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Tummy time is more than just important, especially since babies now spend time on their backs to reduce the risk of SIDS. This activity helps prevent flat spots on the back of their head by allowing them to engage their neck and shoulder muscles. These seemingly small movements during tummy time are significant as they prepare your baby for important milestones like rolling over and crawling.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests that parents and caregivers incorporate supervised “tummy time” into their baby’s routine while awake. Tummy time involves placing babies on their stomachs, allowing them to strengthen important muscles and reduce any potential issues associated with spending too much time on their backs.
Tummy time practice helps babies develop the muscles needed for milestones like lifting their heads, rolling over, and eventually crawling. It’s also a chance for them to practise moving and exploring their surroundings. Stay close and watch your baby the whole time to ensure their safety.Â
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises that babies should sleep on their backs at all times to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).Â
However, babies need to spend time on their tummies while awake for their development. This helps strengthen muscles and prevent flat spots on the head. If your baby falls asleep during tummy time, gently place them on their back to continue sleeping safely.
Tummy time aids in developing your baby’s neck, arms, back, and legs while enhancing flexibility and muscle control. These motor skills and strength are essential for milestones like rolling over, sitting up, crawling, and walking.
Tummy time helps to prevent flat spots on the back of your baby’s head, known as plagiocephaly. This occurs when your baby spends too much time on their back, causing the soft bones of the skull to flatten.Â
Tummy time strengthens the neck and shoulder muscles, allowing your baby to move their head and distribute the weight evenly, reducing the risk of flat spots.
Tummy time provides valuable sensory stimulation for your baby. While on their tummy, they can explore different textures and surfaces (blankets, carpet, etc.) on their arms, hands, and cheeks, which can help your baby’s sense of touch.
This sensory input helps stimulate their brain development and enhances their sensory processing skills, contributing to overall sensory development and cognitive growth.
During tummy time, babies improve their hand-eye coordination by reaching for toys within sight. This activity helps them learn to coordinate their hand movements with what they see, enhancing their ability to grasp objects to promote future motor skills accurately.
Tummy time aids in developing your baby’s neck, arms, back, and legs while enhancing flexibility and muscle control. These motor skills and strength are essential for milestones like rolling over, sitting up, crawling, and walking.
Tummy time helps to prevent flat spots on the back of your baby’s head, known as plagiocephaly. This occurs when your baby spends too much time on their back, causing the soft bones of the skull to flatten.Â
Tummy time strengthens the neck and shoulder muscles, allowing your baby to move their head and distribute the weight evenly, reducing the risk of flat spots.
Tummy time provides valuable sensory stimulation for your baby. While on their tummy, they can explore different textures and surfaces (blankets, carpet, etc.) on their arms, hands, and cheeks, which can help your baby’s sense of touch.
This sensory input helps stimulate their brain development and enhances their sensory processing skills, contributing to overall sensory development and cognitive growth.
During tummy time, babies improve their hand-eye coordination by reaching for toys within sight. This activity helps them learn to coordinate their hand movements with what they see, enhancing their ability to grasp objects to promote future motor skills accurately.
If you’re new to parenting, you might be unsure when and how often to start tummy time. It’s generally recommended to begin tummy time as soon as your baby is born, gradually increasing the duration and frequency as they grow.
Starting tummy time with your newborn is a gradual process as a parent. Begin with short 3-minute sessions, two or three times a day. As your baby grows stronger, gradually increase the duration, aiming for 20 to 30 minutes daily when they reach 7 weeks old.
Around 4 months old, you’ll notice your baby becoming more active during tummy time. They may lift their chest off the floor, lean on their elbows with their head upright, and even lift their arms and kick their feet. Don’t worry if they accidentally roll over or lean to one side; it’s all part of the learning process.
As your baby continues to explore and push against the floor, they’ll develop confidence in trying new movements and skills. By 5 or 6 months, they may start turning on their belly and reaching with their arms.
Remember, tummy time isn’t just about building physical strength; it’s also about encouraging confidence and laying the foundation for future development.
Tummy time might be tough initially, but soon, your baby will master lifting their head and rolling over, making it a regular part of their routine.Â
During the early stages of development, newborns and infants between 1 and 3 months old are just beginning to develop neck control. Tummy time is crucial in strengthening the muscles for future milestones such as rolling over, sitting up, crawling, and walking.
It’s important to be present and supervise your baby closely during tummy time to ensure their safety and provide support as needed.
Here’s how to do tummy time with your newborn (1-3 months):
While your baby may begin to develop better head and neck control by the end of the first month, it’s essential to continue supporting their head during tummy time until they can lift it on their own, which typically occurs around 4 months of age. This support ensures their safety and comfort during the activity.
Even if your baby can roll over and sit with assistance, they still need to have supervised tummy time. Tummy time allows them to practise lifting their head and chest higher by extending their arms, which helps strengthen their arm, chest, and back muscles.
Here’s how to do tummy time with your infant (4-7 months old):
At this stage, your baby will likely have developed enough strength to lift her head fully while on her tummy. Additionally, they may start pushing up on their arms, arching their back, and lifting their chest, demonstrating newfound upper body strength. These movements are essential for their ability to sit up independently. Â
You may also observe your baby rocking on their stomach or engaging in leg kicking and arm “swimming” motions during tummy time, typically around 5 months. These actions indicate that your baby is gaining the necessary strength and skills for rolling over and possibly even crawling shortly. It’s an exciting time as your baby continues to develop and master new abilities.
Remember, if your baby becomes sleepy or falls asleep during tummy time, gently transition them to their back for a nap. Sleeping on their stomach, along with unsafe sleep practices like having blankets and stuffed animals nearby, raises the risk of SIDS.
Tummy time isn’t restricted to being on the floor. Holding your baby in a front carrier or wrap can also count as tummy time, as it encourages the use of similar muscles and alleviates pressure on the back of their head. Additionally, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons suggests holding your baby upright can also be considered a form of tummy time.
Place your baby across your lap, belly down, if traditional tummy time on the floor isn’t working. Use your hand to gently rub their back or offer rhythmic pats for sensory stimulation.
Hold your baby like a football, balancing their tummy on your arm while supporting their back and neck with your other hand. This position is suitable for babies who resist traditional tummy time positions.
Introduce one or two new toys during tummy time, placing them just out of reach to encourage your baby to extend themselves. You can also shake a rattle or hold a brightly coloured stuffed animal near their face to distract them and make the activity more engaging.
Place an unbreakable baby mirror in front of your baby’s face during tummy time. Many babies enjoy seeing their reflections, which can help keep them entertained and engaged.
If your baby prefers company, lay down with them and interact by moving their hands around, reading, or introducing different-coloured blankets. You can also involve siblings in entertaining your baby during tummy time.
Start tummy time with short sessions, lasting just a minute or two, and slowly extend the duration as your baby gets more used to it. This gradual approach helps your baby build strength and comfort with being on their tummy.
If your baby doesn’t like lying flat on their tummy, try propping them up with a nursing pillow under their chest. This can help them get used to the position gradually.
Switching up the locations where you do tummy time can introduce your baby to various environments and sensory stimuli. By rotating between different settings, such as the living room, nursery, or even outdoors, your baby gets to experience new sights, sounds, and textures.
Place your baby across your lap, belly down, if traditional tummy time on the floor isn’t working. Use your hand to gently rub their back or offer rhythmic pats for sensory stimulation.
Hold your baby like a football, balancing their tummy on your arm while supporting their back and neck with your other hand. This position is suitable for babies who resist traditional tummy time positions.
Introduce one or two new toys during tummy time, placing them just out of reach to encourage your baby to extend themselves. You can also shake a rattle or hold a brightly coloured stuffed animal near their face to distract them and make the activity more engaging.
Place an unbreakable baby mirror in front of your baby’s face during tummy time. Many babies enjoy seeing their reflections, which can help keep them entertained and engaged.
If your baby prefers company, lay down with them and interact by moving their hands around, reading, or introducing different-coloured blankets. You can also involve siblings in entertaining your baby during tummy time.
Start tummy time with short sessions, lasting just a minute or two, and slowly extend the duration as your baby gets more used to it. This gradual approach helps your baby build strength and comfort with being on their tummy.
If your baby doesn’t like lying flat on their tummy, try propping them up with a nursing pillow under their chest. This can help them get used to the position gradually.
Switching up the locations where you do tummy time can introduce your baby to various environments and sensory stimuli. By rotating between different settings, such as the living room, nursery, or even outdoors, your baby gets to experience new sights, sounds, and textures.
Consistent illustrations for tummy time activitiesÂ
https://raisingchildren.net.au/newborns/play-learning/hi play-ideas/tummy-time
Inspired by Raising Children
You can initiate tummy time sessions while still in the hospital or as soon as you and your newborn return home. Starting early allows your baby to become familiar with the activity. Don’t worry about the umbilical cord stump; it will not affect your baby during tummy time.
To begin, recline in a chair, bed, or floor, and place your baby on your chest or stomach. Use this opportunity to interact with your baby, maintaining eye contact, engaging in animated conversation, and expressing emotions through facial expressions.
It’s normal if your baby doesn’t immediately take tummy time. Some babies may initially fuss or seem uncomfortable in this position. If you notice your baby becoming fussy during tummy time, don’t worry—it’s all part of the process! To help soothe them and make the experience more enjoyable, try singing or talking to your baby in a soothing voice.
Remember, every baby is different, so be patient and offer gentle encouragement and support during tummy time.
In 1992, the American Academy of Pediatrics began recommending placing infants on their backs for sleep to reduce SIDS deaths. While this was crucial for safety, it led to concerns about delayed milestones. To address this, paediatricians suggested incorporating tummy time during awake periods to promote infant strength and motor skill development.
In the newborn stage, starting from 0 to 3 months, you can introduce tummy time by placing your baby on your belly or lap. As your baby grows and gains more strength, the ideal place for tummy time shifts to a low, safe surface like a clean floor or a floor covered with a play mat or blanket. Ensure the blanket remains stable and doesn’t slide around as your baby moves.
It’s important to avoid surfaces like sofas, beds, or any elevated or soft areas during tummy time to prevent the risk of suffocation or accidental falls. Similarly, steer clear of using pillows or other plush surfaces for tummy time activities to prioritise your baby’s safety.
Regular and frequent tummy time sessions are essential for preventing flat spots on the back of your baby’s head. Additionally, consider holding your baby upright during awake periods, limit time in devices where their head is supported against a surface, rotate the baby’s sleeping position weekly in the crib, and periodically change the crib’s location within the room to encourage head movement and exploration.
You can initiate tummy time sessions while still in the hospital or as soon as you and your newborn return home. Starting early allows your baby to become familiar with the activity. Don’t worry about the umbilical cord stump; it will not affect your baby during tummy time.
To begin, recline in a chair, bed, or floor, and place your baby on your chest or stomach. Use this opportunity to interact with your baby, maintaining eye contact, engaging in animated conversation, and expressing emotions through facial expressions.
It’s normal if your baby doesn’t immediately take tummy time. Some babies may initially fuss or seem uncomfortable in this position. If you notice your baby becoming fussy during tummy time, don’t worry—it’s all part of the process! To help soothe them and make the experience more enjoyable, try singing or talking to your baby in a soothing voice.
Remember, every baby is different, so be patient and offer gentle encouragement and support during tummy time.
In 1992, the American Academy of Pediatrics began recommending placing infants on their backs for sleep to reduce SIDS deaths. While this was crucial for safety, it led to concerns about delayed milestones. To address this, paediatricians suggested incorporating tummy time during awake periods to promote infant strength and motor skill development.
In the newborn stage, starting from 0 to 3 months, you can introduce tummy time by placing your baby on your belly or lap. As your baby grows and gains more strength, the ideal place for tummy time shifts to a low, safe surface like a clean floor or a floor covered with a play mat or blanket. Ensure the blanket remains stable and doesn’t slide around as your baby moves.
It’s important to avoid surfaces like sofas, beds, or any elevated or soft areas during tummy time to prevent the risk of suffocation or accidental falls. Similarly, steer clear of using pillows or other plush surfaces for tummy time activities to prioritise your baby’s safety.
Regular and frequent tummy time sessions are essential for preventing flat spots on the back of your baby’s head. Additionally, consider holding your baby upright during awake periods, limit time in devices where their head is supported against a surface, rotate the baby’s sleeping position weekly in the crib, and periodically change the crib’s location within the room to encourage head movement and exploration.
1. AAP: Back to Sleep, Tummy to Play
2. AAP Publications: Tummy Time and Infant Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review
3. American Association of Neurological Surgeons: Positional Plagiocephaly
4. Department of Paediatrics, Göteborg University, Sweden: SIDS risk factors and factors associated with prone sleeping in Sweden
5. KidsHealth: Tummy Time
6. National Institute of Health: Tummy Time for a Healthy Baby
7. Pathways: Tummy Time
8. Williams, E. and Galea, M., 2023. Another look at “tummy time” for primary plagiocephaly prevention and motor development—Infant Behavior and Development, 71, p.101839.
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