Tummy time is so important for babies to build a foundation of core strength that will help them in many motor developmental milestones. Babies can start tummy time as soon as they are born for just a few minutes per day and this can increase every day until they are getting up to an hour of tummy time per day by three months of age. Babies can be placed on a bed, sofa, floor, or on a blanket for tummy time. Give him a little massage during tummy time.
Do you have an older child, niece or nephew who can entertain during tummy time? Babies love to look at other children’s faces.
Lie on the bed or sofa and put your baby on your chest on her tummy, talking to her and encouraging her to pick up her head and look at you.
Get down on her level. Talk to her while she is in tummy time. Encourage her to lift her head and look at you.
Place him in tummy time across your lap. Hold a toy in his line of vision and provide some support in his lower back to help him stabilize.
Roll up a towel or blanket under his arms for some added support.
Babies need to sleep on their back, but during awake, alert play time, tummy time has many benefits!
- Babies develop from head to toe, so they need to establish neck strength before they can have strength, stability, and dexterity in their arms and hands. Tummy time helps to build neck strength because babies lift their head and turn it from side to side.
- Babies need core strength to prepare for rolling, crawling, sitting, and walking and tummy time helps to develop core strength. Every time your baby pushes up onto their hands or pulls their knees up under them in tummy time, they are strengthening their shoulders, hips, abdominal and back muscles.
- Babies who get plenty of tummy time usually have beautiful, round heads, with no flat spots or bald spots. Babies who spend a lot of time in containers such as car seats, swings, and other chairs are susceptible to flat heads from compression on their skull.
- Tummy time helps with visual development. While on the floor with their toys very close to them, directly in their line of vision, babies get more experience with focusing and tracking.
- Babies who spend a lot of time in tummy time usually have better sensory processing. They are experiencing the sensation of the carpet, floor, or blanket against a large portion of their skin and the palms of their hands. This helps them process this feeling and feel more comfortable with textures against their skin.
- Tummy time is sometimes the only time of the day when babies’ legs are stretched out, fully extending baby’s hip flexors. This is important for symmetry with crawling and walking.
- Babies who spend adequate time in tummy time are less likely to develop Torticollis, which is a tightening of the neck muscles that make it difficult for babies to turn their heads.
Remember, tummy time should always be supervised and it is normal for your baby to fuss a little bit. Try to entertain her in tummy time, keep the sessions short at first, and add more time as she tolerates it. She will thank you later!
References:
Sasse. M. (2010). Active Baby, Healthy Brain. Exsile Publishing Company.