Tips for Tummy Time
Most parents-to-be have heard of tummy time. They know they are supposed to put their baby on their stomach, but why is tummy time so important? Especially if your baby absolutely HATES it!
Tummy time is when you place your baby on their stomach while they are AWAKE and SUPERVISED. This position encourages babies to lift their heads and use their arms, which builds important muscles in the neck, shoulders, arms and core.
There are a lot of reasons why setting aside some time to do this common infant activity is highly recommended. Tummy time is important because it helps babies develop the muscles necessary for rolling, crawling and eventually walking. Lifting their head and moving around on their tummy helps improve coordination, balance and fine motor skills. Tummy time allows opportunities for babies to experience different textures and movements that promote sensory development. This position is also important for avoiding flat head syndrome (plagiocephaly), because it decreases the time a baby spends lying on their back.
Does your baby HATE tummy time? Here are a few tricks to help them build their tolerance and have success with this important activity:
Start with short intervals and build up as your baby gets stronger and tolerates more. Aim for a total of 10-15 minutes a day (this can be broken up into several short sessions of 1-5 minutes). Once they start building strength you can work towards 30 minutes and eventually 60 minutes total in a day.
Having your baby lying on their belly on your chest is tummy time! Start here if your baby is showing distress with tummy time on the floor. You can start in a more upright seated position and gradually change your angle until they eventually tolerate lying on your chest while your back is completely flat on the bed, couch or floor.
Having your baby lying on their belly over your lap is tummy time! This is another good alternative when starting out. It allows your baby to stay in contact with you and gives them the added comfort of being close to you. While seated, you can swing your legs back and forth to add some calming sensory input to the task.
Use a boppy to prop your baby up so they are not fully flat on the floor. It will slightly decrease the demand on the muscles when lifting their heads up against the force of gravity. This is a good middle ground when transitioning from tummy time on a caregiver to the floor.
Using a yoga ball is a great tool to practice tummy time. With a yoga ball you can control how much of an angle your baby is in. You can start off with slightly less than 90 degrees to get them used to the texture and sensation of being on the ball and then slowly roll them until they are completely horizontal and pushing up against the full force of gravity. Check out our videos on social media for examples.
When your baby is ready for full tummy time on the floor, make sure you get down on their level with engaging toys, mirrors and any other motivating items you can think of! Have an older sibling model the activity for them. Make it a family fun time!
When should you avoid tummy time?
Try to wait at least 30 minutes after your baby eats before doing tummy time. The pressure on a full belly can be uncomfortable (especially if your child suffers from reflux challenges).
If your baby is getting close to feeding time. This is a hard task for many little ones and you want to make sure they have all the energy they will need for it! Plus, you don’t want your child to be hangry going into an already difficult activity.
If your baby is already fussing or upset about something else, try to wait until they have calmed before placing this demand on them.
