Discover our top tips for making tummy time a treat…
There are so many firsts in a baby’s life; from teething to potty training to walking, there’s countless experiences and memories you’ll cherish forever.
But before they can walk, they have to crawl. And before they crawl? They have to get used to being on their tummy!
Tummy time is exactly what it sounds like – it’s when your baby spends time lying on their stomach, so their back, neck and shoulders can develop and get stronger. There’s lots of benefits to it, and it can be introduced while they’re still in the hospital. Read on to discover more!
Why is tummy time important?
Like we talked about earlier, tummy time helps baby’s back, neck and shoulders develop. But there’s also other reasons that make it so important:
- It gets your baby used to being on their front. This helps develop a new set of motor skills, which over time, will help them with crawling and rolling over
- Lying on their tummy also helps with brain development. It’s a completely new view of the world, which means they’ll get to discover their surroundings from a new perspective while gaining spatial awareness
- And, of course, tummy time is a wonderful bonding opportunity!
When should you start tummy time?
You can introduce tummy time as early as you want – in fact, you can start doing it while in the hospital! Starting it early can help your baby get used to it, even if they still have an umbilical cord stump (this has no nerve endings, so it won’t hurt them having pressure applied).
How can you do tummy time?
Best practice for tummy time depends on the baby’s age. Constantly supervise them, and gradually build up the amount of time they spend on their front each day.
Make sure they’re wide awake, too, because sleeping on their stomach could increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). You should also avoid using any blankets over your baby, in case they get too hot.
Newborns to 3 months old
At this age, they’re only just beginning to use their body, so it’s important to take it slow and for short periods of time. Try a few minutes two or three times a day, and once they’ve gotten used to it, you can increase the length and number of times you do it each day. Aim for around twenty minutes every day.
Our tips for easing into tummy time are:
- Sit reclined on a chair, or on a bed or the floor, and carefully place your baby down on their stomach on your chest. It’s important to try tummy time with them lying on your chest, so you can keep control and see what they’re doing
- By resting them on your chest, they’ll also be able to hear your heartbeat, which will feel comforting to them
- Interact with them by looking into their eyes, smiling, talking to them or even singing!
From 3 months onwards
As they’re getting a bit older, they can spend some time on their tummy while on the floor. But, make sure to cover the floor with something that’ll cushion the hard surface, like a blanket, towel or play mat.
If they’re ready, lie down on the floor too, so you can play and interact with them, same as when they were resting on you. You could even incorporate some toys, which will help encourage them to move their head.
At this age, you can also start to increase the length of the time they spend on their tummy. If they’ve been doing tummy time since birth, by three months old you can aim for an hour a day, but broken up into shorter sessions. Make sure you watch your baby carefully, and don’t force them to do too much if they’re not ready.
How can you make tummy time fun?
It’s really important that your little one is wide awake during tummy time, so keep them entertained by using different toys, dangling them in front of your baby. This might even encourage them to move their head around, reach forwards or even grab the toy.
You can also place a rolled up towel or special tummy time roll underneath your baby’s arms, to make it a little easier for them while they get used to using a new part of their body.
Are there any problems with tummy time?
Tummy time is super important for your baby, but it’s important to remember that it’s their first time using these muscles, so it might feel strange for them. This is why it’s essential to start off with them lying on your chest, because if they’re not enjoying it, you can move them and try again later.
If they’re not enjoying it, continue doing it but for shorter periods of time. Once they’ve gotten used to it, you can gradually work up to more time.
Searching for more newborn advice? Discover our top tips for travelling with a baby, or our checklist for your nursery essentials.
