What is tummy time?
It is a supervised period of time during the day where your baby is on their stomach.
Why is it so important?
Tummy time helps to develop shoulder, neck, and back muscles to allow for development of early and crucial motor milestones. Babies spending time on their stomachs can also reduce the risk of developing plagiocephaly (flattening of the head) or torticollis (tightening/imbalance of neck muscles). Tummy time is also a great way for your baby to engage in the surrounding environment. Once your baby begins to develop shoulder and neck muscles, they will push on to elbows for improved muscle control.
When should I start tummy time?
Tummy time can begin as soon as you are home from the hospital. Start off with short bouts, multiple times a day. Ex: 3-5 minutes, 2-3 times per day. Once your child improves tolerance to this activity, you can increase time in play. Your baby may not enjoy tummy time at first, so it is key to slowly lengthen time in play. If your child is having extreme difficulty while on stomach, please speak with pediatrician as it may possibly be related to digestive issues.
What should tummy time look like?
Tummy time positions can include placing your child on your chest/stomach or getting at eye level with them on the ground. You can provide age appropriate toys for them to engage with on the floor or work on rolling. A small wedge or pillow can be placed under them for support or place them over your legs while sitting down. There are lots of position variations that can be fun and engaging for your child, but please make sure that tummy time is always supervised.
Tummy time is an important stepping stone in your child’s early development. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends back to sleep and tummy to play. Please make sure all play on stomach is supervised. If you have any questions or need some more creative ways to engage in tummy time play, please reach out to Set in Motion PT, LLC.
