Tummy time!
WRITTEN BY CLAIRE BURGESS, FAMILY CONSULTANT
Tummy time is something that you have probably read about or seen mentioned when it comes to your newborn. In this blog I hope to give you some ideas on how to do this and discuss the benefits of tummy time for your little one.
Why should I encourage tummy time with my baby?
Tummy time is essential to your baby’s development, it is the first exercise that they do and possibly the most important.
The benefits of tummy time are that it:
helps with physical (motor skills), visual and sensory development.
helps to prevent or reduce flat head (plagiocephaly) or twisted neck (torticollis).
helps to develop your baby’s back, neck, arm and shoulder muscles which will be used for sitting, crawling and then walking.
develops physical skills and can encourage little ones to roll over.
allows time for bonding with other parent or extended family/friends as they can do this activity with your baby.
When should I start introducing tummy time, and for how long?
You can start tummy time from birth. To start with this will be them lying on your chest and looking up at you or lying across your lap (see ideas below), then progressing to being on a mat etc when they are a little older. At this age you are only looking that they will be doing 2-5 mins of tummy time, 2-3 times per day to start with, gradually building up the time as your little one is happier and strong enough to be in this position.
By 3 months old it is beneficial for your baby to have up to 1 hour of tummy time per day, however this shouldn’t be one hour all in one go, it should be spread over the day and in total be for around an hour.
Allowing for opportunities for tummy time daily need to continue until your little one begins to crawl as they will effectively then be getting tummy time when they are in the crawling position. However it is good to continue to encourage tummy time play as it is beneficial to their development to spend some time in this position when playing.
*Tummy time must not be done when your baby is asleep. If your baby falls asleep during tummy time you must reposition them into a safe sleep space and on their back, as per the Lullaby Trust guidelines.
I have tried getting my baby to do tummy time but they just cry
Babies can feel very vulnerable on their tummy as they are not able to look around in the same way that they might when on their backs and so we need to give them the reassurance and opportunity to adjust to being on their tummy. Another reason why our babies can take some time to enjoy tummy time is the sensation of this – they are using lots of different muscles which can feel strange to them, so again it is all about allowing them the time to adjust to this.
For some babies who have reflux, being on their tummy can cause them pain, so if your little one has reflux then it might be that they need to be slightly more upright when having tummy time opportunities. In the list of ideas below I have put an R next to those positions which might help make tummy time more enjoyable particularly for reflux babies.
To help your little one adjust to tummy time, build up the time as you go, so it will may be 1-2 minutes to start with and then slowly increase over time. We want to make this a positive experience for them and so building up the time gradually will help with this.
Ideas on how to do tummy time with your baby
As the name suggests it needs to be time when your baby is on their tummy, however this can be done in several different ways so that your baby hopefully enjoys it.
*It is important to note that tummy time should always be done with your supervision and closely watching your little one.
Tummy to tummy/chest position (R) - You can be lying down or sitting in a slightly laid back position with your baby on your chest so that when they lift their head they are able to see your face and you can interact with them in this position. *Only do this position when you are fully awake and not likely to fall asleep.
Tiger in the tree / rugby hold (R) – this is often a position that we might use for winding our baby, but this can also be a good position for helping to get your little one experiencing tummy time without being on the floor.
‘Tiger in the tree’ hold
Across legs/lap - Sitting on the floor with your legs stretched out in front of you. You can then lie your baby over one or both of your legs so they are slightly raised from the floor. Then on the floor in front of them you can put a book, or even some black and white images if your baby is newborn, so that they have something to focus on rather than just looking at the floor.
Feeding pillow (R) - If you use a feeding pillow then this can be a great resource for helping with tummy time. Again, lean your baby over the pillow and then in their eyeline try to have something that they are able to look at and focus on. This could be you lying down with them, or a book or toy.
Rolled up towel (R) - Alternatively if you don’t have a feeding pillow you can use a rolled up towel which goes under their chest and armpits so that they can lift their head more easily as they are not flat on the floor.
Mirror play - Mirrors can be great to have as part of tummy time, if your little one lifts their head and is able to see themselves - babies so love mirror play! Link to baby mirrors below.
Water pat mats – these can be a great sensory activity as well as encouraging time on the tummy. You can buy these (see link below) or you can make your own version using a ziplock bag and water. *Always make sure that the bag is completely sealed and never leave your baby unattended with this (or any other) activity.
Same eye level – put your baby on the floor and then lie down facing them so that you are in the same position and at eye level – from here you can interact and engage with your baby.
As babies get older and they are able to prop themselves up using their arms they may not need any supports but try to have toys which will encourage them to lift their head, but also to make the tummy time more interesting for them, even playing a game of peek-a-boo can be great.
Depending on the weather, taking a blanket outside and having tummy time in the fresh air can help to provide a different sensory experience for your little one.
At the end of doing a nappy change it can be good to pop your baby onto their tummy for a minute or two of tummy time (always supervise tummy time especially if it is a on raised surface).
Try to remember with all these ideas that it is important to offer your reassurance with a nice calm voice. Singing can also help when doing tummy time with your little one.
You are aiming to give your baby all the skills to be able to do tummy time competently and eventually they will then do this without your help leading to the start of crawling and more independence! However, this can take time and patience as not all babies are happy with tummy time straightaway. It is all about offering tummy time little and often so that your baby can adjust and become more at ease being in this position.
Happy tummy time!
Here are some resources which you might find useful:
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