4 Tips on Including Tummy Time In Your Baby’s Day
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We often hear about putting babies on their tummies for “tummy time.” However, many babies do not like this activity. Today I am sharing 4 tips to include tummy time in your baby's day.
Some other benefits of tummy time include:
- Promotes muscle development and strength in the neck and shoulders
- Helps prevent tight neck muscles and the development of flat areas on the back of the baby’s head
- Helps build the muscles your baby needs to roll, sit and crawl
4 Tips on Including Tummy Time In Your Baby's Day
- Lay your baby on your chest facing towards you. Switch the position/side their head is on each time to avoid their heads being flat on one side.
- Lie on the floor with your baby, encouraging him to rest on his elbows and lift his head up. Provide gentle support of his torso and arms to help him be positioned comfortably.
- Place toys on the floor around your baby so he can see them. This will encourage him to reach out for those toys, which will encourage him to raise his head, helping to strengthen his neck and tummy muscles.
- While you are watching TV (remember that too much TV exposure is bad for your baby's eyesight) or talking with friends or family, drape your baby stomach down over your lap, patting their back for reassurance.
When should I start tummy time with my baby?
Babies at any age can benefit from tummy time. When they are just days or weeks old you can lay them on your chest or stomach in order to get tummy time in each day. Once they do better not being held or away from mom or dad directly, floor time is a great idea to incorporate into their day.
Don't forget your toddlers and preschoolers can benefit from tummy time. You can have them lay down on their tummy to put puzzles together, crafts, and fine motor activities.
For more tummy time ideas visit: Tummy Time for Babies
Before you know it, they will be sitting up and crawling.
More Reading on this Topic:
- 3 Tips to Help Your Baby Crawl
- Tummy Time Therapy Blogger Blog Hop – The Importance of Tummy Time for Babies
Begin With A Blanket: Creative Play For Infants (Baby Play: Developmental Fun From Birth To Beyond One) (Volume 1)
Simple Play: Easy Fun For Babies (Baby Play: Developmental Fun From Birth To Beyond One) (Volume 2)Baby Play: Developmental Fun From Birth to Beyond One (2 Book Set)The Flat Head Syndrome Fix: A Parent's Guide to Simple and Surprising Strategies for Preventing Plagiocephaly and Rounding Out Baby's Flat Spots Without a Helmet
Heather Greutman, COTA
Heather Greutman is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant with experience in school-based OT services for preschool through high school. She uses her background to share child development tips, tools, and strategies for parents, educators, and therapists. She is the author of many ebooks including The Basics of Fine Motor Skills, and Basics of Pre-Writing Skills, and co-author of Sensory Processing Explained: A Handbook for Parents and Educators.
Good to see someone is encouraging parents to place babies right side up (the only position a child can learn to crawl from). Ever since “back to sleep,” I’ve been concerned that babies’ physical development would be delayed and there would be less crawling time. This may (probably will) lead to reading disabilities later on.
I think it is also important to note that carried time counts as tummy time as well, whether it be in someone’s arms or in an ergonomically correct position in a baby carrier.
Yes Tessa, that is a good point, thanks for mentioning that!