what are some exercises I can do with my 5 month old to increase muscle in her arms?

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Message edited 3/25/2007 9:50:11 PM.

Re: what are some exercises I can do with my 5 month old to increase muscle in her arms?

pull up from lying position to sitting and then sitting to standing position... I'm not sure what else besides chin ups

Re: what are some exercises I can do with my 5 month old to increase muscle in her arms?

Is this so she can start holding her own bottle?

Maybe when she's sitting in your lap put her arms out and have her hold things.

More tummy time - also try to get her to balance on the one arm while she reaches for an object.

Does she grab for things while laying on the activity mat? DDs grab at things and pull and I swear they have little muscles!

Re: what are some exercises I can do with my 5 month old to increase muscle in her arms?

I also meant to add tummy time and reaching for things - you'd be amazed at their stamina when trying to get to a beloved toy!

Re: what are some exercises I can do with my 5 month old to increase muscle in her arms?

she is not a grabbed, except my hair or clothes. I keep putting her on her tummy, and she is moving her legs in crawling forward, however, she is not putting her arms under, like they are suppose to. she puts them out to the side. I read in a book to elevate their legs to try to get them to use their arms, but it doesn't work. I know don't force her, except for the fact she gets her butt and stomach off the floor but not her arms.

Re: what are some exercises I can do with my 5 month old to increase muscle in her arms?

To be honest, aside from giving "tummy time" I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Re: what are some exercises I can do with my 5 month old to increase muscle in her arms?

I would just say more tummy time.

Re: what are some exercises I can do with my 5 month old to increase muscle in her arms?

thank you everyone!!!

Re: what are some exercises I can do with my 5 month old to increase muscle in her arms?

Any OT or PT parents out their??

Babies gain muscle coordination from top to the bottom and from the inside out...In other words from their heads down to their toes from their body to the tips of their fingers..

If you hold up a 4th month (or so baby) in a sitting position you can almost see how far down their back their muscle tone has gotten..

Things such as this are herititary and there is really nothing you can do to speed up the process..this is the reason why some babies are walking at 9 months and others are well over a year..

As long as there are no other underlying issues the muscle tone in her arms will develope on its own over the next couple of months.

Im not an expert on this but this was how it was explained to me when my daughter was in PT & OT