Dear Melissa,
I just had a baby and I want to make sure that I am doing everything I can to give her a good start! What is “tummy time” and how do I make sure I am doing it right?
Ahh, “Tummy Time”…It seems like this is such a common buzzword among new parents these days! And this is for good reason – tummy time is SO important for babies! TheAmerican Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that babies are placed “back to sleep”, but they also recommend “tummy time.” What’s a new parent to do? To put things simply, the current recommendation of the AAP is to place babies on their backs when they sleep in order to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). However, the AAP and therapists alike recognize that babies NEED to have playtime on their tummies for proper muscle development.
Tummy time helps a baby develop the head, shoulder and back muscles required to progress with their gross motor and fine motor skills. Research shows that babies who get more tummy time gain the strength and coordination to roll over, reach and crawl sooner than babies who do not receive time on their stomachs. Tummy time also helps prevent flat spots on a baby’s head known as positional plagiocephaly. In addition, as an Occupational Therapist, I love how tummy time helps a baby develop the visual, fine motor and gross motor skills needed for handwriting. These handwriting building blocks start in infancy!
Tummy time can begin when your baby is only days old. How does tummy time actually work? Here are a few steps for successful tummy time with your baby when he/she is awake and alert:
- Start with gentler positions. For example, consider placing your baby on her tummy in your lap, or lay down on your back with your baby on your chest facing you. If she still has her umbilical cord stump, make sure that it is not making her uncomfortable.
- Progress towards allowingthe baby to lay on her tummy on a blanket on the floor.
- Make sure to use toys, mirrors, and your face to make tummy time FUN! Try to incorporate tummy time into daily activities such as applying lotion, burping your baby, and towel drying after bath.
- Always supervise tummy time! “Rescue” your baby if she seems frustrated or is having difficulty raising her head off the surface.
When introducing tummy time, begin with only a few minutes at a time, several times per day. Recommended tummy time for a 3-4 month old ranges from 20-90 minutes per day. I like to focus on frequent, fun, short bursts of tummy time; I then work to increase that time until your little one is rolling and crawling all over the place!
For further information on this topic, please consult:
American Academy of Pediatrics
What is the importance of Tummy Time for a Baby, Jay Hoecker, Mayo Clinic