Tummy Time
Tummy Time is the time a baby spends on their belly while awake. Many babies don’t seem to like tummy time. They often cry, fuss and protest while in this position. Parents often get stressed out by their baby’s displeasure of tummy time and then avoid it all together. However, research has shown that tummy time is very important for overall development and even influences future development. Therefore, making this time a more enjoyable time for baby (and the parents) is vital for a baby’s development.
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Tummy time strengthens the forearms, abdominals and back muscles to prepare the body for rolling, sitting, crawling and walking. Tummy time also supports the development of vision, strengthens the hands, wrists and fingers for fine motor skills, builds body awareness (proprioception) and increases coordination. Moreover, as baby moves their head from side to side they are triggering their vestibular system. Tummy time also helps prevent flattening of the head (Plagiocephaly, Brachycephaly).
The most important thing about tummy time is that it needs to be positive. If baby starts to fuss and does not respond to your encouragement or by you adding support by repositioning, pick your baby up to praise and comfort them. Responding to your baby when they are in distress helps build their trust in you and deepens your bond and attachment with your baby. You can not spoil a baby (or child) by comforting them when they are in distress. Do not let your baby remain in tummy time if they are crying.
Tips for a positive tummy time experience:
A happy, well rested baby.
A warm room and floor with a soft surface (carpet or blanket).
Baby in diaper shirt and NO socks on, so that they can use their skin to give them some grip for rolling and moving.
Use a toy or a rattle to help your baby enjoy their tummy time.
Sing songs, talk to your baby or play peek-a-boo.
Wait about 10-15 minutes after feeding baby to provide tummy time.
Sit or lay on the floor with your baby.
When you place baby on their tummy, be sure to move their hands from down where their hips are, to up where their shoulders are. Younger babies require some support to maintain stability. For babies under four weeks old, place baby on their tummy in the fetal position with their knees bent and under their belly and their arms bent at the elbows and tucked in by their sides, with their hands near the shoulders. Be sure to turn baby’s head to one side so that he is not face down (change the position of the head to the other side too). For babies under six months, here are two ways to support baby in tummy time:
A rolled up blanket or towel under their chest with their arms on top.
Using your hand to apply some light pressure on baby baby's bum will help stabilize baby.
Tummy time can come in many forms. It’s not just baby lying on their tummy on the floor. Here are some other ways to incorporate tummy time into your day:
Chest to Chest. While you are laying down on your back or even in a semi-reclined position, place baby on you, chest to chest. Hold baby by the hips, applying some weight with your hands on his lower back. Patting their bottom can help a fussy baby enjoy this position.
Airplane Hold. While standing, hold baby facing the floor with your hands under their abdomen. Support their head with your forearm. Many babies love to rock, sway and dance in this position.
Side Lying. Lay baby on the floor, on their side. Place a rolled up towel behind their back to support them. Give baby something interesting to look at… a toy, a board book that is propped open, a mirror or lay beside your baby so that they can look at your face. Be sure to support baby at their hips to help baby remain on their side.
Rolling on a Ball. Using a large beach ball (a 20 inch inflatable one from the dollar store works well) or an exercise ball, place baby tummy side down on the ball. Holding baby on the ball with your hands at the top of their hips and your fingers curled under their belly. Gently rock/roll baby from side to side and back and forth. Sing simple songs to your baby like Row Your Boat or Twinkle Little Star.
All of these variations mentioned above is still tummy time. When baby is experiencing tummy time in these alternate positions, the arm, neck, back and core muscles are getting strengthened and the back of baby’s head does not have pressure on it.
Plenty of positive tummy time will strengthen the muscles that baby needs to eventually sit on their own. Gross motor skills such as rolling, sitting and crawling are learned from baby’s exposure to tummy time and not a result of baby reaching a certain age. Therefore, the following age milestones are to be used as a guide. If your baby is not meeting the milestones below, your baby may need more positive tummy time.
1 month
Lift head for a few seconds when on tummy.
3 month
Hold their head at 90 degrees while on their tummy and support their upper body on their forearms.
4 months
Hold their chest off the floor and support their upper body on their hands with arms straight. This is also when baby starts to pivot or turn in a circle while on their tummy. You can encourage baby to do this by moving a toy around him in a circle to encourage him to follow the toy.
6 months
Roll from back to side, support their upper body up on their hands while in tummy time
Begin to sit without support
9 months
Attempt to crawl or army crawl
Sit without support
12 months
Get into a sitting position from a lying position, without help.
Cruise around furniture
15 months
crawl up stairs
Aim for a total of 30 minutes per day in the first few weeks and increase the amount of time as baby gets older. The 30 minutes does not and should not be done all at one time. Small intervals are best. Remember to pick up your baby when they start to fuss and praise them for doing a great job on their tummy. Babies 3 months and older should be getting 60 minutes of tummy time throughout the day. Once your baby is 3 months old, get into the habit of always putting them on the floor, on their belly to start playing. When your baby begins to let you know that they have had enough of being on their tummy, roll them on to their back and praise. Then, try more tummy time in a few minutes.
References:
Allen, K. E., Marotz, L. R. (2009). Developmental profiles: Pre-birth through twelve. Wadsworth Publishing Company
Cummings, C. (2011). Positional plagiocephaly. Canadian Pediatric Society. https://www.cps.ca/en/documents/position/positional-plagiocephaly
Long, B. (2020). Tummy time shown to aid infant development. University of Wollongong Australia. https://www.uow.edu.au/media/2020/tummy-time-shown-to-aid-infant-development.php
Looksee Checklist by ndds. (n.d). https://www.lookseechecklist.com
Pathways.org. (n.d). https://pathways.org/