If you're wondering how to do tummy time with newborn babies, you’re at the right place! It is an essential practice to build the core strength of your child. Tummy time helps reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and helps strengthen your baby's neck, back, and shoulder muscles.
Tummy time also helps newborn babies feed more quickly once they start on solid foods. You should start tummy time with short periods of a few minutes, a couple of times a day when your baby is awake. Keep reading to learn more about how to do tummy time with a newborn!
What is tummy time?
Tummy time is essentially the first exercise your infant performs. It consists of having them lay on their stomach while awake to develop shoulder, back, and neck muscles. Tummy time is not only crucial to a baby’s motor skills, but also their sensory, and visual development.
Why is tummy time important for newborns?
What are the benefits of tummy time and why is it so important?
Tummy time is an integral part of development for your baby as it helps them build their overall strength, coordination, and motor skills. Babies should start tummy time from the first week of birth because many benefits of tummy time contribute to your baby's physical and emotional development.
It helps develop the baby's motor skills
It helps to strengthen the muscles in your baby's back, neck, shoulders, arms, and legs as the newborn attempts to look around and use its limbs. This promotes the development of motor skills and will help your baby crawl and walk in the future.
Improved upper-body strength
Babies tend to prefer lying on their backs since they aren’t familiar with life on the other side as much. To help encourage tummy time, set a goal each day where you can increase the amount of time spent on the tummy by just one minute per day until you reach 15 minutes for babies under 4 months old.
It prevents flat head syndrome
Babies who spend most of their time lying on their back can develop flat spots on the back or side of their heads. This is caused by pressure on the skull and is called positional plagiocephaly. Tummy time helps strengthen the neck muscles and gives more support to the head so that it does not rest in one place for too long.
It helps with digestion and bowel movements
Tummy time sessions can help with typical baby problems like gas, constipation, and spit-up. When your baby lies on its stomach, gravity helps digest milk more efficiently, and since the intestines are located right beneath the stomach, gravity also helps with bowel movements. Finally, when your baby burps while lying down on its stomach or chest, there's less pressure on his little esophagus.
Builds strength in arm and shoulder muscles
The stronger your baby's arms, shoulders, and neck are, the easier it will be to roll over and lift his head when crawling, sitting up, and walking. Tummy time strengthens those muscles, setting them up for these critical milestones.
Helps your baby sleep better
Tummy time won't only help your baby develop their muscles, it will also help them sleep better at night. By keeping your baby active during the day, you can help them work up a sleepier attitude when it is time to sleep. Keeping them engaged will also help to separate their daytime and nighttime hours.
Your baby learns how to move on their own
All babies' movement is involuntary; they are just going through natural reflexes and motions. However, once they reach three months old, they start developing the ability to control their movements. Tummy time helps this development by encouraging them to lift their head and hold their limbs during playtime.
When to start tummy time
It's recommended that you start tummy time soon after your baby is born, usually, once everyone gets back from the hospital. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all babies get tummy time 2-3 times a day for 3-5 minutes.
How long should my baby do tummy time each day?
It is recommended that your baby do tummy time each day for 15 minutes. By establishing 3 different points during the day where your baby lies on his stomach for 3-5 minutes, you’ll soon reach your tummy time goal.
How to do tummy time
Tummy time helps your baby strengthen its arms, chest, and neck muscles. It's crucial to your baby's development, and should be considered a daily constant in your baby’s routine:
Wait until your baby is alert and awake.
Place him/her on his/her stomach on a blanket or play mat on the floor. Your baby should be naked from the waist up to make it easier to move.
Sit or kneel behind your baby, so he/she can't see you. Use a toy or other object to get their attention.
When lifting his/her head to look at the toy, gently support his/her chest with one hand and let go with the other hand (keeping it near enough, not to cause panic).
When the baby drops its head down, take away the toy and give the baby some rest before starting again.
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Expert tips for tummy time
Here are useful tips for tummy time:
Give the baby a view
Keep it interesting
Put on some music
Massage matters
Get down on your baby’s level
1. Give the baby a view
Set your baby on your lap or chest as you sit in a reclining chair or on the floor. This technique is very useful at the beginning of tummy time as your immediate presence soothes your little one. Later on, you can give your baby an audience of teddy bears to direct his/her attention in one direction.
2. Keep it interesting
Talk and sing to your baby during the whole tummy time session. Use that endearing little voice that all parents have to communicate your presence and affection to your little one. Try different activities to keep your baby stimulated — a mirror, a favorite toy, or a musical mobile are all great options.
3. Put on some music
Play some lively tunes and encourage your baby to locate the source of the music with his/her head.
4. Massage Matters
Lotion up your hands with a baby-safe product and gently knead your baby's back muscles during tummy time.
5. Get down on your baby's level
While doing tummy time, get down on the floor with your baby so you're at eye level. This will increase the amount of fun your baby’s having as it will give him/her someone to imitate and interact with.
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What can I do if my baby hates tummy time?
You're not alone if your baby hates tummy time. There are a few things you can try to make the experience more pleasant for the baby:
Make it short. Just a minute or so is fine at first. Then gradually increase the duration of the exercise.
Do it daily, even if your baby hates it. Having it as part of their routine will eventually make tummy time a pleasant moment of bonding with their parents.
Give your baby a fascinating view. This can be yourself, a mirror, or a toy.
Try different surfaces. The floor (hard), your chest (firmer), and your lap (softer).
