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Exercise
is essentially important to the health of the infant. Its first
exercise, of
course, will be in the nurse's arms. After a month or two, when it
begins to
sleep less during the day, it will delight to roll and kick about on
the sofa:
it will thus use its limbs freely; and this, with carrying out into the
open
air, is all the exercise it requires at this period. By and by,
however, the
child will make its first attempts to walk. Now it is important that
none of
the many plans which have been devised to teach a child to walk, should
be
adopted the go-cart, leading-strings, etc.; their tendency is
mischievous; and
flatness of the chest, confined lungs, distorted spine, and deformed
legs, are
so many evils which often originate in such practices. This is
explained by the
fact of the bones in infancy being comparatively soft and pliable, and
if
prematurely subjected by these contrivances to carry the weight of the
body,
they yield just like an elastic stick bending under a weight, and as a
natural
consequence become curved and distorted.
It
is
highly necessary that the young and experienced mother should recollect
this
fact, for the early efforts of the little one to walk are naturally
viewed by
her with so much delight, that she will be apt to encourage and prolong
its
attempts, without any thought of the mischief which they may occasion;
thus
many a parent has had to mourn over the deformity which she has herself
created.
It
may
be as well here to remark, that if such distortion is timely noticed,
it is
capable of correction, even after evident curvature has taken place. It
is to
be remedied by using those means that shall invigorate the frame, and
promote
the child's general health (a daily plunge into the cold bath, or
sponging with
cold salt water, will be found signally efficacious), and by avoiding
the
original cause of the distortion never allowing the child to get upon
his feet.
The only way to accomplish the latter intention, is to put both the
legs into a
large stocking; this will effectually answer this purpose, while, at
the same
time, it does not prevent the free and full exercise of the muscles of
the
legs. After some months pursuing this plan, the limbs will be found no
longer
deformed, the bones to have acquired firmness and the muscles strength;
and the
child may be permitted to get upon his feet again without any hazard of
perpetuating or renewing the evil.
The
best mode of teaching a child to walk, is to let it teach itself, and
this it
will do readily enough. It will first crawl about: this exercises every
muscle
in the body, does not fatigue the child, throws no weight upon the
bones, but
imparts vigour and strength, and is thus highly useful. After a while,
having
the power, it will wish to do more: it will endeavour to lift itself
upon its
feet by the aid of a chair, and though it fail again and again in its
attempts,
it will still persevere until it accomplish it. By this it learns,
first, to
raise itself from the floor; and secondly, to stand, but not without
keeping
hold of the object on which it has seized. Next it will balance itself
without
holding, and will proudly and laughingly show that it can stand alone.
Fearful,
however, as yet of moving its limbs without support, it will seize a
chair or
anything else near it, when it will dare to advance as far as the
limits of its
support will permit. This little adventure will be repeated day after
day with
increased exultation; when, after numerous trials, he will feel
confident of
his power to balance himself, and he will run alone. Now time is
required for
this gradual self-teaching, during which the muscles and bones become
strengthened; and when at last called upon to sustain the weight of the
body,
are fully capable of doing so.
Exercise
during childhood.
When
the child has acquired sufficient strength to take active exercise, he
can
scarcely be too much in the open air; the more he is habituated to
this, the
more capable will he be of bearing the vicissitudes of the climate.
Children,
too, should always be allowed to amuse themselves at pleasure, for they
will
generally take that kind and degree of exercise which is best
calculated to
promote the growth and development of the body. In the unrestrained
indulgence of
their youthful sports, every muscle of the body comes in for its share
of
active exercise; and free growth, vigour, and health are the result.
If,
however, a child is delicate and strumous, and too feeble to take
sufficient
exercise on foot, and to such a constitution the respiration of a pure
air and
exercise are indispensable for the improvement of health, and without
them all
other efforts will fail, riding on a donkey or pony forms the best
substitute.
This kind of exercise will always be found of infinite service to
delicate
children; it amuses the mind, and exercises the muscles of the whole
body, and
yet in so gentle a manner as to induce little fatigue.
The
exercises of horseback, however, are most particularly useful where
there is a
tendency in the constitution to pulmonary consumption, either from
hereditary
or accidental causes. It is here beneficial, as well through its
influence on
the general health, as more directly on the lungs themselves. There can
be no
doubt that the lungs, like the muscles of the body, acquire power and
health of
function by exercise. Now during a ride this is obtained, and without
much
fatigue to the body. The free and equable expansion of the lungs by
full
inspiration, necessarily takes place; this maintains their healthy
structure,
by keeping all the air-passages open and pervious; it prevents
congestion in
the pulmonary circulation, and at the same time provides more
completely for
the necessary chemical action on the blood, by changing, at each act of
respiration,
a sufficient proportion of the whole air contained in the lungs, all
objects of
great importance, and all capable of being promoted, more or less, by
the means
in question. Learn more on how to take care of your Walking Baby .
Note:
While every
care is taken to provide medically accurate and up to date information
in this web site, it is to be noted that this advice is not intended to
replace the advice of your physician. Before undertaking the advice
contained in this web site, you should consult a medical professional.
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