What is Tummy Time and why is it important?
Tummy time is when your baby is laying on their stomach for brief periods of time while awake. It should never be done while your baby is sleeping. Tummy time is crucial in an infant’s early stages of development. It’s one of your baby’s first exercises and it helps develop neck, shoulder, arm, and back muscles. Tummy time develops trunk stability and head control which are needed for your baby to roll, sit, crawl and walk. It also helps promote visual (eye hand coordination and tracking skills), motor and sensory development (tactile experiences, proprioceptive and vestibular input).
When do I Start Tummy time?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends starting tummy time as soon as your little one comes home from the hospital.
How long should my baby do Tummy Time for?
It is recommended for infants to have tummy time 2-3 times day for 3-5 min. As your baby grows and becomes stronger you can increase to 15-30 minutes each day as they begin to show enjoyment in this play task. As they get older babies need more time on their belly to build strength and stability for those next step skills of crawling and walking.
How do I do Tummy Time?:
There are many ways to encourage tummy time play. Here are just a few:
Chest to chest– having your newborn on your chest and looking at your face. This is a great way to bond during those first few weeks.
Propped over a nursing pillow or rolled up blanket– making sure that your baby’s arms are forward so that they can support themselves. Lower yourself to eye level with your baby to engage with him or her.
Over your lap– Lay your baby over your lap while placing a mirror or toy in front of them.
On a play mat or carpet– As your baby becomes stronger, they will be comfortable laying on a play mat while interacting with you on the floor, looking in a mirror or visually tracking with toys.
What are the stages of Tummy Time?
In the early stages of tummy time your infant is practicing how to hold their head up. At 3 months old, your baby will begin to put weight into their arms and support themselves on their elbows. By 4 months old, your child will be able to hold their head at 90 degrees and their elbows will be under their shoulders at 90 degrees. By 5 months, your baby is now able to push up on their hands and straighten their elbows. They will begin to reach for toys that are nearby. At 6+ months your baby will prefer to be on their stomach during play.
Remember to expose your baby to a variety of experiences while on their tummies. It is a great way to connect and interact with your little one while building their strength for the next step skills to come in development.
American Academy of Pediatrics. (2017). Back to sleep, tummy to play. Retrieved August 28, 2018, from https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/sleep/Pages/Back-to-Sleep-Tummy-to-Play.aspx.
Benefits of Tummy Time | Safe to Sleep®. (n.d.). https://safetosleep.nichd.nih.gov/. https://safetosleep.nichd.nih.gov/reduce-risk/tummy-time
Importance of Tummy Time | When to Start and How To Do It | Pathways. (2019). Pathways.org.
What to Expect,Editors. (2014, September 16). Tummy Time for Baby. What to Expect;
WhattoExpect. https://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/week-13/tummy-time.aspx