What is tummy time?
– Tummy time is the period of time during the day that your baby spends supervised and awake on their stomach.
Why does your baby need tummy time?
– Helps in development of gross motor skills: Spending time on their belly helps develop muscle strength of neck, back, and shoulders that allow them to lift their head up, roll, and eventually crawl
– Promotes motor development: May help prevent motor delays and conditions such as plagiocephaly (flattening of one side of the head) and torticollis (tightness of sternocleidomastoid muscle)
– Promotes visual development: Encourages visual exploration of the environment as well as hand-eye coordination
– Promotes sensory development: Development of tactile sense by feeling different textures on their arms and hands. Promotes body awareness and proprioception when weight shifting from arm to arm. Also assists in developing vestibular sense.
When should your baby start doing tummy time?
– Tummy time should begin as soon as your baby comes home from the hospital
How long/often does your baby need to do tummy time?
– Aim for a few minutes at a time, several times a day for newborns. As your child gains strength and tolerance to the position, you can increase the amount of tummy time they receive throughout the day.
– Your baby should be getting at least 1 hour of tummy time total throughout the day by 3 months of age.
Why does your baby dislike tummy time?
– Tummy time can be challenging for babies at first due to having to work against gravity to maintain their head in an upright position. This is a position they haven’t been in before, challenging muscles that are not yet developed
– Babies younger than 4-5 months of age may get frustrated on their belly as they do not yet have the skills to roll from their belly to their back.
– Many babies who experience reflux have poor tolerance to tummy time
How to make tummy time more tolerable/fun?
1. Modified Positions
– Place a small rolled towel/blanket or boppy under your baby’s chest (under his/her armpits)
– Place baby on their belly across your lap
– When laying down on the floor or bed, flat or slightly propped up, place baby on your chest so that you and baby are face to face
– Tummy down carry: place one hand under child’s tummy and between their legs and carry the baby tummy down while still nestled close to your body
2. Engaging Activities
– Sing songs while baby is on their tummy to calm and soothe baby
– Get down on the floor at their eye level or provide contrasting colors/toys to play and engage with. You can also turn pages in picture books to help develop visual attention and keep them interested.
– Do a few minutes of tummy time after every diaper change or every bath so that they begin to expect it in their routine
– Allie Stumbo, PT, DPT
Sources:
– Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy . (n.d.). 5 Tips for Positioning and Play to Help Your Newborn Baby’s Posture and Movement Development.
– Pin, T., Eldridge, B., & Galea, M. P. (2007). A review of the effects of sleep position, play position, and equipment use on motor development in infants. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 49(11), 858–867. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8749.2007.00858.x
– Tummy time for babies: In pictures. Raising Children Network. (2020, March 31). Retrieved November 15, 2021, from https://raisingchildren.net.au/newborns/play-learning/play-ideas/tummy-time.
– What you need to know about tummy time: Tummy time tips. Pathways.org. (2021, September 29). Retrieved November 15, 2021, from https://pathways.org/topics-of-development/tummy-time/.
I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article.
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As a first-time mom, I was really stressed because my baby would cry every time I tried tummy time. After reading your tips, I started with the rolled-up blanket under his chest and also tried placing him on my chest while lying down. It worked wonders now he tolerates tummy time much better, and I can see his little neck getting stronger every day. This blog gave me simple, practical ideas that actually worked for us!
Tummy time can be a bit challenging at first, both for babies and parents. It’s reassuring to see how much it supports muscle development and motor skills in such a natural way. Using a rolled towel or placing the baby across your lap seems like an easy trick to make the experience more comfortable. Singing to them or adding toys also keeps things engaging and makes tummy time more enjoyable. Turning it into a regular part of the daily routine, especially after diaper changes or baths, could be a good way to ease your baby into it. With a bit of patience, tummy time really supports your baby’s growth and coordination.
This article on tummy time is really helpful! I didn’t know how important it is for a baby’s growth and development. The tips to start with just a few minutes a day make it easier for parents like me. I also like the ideas of using a rolled towel or placing the baby on your lap to make tummy time more comfortable. Playing with colorful toys and singing songs to keep the baby engaged is a great idea. This guide makes tummy time feel simple and fun.
Tummy time is so important for babies’ development, but I know it can be tricky at first! Starting with just a few minutes a few times a day and gradually increasing really helps. Using a soft blanket, placing toys or a mirror in front, or lying down face-to-face with your baby can make it more fun and engaging. Patience is key—those early efforts really pay off in muscle strength and motor skills later on!
This article on tummy time is super helpful for new parents! I didn’t realize how important it is for developing a baby’s neck, back, and shoulder muscles, as well as motor, visual, and sensory skills. I also like the tips on making tummy time more fun and tolerable, like using a rolled towel, placing the baby on your chest, or trying the tummy-down carry. It’s reassuring to know that short sessions several times a day are enough at first, and that it will gradually help babies gain strength and coordination.
This is such a helpful guide for new parents! Tummy time really is essential for babies’ muscle development and overall growth. I like how it explains not just what tummy time is, but also why it matters and how it helps with neck, back, and shoulder strength. Great tips for making sure babies get enough supervised tummy time safely!
What a helpful and well-explained article! Your tummy time tips—like using a rolled towel under the chest, doing brief sessions several times a day, and making it playful with toys or singing—feel simple yet effective. As a new parent, I’ll definitely try these. Thanks for sharing these practical strategies for strengthening baby’s neck, back, and shoulders!
I totally agree with your tricks. My baby used to hate tummy time, but once we started placing toys just out of reach, they got much more interested. It’s such a small change, but it really worked for us.
This is an excellent, practical guide! Tummy time can be challenging for both babies and parents, but the tips on modified positions, like using a rolled blanket or placing the baby on your chest, make it so much less intimidating. It’s a great reminder that even short, consistent sessions are incredibly beneficial for motor and visual development. I appreciate the simple, engaging activity suggestions!
This article provides excellent guidance on making tummy time enjoyable and effective for babies. The tips on using engaging activities, such as singing songs and introducing contrasting toys, are practical and helpful. Incorporating tummy time into daily routines, like after diaper changes or baths, is a great strategy to ensure consistency and support your baby’s development.