A few days back I talked about Tummy time on my Instagram page. And the post got a conversation started on tummy time. How it is often ignored because a mama has to do too much. From managing less than seven hours of sleep to discomforts while breastfeeding, it’s not surprising mamas forget it.
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And it doesn’t help with your baby becomes fussy during tummy time. Many babies don’t like tummy time.
But, tummy time is important for kids.
Why is Tummy Time Important?
Statistics show that if an infant spends 15 minutes or less on tummy time every day, then by 6 months of age, the child will be 25% delayed in developmental skills.
When your child gets even 5-10 minutes of tummy time, it helps build his neck muscles. These muscles set the pace for your child to develop motor skills like sitting, rolling, and later on crawling.
One reason pediatricians started recommending tummy time was because babies were spending a lot of time laying on their backs. This put continuous pressure on their heads, which often led to flat spots at the back of the head, also known as plagiocephaly. With tummy time, you avoid flat head syndrome.
Tummy time has also been observed to alleviate gas pain. If your child is colic, then you should be encouraging more tummy time in your baby.
How to encourage tummy time in kids
Some ways you can avoid a fussy tummy timer are:
Pace it out throughout the day
You don’t have to push your baby to do his whole 5 minutes of tummy time in one go. Encourage tummy time after every nap or diaper change. After a nap or a diaper change, babies are generally in a good mood. Make use of that happy mood. When you see your child getting cranky, stop. Try again later.
Turn him around for 1-2 minutes every few hours. This way he can be doing a lot of tummy time without getting too cranky.
Later they will be spending more time on their tummies before getting fussy. As your baby grows, increase the timing of tummy time. At 3-4 months, your baby should ideally be getting 20-30 minutes of tummy time.
Don’t leave your child unattended
Always be present during tummy time. Small babies don’t have a lot of control over their body movements so parental supervision is very important at this point.
Prepare the space
Keep a soft blanket under your child. Make sure there aren’t any sharp objects. Also, I find that elevating your baby’s chest with an additional blanket or a pillow makes the baby more comfortable and gives him additional support.
Select a solid surface for tummy time, like your floor.
For newborns, start tummy time by laying your child on your tummy. Babies love that physical connection and enjoy the time more. And when you start early, there will be less fussing later on.
Tummy Time Activities
Make tummy time fun with these tummy time activities:
- Play with your child. A simple game of peekaboo could bring out giggles and smiles.
- Place a mirror in front of your child. Oh, they love looking at this other baby who is doing exactly what they are doing.
- Place toys in grabbing distance. Choose his favorite toys and place it just within his grasp. His focus will go into grabbing the toy, and he won’t mind the tummy time now. I recommend colorful balls or rattle toys.
- Read a book. It’s never too early to start reading to your child. Even if he doesn’t understand the words, your voice helps soothe him and build on your emotional bond. Research also suggests that reading to your child in his early days boosts vocabulary.
- Invest in a Jungle Gym. A jungle gym has lots of attachment, and often also a mirror, to keep your child entertained during this time.
Tummy Time Milestones
With 15 minutes of daily tummy time, your 2-month-old should be able to turn his head from one side to the other while he is on his back. During tummy time, he should be able to raise his head a few inches.
At 3 months, your child should be able to turn his head from one side to the other while on his tummy. He should also be able to hold his head for a few seconds while on the tummy, and stretch both legs.
At 5 months, your baby will be able to raise his head and his chest while on his tummy.
At 6 months, your baby will be able to use his hands to support his chest and head while he is on the belly. He will also be able to stretch hands during this time.
I hope this article will help your baby reach motor skill milestones on time. If you are struggling and these strategies aren’t helping, I would love to help you determine your needs. Please reach out to set up a free consultation. We are here to support you as you help your child blossom!
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If you enjoyed reading How to Encourage Tummy Time in Kids, you might also enjoy reading:
Postpartum Depression: Early Help Protects Both You and Your Baby
Positive Parenting: How to be a happy parent.
Postpartum Depression: Early Help Protects Both You and Your Baby
