will lead to psychological stress for the child, and even illness.
Individuality. The baby's reaction to the procedures must be carefully observed. At strong signs dissatisfaction, inadequate reaction, hardening must be stopped. To avoid crying and dissatisfaction, you need to distract the child with toys, songs, your smile and affection.
Cohesion. Hardening procedures should be carried out by the whole family. By pouring yourself with your baby, you can not only serve him good example, but also strengthen your body. Joint actions also lead to strengthening family ties.

Note to moms!

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Hardening methods

Hardening methods differ in the type of environment, the temperature of which varies.

Air hardening

Walks. They begin if the temperature outside is at least 10 C. The first walk outside should last 15 minutes. Then the time spent on the street doubles each time. As a result, the child walks for about 2 hours a day.
Air baths. The baby is left naked room temperature(22 C). Start with 30-40 seconds and gradually increase by 30 seconds per week. A child can receive air baths during gymnastics, feeding, massage, changing clothes, before and after bathing.
Sleeping in nature is stronger and healthier. The child should be dressed in such a way that he does not feel discomfort. (Related article:)

Water hardening

The process of hardening with water begins with washing. For babies up to three months, the water temperature is 28 C, from three months to six months - 25-26 C, from six to twelve months - 20-24 C. The water temperature is reduced every two to three days by one degree.
Rubdowns are the next step. They begin after six months with dry rubbing with a soft flannel mitten. Wipe in the following order: arms, legs, back, chest and stomach until slightly reddened. After 7-10 days, wet rubbing with water at a temperature of 35 C begins. The temperature is brought to 30 C, lowering it gradually.
First douches the baby is given a bath from birth, and cool water should be poured on warm skin. Take water at a temperature of 26 C. Having taken it out of the bath, hold the baby in your arm with the back up. The dousing begins from the heels, moving along the spine to the back of the head. The water temperature is reduced by one degree every five days. The lower limit is 18 C, although for some it may be lower.
Swimming for a newborn“habitual mode of movement” - for nine months he was constantly in aquatic environment. Up to three months, the baby’s swimming reflexes have not yet faded, and teaching him to swim is quite simple. When bathing, simply support the child under his head to allow him to move freely. After six months, you can continue learning to swim in the pool.

Sun hardening

Sunbathing is necessary for newborns. After all, only in the light does the body produce vitamin D, which is necessary for bone growth. The duration of sunbathing and its temperature are the same as air baths. One “BUT” - you should not take your baby out into direct sunlight.

Contrasting and intensive hardening methods

Intensive hardening methods should be used with caution and only when the child’s adaptive reflexes have already been strengthened. These methods are based on a short-term sharp change in temperature: dousing with ice water, dipping into an ice hole, walking in the snow. You should not engage in intensive hardening if your baby has chronic diseases.

Contrasting hardening methods are based on rapid and sudden change temperatures These include contrasting ones:

rubbing;
foot baths;
bath and sauna.

The temperature difference during the first contrast procedure should be 4 C (40 and 36 C, respectively). After five days, the lower limit is lowered by one unit and the amplitude is increased to 23-26 C. It is necessary to alternate water 5-6 times per procedure with an interval of 20 seconds. The last one should be hot water.

Hardening infants is not just air baths and dousing with water. This is a natural way of life that should be the norm. Physical activity, correct and healthy eating, daily routine, sports and walks, hardening procedures. Everything to ensure that the newborn grows up healthy and happy.

Most modern children are brought up in gentle conditions. Warm at home and in kindergarten all year round, cleanliness, there are clothes and shoes for any season. But most children still get ARVI even with slight hypothermia. Acquired immunity does not last long, and after recovery the baby gets sick again.

Parents of frequently ill children have two ways to solve the problem:

First- help kids by buying all the new products from the pharmaceutical industry.
Second- hardening of children. This is a simple and free method of improving health, available to everyone. It will gradually restore the lost capabilities of the body received at birth.

From this article you will learn

Causes of weakening of the body

In the process of evolution, human babies have learned to adapt to any conditions. Women give birth to babies both in hot Africa and at the cold pole, in Yakutia, where there is ice and frost. A newborn has a strong immune system, which gradually decreases under the influence of negative environmental factors. Here are the main reasons for weakening the body’s defenses:

lack of nutrients during pregnancy and after birth;
bad habits of parents: smoking of the mother or father has a detrimental effect on the child’s health;
absence or lack of breastfeeding;
overeating, an abundance of high-calorie, sweet and fatty foods;
poor environmental conditions;
constant stay of the baby in stable conditions temperature regime, insufficient room humidity;
lack of movement and fresh air;
non-compliance with sanitary and hygienic rules;
unfavorable psychological atmosphere in the family;
disturbance of sleep and rest patterns.

Causes of malfunctions immune system There may be pathologies during pregnancy, congenital diseases, increased sensitivity body.

Signs of weak immunity

The baby’s health does not immediately become vulnerable. How to understand that a child’s immunity needs support? Indirect and direct signs include:

A pediatrician makes a diagnosis of ARVI 4 to 6 times a year.
Even minor hypothermia can cause a cough or runny nose.
The child is characterized by constant lethargy and drowsiness, and a reluctance to participate in outdoor games.
Headaches, allergies, skin rashes.
It takes a long time for a child to recover from an illness.
High susceptibility to colds and other diseases.
Atypical course of the disease.

This is interesting! Elements of hardening were used by Hippocrates; complexes to strengthen the immune system are included in the systems of yoga and many martial arts.

How often does your child get colds during the year?

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Strengthening your child's health

Often, increasing disease resistance does not require special financial costs or burdens. You can effectively strengthen the body’s defenses by revising many habits and changing the lifestyle of the family as a whole, for example:

Change or diversify your diet. There is a saying that immunity is hidden in the intestines. Its microflora is maintained at the proper level by eating certain foods: fermented milk products containing prebiotics, berries, fresh fruits, vegetables, especially the cruciferous family: cabbage, radishes, turnips.
Increase physical activity, especially in nature. Among other things, swimming is especially beneficial.
Reconsider the period of wakefulness and sleep: go to bed and get up in accordance with the natural biorhythms of a person.
Provide vitamin therapy, especially in transition periods and at the peak of epidemics. You can enrich the menu with useful substances by adding to it herbal teas, honey and beekeeping products, citrus fruits, dried fruits. It is advisable that they be on the family table every day.
Temper the child. For those who doubt the effectiveness of the method or simply don’t know where to start or how to harden a child correctly, you can read various methods and scientific data confirming the beneficial results of the procedures.

But Dr. Komarovsky believes that there is no need to harden children. Take a look and see for yourself.

Benefits of hardening

The increase in immunobiological resistance during cold procedures was proven in the last century by academician Ilya Arshavsky. He is the author of numerous publications on pediatric physiology. The Nikitin couple, who subsequently developed their own education system, established a relationship between hardening and reducing the manifestations of allergies. TO the following effects hardening activities include:

Stabilization of nervous and endocrine system. The consequences of stress, overwork, and increased psycho-emotional stress are reduced.
Improving the functioning of the circulatory system increases tone and improves condition skin, protects against varicose veins veins
Increased immunity to colds when changing external factors: lower temperature, increased wind and others.
The course of the disease in hardened children is much easier and shorter in duration. Less chance of complications.

General rules

Before starting the procedures, it is advisable to consult a pediatrician and immunologist for the presence of congenital pathologies or acquired diseases. You can discuss methods and general rules. Based on the doctor’s advice and the chosen technique, draw up an action plan.

For parents who are training their baby for the first time, there are the following recommendations:

Sick child cannot be subjected to procedures. We need to wait for a full recovery.
You need to get used to hardening procedures extremely carefully, otherwise the child will catch a cold and will have to be treated.
First you need to master one type of hardening, after about a week you can make changes to the schedule of hardening procedures. Let your baby adapt.
It is optimal to start hardening at the end of spring: at this time, the peak of colds has passed and the child will have a lot of time to prepare for the autumn cold. Be careful with water activities; it is advisable to start them in the summer.
On initial stage the temperature fluctuation of water or air should be 2 - 3 degrees.
Take a break from procedures for two days every two weeks.
Combine treatments with walks, being in nature, sports games, optimize your sleep patterns.

Advice! The baby will be more willing to take part in the procedures if mom and dad show him an example. And it’s more convenient to switch to a healthy lifestyle with the whole family.

Passive hardening

To improve your child's health, it is not necessary to take radical measures. Hardening involves abandoning the greenhouse conditions in which the baby is kept. Just a little change is enough familiar image life concerning the following aspects:

The habit of dressing warmly. Both excess clothing and lack thereof are harmful. An extra layer of fabric leads to overheating, the baby's frequent stay in one underwear in a cool room leads to disruptions in the operation of heat capacity systems.
Walking at home in shoes. The connection between the feet and the nasopharynx and throat has long been noticed. By teaching a preschooler to walk barefoot, parents not only train him to be resistant to colds, but also perform the prevention of flat feet.
Temperature and air circulation in the room. Rooms where children are kept must have a temperature not exceeding 22 degrees; depending on the purpose of the room and the age of the children, this figure may fluctuate. Frequent ventilation without drafts is necessary.
Walking outside. Stay on fresh air should be regular, its duration depends on the age of the baby and weather conditions.

Active hardening. Memo to parents

Active hardening methods include: procedures using water: rubbing, bathing, swimming, dousing; air and sun baths, sports exercises, massage.

Table 1. Instructions for carrying out procedures for active hardening of children up to 3 years.

Name of procedure		Duration
Walk	During the day	2 times a day for 2 hours
Daytime nap	Before or after noon	2 - 3 hours a day depending on age
Sunbathing		Before a year - 1 - 2 minutes, after a year - up to 20 minutes
Air baths	During the day	In accordance with weather conditions, home environment, from 2 minutes to unlimited time
Rubdowns	After sleep	1 - 2 minutes
Water procedures		Depends on age category and purpose of the procedure. It is recommended to swim in open water for children over one year of age for 5 to 7 minutes.
Gymnastics and active games		At least 5 - 10 minutes
Massage		From 5 to 15 minutes, massotherapy- according to indications

table 2. Active hardening program for children from 3 to 8 years.

Name of procedure	What time of day to spend	Duration
Walk	During the day	2 times a day for 2 - 3 hours
Daytime nap	Before or after noon	1 - 1.5 hours a day
Sunbathing	Before 11 a.m. and after 4 p.m.	10 - 40 minutes
Air baths	During the day	According to weather conditions, home environment, from 20 minutes to unlimited time
Rubdowns	After sleep	2 - 3 minutes
Water procedures	In the morning, after physical activity, in the evening - to relieve tension	Depends on age and purpose: optimal time bathing - 10 minutes
Gymnastics and active games	In the morning and throughout the day, an hour after meals	From 15 minutes plus specialized load
Massage	In the morning or evening, an hour after eating	From 5 to 15 minutes

Advice! In a simple way hardening is gargling with cool water with added salt.

Water procedures

The most frequently recommended and gentle method is rubdown. Suitable even for babies. The procedure requires natural soft fabric. Usually used after waking up, first use warm water, slightly below body temperature, then gradually reduce it by 1 - 2 degrees. You need to rub the baby's skin very carefully with a wet cloth.

After the child has become accustomed to daily rubdowns, you can start with pouring hands and feet. For the first time the temperature should not be less than 33 degrees. As the child adapts from warm water, you need to gradually switch to cold water; it is useful to use a contrast shower (after one and a half years). The process must be gradual.

Proponents recommend starting after 2 - 3 weeks from birth. Children from one year old can swim in a home bath, an open pond, or a swimming pool. The temperature and duration of classes depend on the age of the child and the time of year.

Magic path - an unconventional way

This method combines foot massage, exercise, aromatherapy and water treatments. To do this, you need to pour warm water into the bath. temperature 36 - 37 degrees. To stimulate active points located on the feet, place a massage mat and small pebbles and sand on the bottom. Add aromatic salt with pine needle or eucalyptus concentrate.

Step by step procedure:

Invite your child to walk and jump along the path.
Continue walking for 10 minutes.
Make sure your baby doesn't freeze.
After charging, wash your feet and dry with a towel.

Gradually increase the duration of the lesson, bring it to up to 20 minutes. Reduce the temperature by 1 - 2 degrees, but do not use completely ice water.

Advice! So that the child inhales beneficial substances more often essential oils and evaporation of salt, invite him to sing a song or recite a poem together.

For example, this:

We are not afraid of the weather,
And in the winter cold, and in the summer heat,
We take health from nature,
And we wash away diseases with cold water.

Air baths

The method can be used both at home and outdoors. When changing your baby indoors, do not rush to quickly wrap him up. If it's warm, leave naked for two minutes. Repeat 2 - 3 times a day. If the baby is fine, after a while you can increase the duration of the air baths. The procedure can also be performed outdoors during hot periods.

In warm summer weather, the baby should not be wearing excess clothing. A child can be naked or in only underwear during hours when the sun is not too active.

Sunbathing

It is useful to combine this type of hardening with the previous one. Baby without clothes under sun rays must be up to 2 minutes, a one-year-old bottle can stay in the sun up to 20 minutes. Be sure to wear a hat that covers your face and eye area.

Gymnastics and exercises

Morning exercises will be useful for both active kids and little couch potatoes. Its goal is to stretch the muscles, warm them up, and activate the work of all body systems. Adults will also have to do exercises: children are reluctant to do exercises on their own, even if they are presented in the form of a bright video.

When walking with your baby, encourage him to participate in active games, A junior schoolboy and teenagers need regular exercise.

Contraindications

Elements of passive hardening: walking, washing, air baths within reasonable limits will be useful for ailments. Hardening of children is not recommended in the following cases:

for asthma, other respiratory diseases: bronchitis, pneumonia, tonsillitis;
if the baby has grade III - IV adenoids;
for heart and kidney diseases;
water procedures should not be carried out if the integrity of the skin is damaged;
for diseases of a viral and infectious nature;
in case of malfunctions nervous system;
after vaccinations and any medical interventions;
V adaptation period getting used to kindergarten or school;
ask the teacher if there was a quarantine in the kindergarten; if there is a threat of contracting a contagious disease: influenza, chickenpox, especially neuroinfections, hardening should be postponed.

In any case of deviations in the baby’s development or health problems, a conversation with a pediatrician or a consultation with an immunologist is necessary before introducing hardening procedures.

Look useful and detailed presentation about methods of hardening children.

Most pediatricians, in particular the famous Dr. Komarovsky, believe that one-time procedures with hardening elements special effect They won’t give it, the baby will still be sick.

It is necessary to create conditions under which the body's adaptive systems will function naturally. Here are some recommendations that will make the healing process enjoyable and safe for the whole family:

take into account individual characteristics baby;
carry out hardening V game form ;
act step by step;
feed your child as desired, give as much as the baby wants;
don't overheat;
do not expose sudden changes temperature the genital area, especially in boys, this is fraught with reproductive dysfunction;
respect the principle consistency and gradualism;
reduce the use of household products chemicals;
focus on your baby's behavior: Individual characteristics are different for everyone.

Note to mothers: the baby will be much healthier if he feels that he is loved and needed, and the atmosphere in the family is much more important than temperature conditions.

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Ekaterina Morozova

Reading time: 12 minutes

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The baby’s health depends on many factors: heredity, living conditions, food, etc. But for the most part it, of course, depends on the lifestyle for which the mother is responsible. Hardening has always gone hand in hand with the concept of a healthy lifestyle and relevance this question does not lose it to this day, despite the fact that many children are raised in almost “greenhouse” conditions.

So, how to harden your child, and is it necessary to do it?

What is hardening, and how is it useful for a child?

The term “hardening” is usually understood as a system of specific training in the body of thermoregulatory processes, consisting of procedures that increase immunity and overall endurance of the body.

Of course, hardening has both opponents (where would we be without them) and supporters. But in general, If the rules are followed, hardening is extremely beneficial , and the arguments of opponents, as a rule, are based on the results of ill-conducted procedures.

Video: How to properly harden a child?

Hardening: what is the benefit?

Strengthening immunity. A hardened organism has lower sensitivity to any temperature changes, which means higher resistance to seasonal diseases.
Prevention of varicose veins.
Beneficial effects on the skin (skin cells begin to work even more actively).
Normalization of the nervous system. That is, calming properties, elimination of stress, fatigue and a general increase in the body’s resistance to psychological problems.
Stimulation of the endocrine system - which, in turn, has a positive effect on other processes in the body.
General improvement in well-being, increased strength. Hardening promotes increased blood circulation and subsequent active saturation of cells with oxygen.

In addition, it is worth noting that hardening is a very effective alternative medical drugs, called .

The results of the procedures are faster and longer lasting, compared to immunostimulants, and in addition, they are safe.

Video: Advantages of child hardening and basic rules

At what age should you start hardening children at home? Is early hardening harmful?

When to start?

This question worries every mother for whom healthy image the life of her child comes first.

Exactly, not immediately after the maternity hospital!

It is clear that it is better to start hardening a baby from an early age, but the baby’s body is still too weak to bring new tests upon it.

Some experts argue that hardening can be introduced to a baby already on the 10th day after birth, but most pediatricians still agree that it is better to wait a month or two. Especially, .

Naturally, the procedures should begin only after consultation with a pediatrician , examining the baby and taking into account his health condition.

It is important to remember that the newborn’s body is still weak, and if there are any hidden diseases, such procedures can dramatically worsen the baby’s health.

In addition, hypothermia of a baby whose thermoregulation has not yet been established (note – cooling occurs much faster and more strongly than in adults!) can cause the development of various diseases.

Therefore, it is better to give the baby time to get stronger and “build up” his own immunity.

Everything you need to know and do before starting to harden your child - a reminder to parents

In order for hardening to bring exceptional benefits to the child, the mother must remember the following rules for carrying out these procedures (regardless of their form and type):

First of all, consult a pediatrician! He will decide whether the baby has any contraindications to the procedures, whether they will aggravate his health condition if there are any problems, tell him what absolutely cannot be done, and help him choose The best way hardening
If the doctor doesn’t mind, and there are no health problems, and the baby’s mood is conducive to procedures, choose a hardening method .
Time of the procedure. It is important to understand that the effect of hardening directly depends on whether you carry out the procedures on an ongoing basis. 1-2 hardenings in 2 weeks and different time They will only undermine the baby’s health. The procedure must take place at the same time and on a regular basis - that is, constantly. Only then will it be of any use.
Load intensity. First of all, it should increase gradually. It is clear that you cannot pour ice water on a baby and dream that now he will be as healthy as a hero. The intensity of the load should not be too strong, but not too weak (ventilating the heels at room temperature for 2 minutes, of course, will do nothing), and it should be increased gradually - from procedure to procedure.
The mood and condition of the baby. Not recommended similar procedures if the baby is in bad mood. Hardening should bring only positive emotions, otherwise it will not be useful. That is why it is recommended to carry out procedures in a playful way with the absolute involvement of all family members. And procedures are strictly prohibited if the baby is sick.
Do not start the process of hardening the child by dousing it with cold water. This is stress even for an adult body, and even more so for a baby. Start with air baths, frequent ventilation, sleeping in a room with an open window, etc.
Hardening should take place in combination with other activities: proper nutrition, physical activity and walks, .
Many mothers think that cold water and the “breathtaking” effect are important in hardening. In fact, the contrast of the effect, which is important during hardening, is achieved not only with a bucket of ice water: It is important to train the ability of blood vessels to change their lumens according to the external temperature.
The feet are most sensitive to temperature changes (the face and palms, which are constantly open, do not need hardening too much), due to the large number of receptors on them.

What not to do:

Start immediately with extreme procedures.
Carry out procedures in a drafty room.
Get involved in the procedure. The maximum period for it is 10-20 minutes.
Temper the baby when he is sick. You can return to procedures no earlier than 10-14 days after an acute respiratory infection and 4-5 weeks after pneumonia.
Force the child to harden, carry out procedures by force.
Allow hypothermia.

Contraindications:

Any infectious, viral or other disease in the acute stage.
Diseases of the cardiovascular system. When cooled, the blood vessels contract, and the consequences for a “problem” heart can be very serious.
Diseases of the nervous system. In this case low temperature- irritant.
Skin diseases.
Diseases of the respiratory system.

Methods of hardening children at home - hardening procedures, video

When choosing a hardening method, it is important to understand that the age of the child is of great importance.

If a teenager can cheerfully be doused with cool water in the summer at the dacha and not worry about the consequences, then for a baby such a “procedure” can result in pneumonia.

Therefore, for newborns, we choose the most gentle hardening methods and increase the intensity of hardening GRADUALLY!

How to harden a baby - the main methods:

Frequently air the room. IN summer time You don’t have to close the window at all, but in the cold season you can open it 4-5 times a day for 10-15 minutes. An important rule is to avoid drafts. You can also use modern technology that will not only regulate the temperature, but also humidify/purify the air.
Sleeping with an open window or on the balcony in a stroller. Naturally, leaving the baby alone on the balcony is prohibited. You can start with 15 minutes and then increase your sleep time outdoors to 40-60 minutes. Of course, you don’t need to do this in cold weather (minus 5 for a baby is a reason to stay home). But in the summer, you can sleep (walk) on the street as much as you like (if the baby is fed, dry and hidden from mosquitoes and the sun).
Air baths. This procedure can be started right in the maternity hospital. After changing the diaper, the baby should be left naked for a while. Air baths should be started at a temperature of 21-22 degrees from 1-3 minutes, and then gradually reduce it and increase the bath time to 30 minutes by 1 year.
Gradually lowering the water temperature when bathing the baby. With each bathing it is lowered by 1 degree. Or they pour water on the baby after bathing, the temperature of which is 1-2 degrees lower than that in the bath.
Wash with cool water for 1-2 minutes. From warm temperatures are gradually reduced to cold (from 28 to 21 degrees).
Wiping with a wet towel. A mitten or towel is moistened in water, the temperature of which does not exceed 32-36 degrees, after which the arms and legs from the limbs to the body are lightly wiped for 2-3 minutes. Within 5 days the temperature is reduced to 27-28 degrees.

How to toughen up an older child?

Rubbing and washing with cool water remains valid for any age.
Contrasting foot baths. We put 2 basins of water - warm and cool. Hold your legs for 2 minutes warm water, then place them in a bowl of cool water for 30 seconds. We alternate 6-8 times, after which we rub the legs and put on cotton socks. You can gradually lower the temperature of the water in the “cold” basin.
Let's run barefoot! In the absence of drafts, it is quite acceptable to run barefoot on the floor. Unless, of course, you have concrete floors or icy, slippery tiles. Experts also recommend a “rug” made of sea pebbles, which you can walk on right in the room.
Cold and hot shower. In this case, the mother changes the water temperature from warm to cool and back. The temperature, again, as in all cases, is lowered gradually!
Pouring. If your baby is accustomed to dousing from a jug from an early age, then you can move on to cooler dousings. The main thing is that the water does not become a shock, both for the baby and for his body. After dousing, it is important to rub the body with a towel until slightly reddened. Massage will be no less effective in consolidating the effect. Dousing begins at 35-37 degrees, and gradually raises the temperature to 27-28 degrees and below. After 2-3 years, the temperature can be lowered to 24 degrees.
Sauna and swimming pool. Option for older children. The air temperature in the sauna should not exceed 90 degrees, and the procedure time should be 10 minutes (start with 2-3 minutes). After the sauna, take a warm shower, and then you can go to the pool. The water in it should not be too cold, and the child should already be prepared for such temperature changes. That is, hardened.
Before going to bed, you can wash your feet in cool water. This good habit will be a real help in working to improve immunity.
Hardening of the throat. To prevent your child from getting sick after every ice cream or glass of lemonade in the heat, harden the larynx. You can start by gargling daily with a gradual decrease in water temperature from 25 to 8 degrees. Then you can start sweet training according to the “three times a day” scheme: hold a piece of ice cream in your mouth, count to 10 and only then swallow. Then you can switch to small ones ice cubes from juices or herbal decoctions.

And a few more important hardening rules:

We do not wrap up the child beyond the norm! The newborn is dressed “as himself plus 1” Lightweight clothing”, and older kids - just “like yourself”. There is no need to bundle up your children too much when out for a walk, and especially not at home. Especially if the baby is active.
Temperature standards for walking children in winter : at -10 - only after 3 months, at -15 - after six months.
When “dipping” your child into sunbathing, remember harmful effects UV rays. Infants under 1 year of age are extremely sensitive to them, and they are allowed to take baths only in diffuse sunlight. You can start sunbathing only after 3 years, and then only in doses (for the south of the country - from 8 to 10 am, and for the middle zone - 9-12 am).
Parents carry out extreme hardening methods at their own peril and risk. These include swimming in an ice hole, diving in the snow after a bath, etc. Naturally, for children it is better to choose gentler procedures. And even the child should be prepared for them gradually.
Usually hardening is combined with physical activity. But after sunbathing, it is better to abstain from it for an hour and a half.

And don’t forget about the child’s mood! We postpone the procedure if the baby is capricious. And we don’t impose them if the child protests.

Look for a way to instill a good habit through play - and be a good example for your child.

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