Complete Tummy Time Guide for Babies
Learn about importance of tummy time and when should you start practicing it to help build neck muscles and get your baby prepared for future.
In multiple articles before, we have expressed the importance of making sure that baby should always sleep on their back due to the risk of SIDS in newborns. However, lying on the back also has some side effects associated with it.
In this article, we will discuss the importance of tummy time, best timing to get your baby started, duration and approach to carry it out to make the experience fruitful and enjoyable fr the child.
Why is Tummy Time Critical For a Baby
Babies sometime tend to form flat spots on the back of their head (a condition called Positional Plagiocephaly) if they are always made to lie on their back. It also somewhat slows down the motor development because while lying on their backside, babies do not get enough opportunity to move the muscles in the upper body. Making baby lie on their tummy (stomach) can force them to work the muscles in their upper body (shoulders & neck) which has direct correlation with how quickly baby learns to sit and crawl. It also helps the bay in mastering the head control.
When to Start Tummy Time
In reality there is no prescribed time when parents should start the tummy time for a baby. Unless directed otherwise by doctor, it is better to start it in the new born stage itself. However, there are few things that parents must take care of while introducing the tummy time to their babies.
– Always be with your baby when they start tummy time
– Don’t do tummy time right after feeding them because it can make the baby spit
– Don’t make the baby sleep on their tummy. This position is only while both of you are completely awake
– Word of caution : babies tend to not like tummy time initially because it feels like exercising (do you remember how you initially felt going to the gym ?). Ignore that initial resistance. Once the muscles start to build up, baby would always want to be on the tummy so they can play with you better.
How Long Should Tummy Time last ?
For Newborns, since the muscles are probably still underdeveloped, try 2-3 sessions of 5 minutes each. Gradually increase it as the baby starts enjoying it more. If you keep up the practice then by 6 month of age, baby should start rolling around on their own.
How to do Tummy Time ?
It is very simple to do tummy time with babies. Turn them over on a soft blanket kept on a hard & flat surface and sit in front of them so that baby is always able to see you. Please make sure that you remain attentive while doing the tummy time with the baby because they might need some help initially.
If the baby is struggling to be on their belly, another alternate position you can try is by laying them on their side with a towel or pillow behind their back to provide support.
Do you have any other ideas that you would like to share with our Readers ? Please let us know through your comments below.