Our experts offer some advice on what tummy time is and why it is so important for your baby’s development.
Tummy Time is a crucial part of baby’s development with research showing that babies who do not spend enough time on their tummies will fall behind their peers in reaching milestones. So what is Tummy Time and how much is enough? We give you all the information below.
What is Tummy Time?
Tummy Time is when you place baby on their stomach, while supervising them, so that they can play. An example of this is placing baby to play on a Tummy Time mat or Playgym. This is only done when baby is awake, to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) an infant must be put to sleep on their backs. Being on their tummy helps baby to develop strong head, neck and shoulder muscles and develop physically and mentally. Tummy Time should always take place on the floor so there is no danger of baby falling from an elevated surface and injuring themselves.
When should we start Tummy Time?
Many parents say that their little ones hate Tummy Time and cry when placed on their tummies, which can make it a very stressful activity for all involved. Experts say that you should begin Tummy Time as soon as you are back from the hospital so that your little one gets used to it from a young age. Some mothers wait until after the first few weeks so that the umbilical cord has fallen off and is not uncomfortable for baby. Start by laying baby on their stomach on your chest or across your lap a few times a day and then as they get stronger place them on a blanket or playmat on the floor. Even a minute or two is enough for baby to be comfortable and learn these valuable skills.
A tip from our experts is to use soft items like pillows or playmats to prop baby up until they are strong enough themselves. Place their favourite toys near them to get their attention. As they get stronger they will be able to reach for their toys and you can place them further away to encourage crawling. Thus you encourage gross motor skills as well as fine motor skills with baby learning to grasp and reach.
The best time to practice Tummy Time is after a nappy change. Take care to respect their responses. It can be very uncomfortable to lie on your tummy if your tummy is full so be respectful of baby’s natural responses. If your little one seems agitated try to coax them by playing with them a bit longer, but if they still seem stressed change activities and try again later.
Benefits of Tummy Time
Research shows that infants who practice Tummy Time often crawl earlier than babies who do not. These important motor skills extend to other milestones like rolling over, crawling on the stomach, crawling on all fours and sitting without support. Other benefits include vestibular input, respiratory benefits and digestive benefits.
1. Muscle Development: By being on their tummy babies need to lift their heads up and so strengthen their neck, back and shoulder muscles. In order to sit, crawl and walk babies will need all these muscle groups. If your baby is strong enough to lift their own head, you are also reducing the risk of SIDS because they can move away from objects that hinder their breathing.
2. Avoid Flathead syndrome: By spending time on their tummies while playing, and backs while sleeping, your baby will develop a round head. Baby’s skulls are made of soft plates that can move, if baby is left in one position for extended periods of time they can develop flat spots. Babies who spend too much time on their backs often develop this syndrome known as positional plagiocephaly.
3. Cognitive Development: In order to view the world baby will need to move their head, so by developing these muscles babies are able to turn in response to what is happening around them. This stimulation helps baby to develop mentally. They develop the cognitive skills to make the connection between items, like when something falls to the floor and they hear a noise.
4. Visual Development: Tummy Time helps baby to learn to focus on objects and they begin to track movement. As baby turns their heads and begins to rotate their bodies they are visually stimulated and this aids their development.
5. Torticollis: is when the neck muscles tighten and pull the head in a specific direction. Babies who spend time on their tummy are less likely to develop Torticollis.
How frequently and for how long?
There are no set guidelines for this as it will depend on the individual child. At first have your baby play for about 5 – 10 minutes a few times a day and build from that. For a 3 – 4 month old baby, research suggests that you can aim for 20 minutes of Tummy Time per day.
Tummy Time Tips:
Turn Tummy Time into playtime with these tips from our experts:
- At first baby won’t be able to support their own head, so start by lying baby stomach down on your chest. You can also place baby across your lap.
- Encourage baby to look up and see your face, rock them gently from side to side to calm and reassure them.
- Lie down on the floor next to baby and sing or talk to them. Making silly faces or playing with colourful toys will show baby that this is fun. Some experts also suggest a mirror.
- As baby gets stronger sing or talk above their head so they are encouraged to look up and see you.
- If baby starts to fuss try to divert their attention. Turn them onto their back and blow “raspberries” onto their back and then turn them onto their tummy again.
The advice on this blog can be used for the purpose of information, but should not be substituted with the advice from medical professionals. Be sure to also hold your baby and spend time connecting with them in a physical sense by cuddling and holding them close to you. Every baby develops at their own rate, so be patient and enjoy the precious time you have with your little one.
