What
is Tummy Time and Why is it important?
Tummy
Time is an
important activity for your baby’s development and is endorsed by the American
Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Tummy Time is the supervised time your baby spends
while awake on it’s abdomen (belly).
Tummy Time helps to strengthen head, neck and upper body muscles,
provide sensory input to hands and trunk, helps provide and develop appropriate
visual and vestibular input and reactions, and gives baby a different view of
the world.
The
vast majority of babies now sleep on their backs, a recommendation of the AAP,
to help prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). This movement is commonly known as the
Back-to-Sleep campaign, and has had good results reducing the risk of SIDS by
40%. HOWEVER, because babies are
back-sleeping and spending increased time in “containers” – car seats,
bouncers, strollers - now, babies are losing vital hours of tummy time and
opportunities to develop their neck and trunk muscles – necessary for further
skills such as reaching, crawling, rolling.
ALL babies benefit from Tummy Time – even newborns!
Because
being prone (on abdomen/belly) is such a crucial position for strengthening the
neck, trunk and eye muscles of babies, the impact of limited Tummy Time is
becoming evident. A survey performed by
Pathways Awareness confirmed “what
early childhood medial professionals have been observing: 2/3 of therapists
reported a rise in early motor delays in infants in the past 6 years, and those
who saw an increase said that lack of tummy time while awake is the number one
contributor to the escalation in cases.”1 Each year more than 400,000 children in
the US are at risk for an early motor delay, and the actual incidence is 1 in
40, a 150% increase from 25 years ago, and a rate even higher than incidences
of other accelerating conditions like autism.2
Just a little Tummy Time everyday can help promote
appropriate motor development in babies!
Benefits (recap)
- strengthens neck muscles, so baby can hold head up
and look around
- strengthens trunk muscles, so baby can develop the
muscles for sitting, crawling, walking
- provides sensory input to hands and front of body;
baby is able to feel different textures and develop the touch sensation
- provides vestibular and visual input for eye and
vision development; baby strengthens eye muscles and sense of space
- helps baby’s head become round instead of developing
flat spots on the back of the head (prevents positional
plagiocephaly)
When
to Start
Tummy
time can begin right after birth or definitely by the time your baby is a month
old. You may want to delay tummy time until the umbilical cord stump falls off,
but as long as your baby is comfortable, baby can safely participate in Tummy
Time.
Remember: When you put your baby on her tummy,
always place baby on a smooth, flat surface with no loose items (toys,
blankets, pillows) which might block the airway.
Babies often complain about being placed on their
tummy, but if tummy time is begun early (even from just a few days old) and
maintained on a consistent schedule, it will become a part of their daily
routine. Tummy time can improved head
control which is needed for the next stages of development. Tummy time is critical for building muscle
strength in the back, neck and shoulders, strength that children also need to
meet their developmental milestones.
Simply holding and soothing baby in a different position can help
infants become accustomed to tummy time.
How
Frequently and for How Long
There really is no set time for how much time each
day baby should do Tummy Time. Some
research says babies should be prone for 1 hour a day (cumulative, not all at
one time), but there did not seem to be a consensus on amount of time just that
Tummy Time was essential for all babies.
Here are some guidelines to help get your Tummy Time
minutes.
-
at least once per day
-
try for 5-10 minutes several times a day
-
incorporate some Tummy Time into the time baby is being held
-
as baby grows, build up Tummy Time (this is where you can aim for 1 cumulative
hour every day)
Many babies often resist Tummy Time initially. This could be because baby does not have good
control of body and head yet and Tummy Time is a workout. Just remember, just as it was hard to run
that first lap on the track when you first started, practice makes
perfect. Your baby will begin to
tolerate Tummy Time – just keep at it!
How to
Make Tummy Time Fun
Here are
some tips for making Tummy Time more fun (for you and baby
-
When your baby can't support her own head yet, put her on your chest tummy
down. Or put her across your lap on her stomach for burping or to settle her
down instead of holding up at your shoulder.
- Enjoy some together time. Lie down and place your baby
“tummy-to-tummy” or “tummy-to-chest.”
-
Get on the floor with your baby. Interact with your baby – funny faces,
talking, singing.
- Encourage
your baby to look up by talking or singing above her head.
- Place
your baby next to a mirror or musical box -- or something else she’ll want to
reach for.
-
Change your position or position of toy/mirror to encourage head turning and
looking up
-
Place your baby's upper body and arms over a nursing pillow (Boppy pillow) or
rolled up towel. This positioning may
be more comfortable to in the beginning.
- When carrying your baby around the house, carry her tummy-down
instead of upright.
-
If your baby starts to fuss, divert her attention. Turn her on her back, then
blow "raspberries" on her tummy. Flip her onto her stomach and make
the same raucous noises on her back. That’s distraction at its silly best.
-
Waiting an hour or so after feeding may be more comfortable for baby –
preventing less spit up and baby may be
less fussy.
Nice table from American Occupational
Therapy Association3
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If you want to:
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Consider these activity tips:
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Make
Tummy Time part of your family’s daily routine.
|
Begin
with short intervals, such as 2 to 3 minutes a day, and work up to at least
20 minutes per day. Daily Tummy Time can be done in short increments or all
in one session, depending on your baby’s tolerance and needs.
Pay attention
to signs that your baby is getting tired, such as crying or resting his face
on the surface, and be sure to end Tummy Time before your baby becomes
fatigued.
Incorporate
Tummy Time into the activities you’re already doing with your baby, such as
towel drying after bath time, changing diapers, or applying lotion.
When
burping your baby, try laying her across your lap on her tummy.
It is
never too early to begin to read to your baby, and Tummy Time is a great
opportunity for storytelling.
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|
Increase
your baby’s ability to reach and play
|
While
your baby is playing on his belly, hold a toy in front of his face to get his
attention. This will encourage your baby to lift his head and reach. Sit or
lie down in front of your baby during Tummy Time for safety and supervision.
During
Tummy Time, arrange toys in a circle around your baby to promote reaching in
many different directions.
Initiate
eye contact and talk, coo, or sing to your baby while she is on her belly,
because this will attract your baby’s interest and motivate her to
participate.
Your baby
will be encouraged to lift her head, reach, and play when she sees your face
and hears your voice. Get your whole family involved.
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Position
your baby to enjoy Tummy Time.
|
Roll up a
thin towel or blanket to make a bolster that will provide extra support
during Tummy Time. Place the bolster under your baby’s chest, and position
his arms over the roll, with his hands stretching out in front of it. Your
baby’s chin should always be positioned in front of the bolster so that the
airway is not blocked.
Always
supervise your baby during bolstering.
Be sure
your baby distributes his weight evenly on both sides of his body while on
his tummy to strengthen muscles equally.
Limit the
time your baby is constrained in swings, exersaucers, and other baby gear,
and encourage active play to strengthen his muscles through Tummy Time.
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Engage
your baby’s senses.
|
Place a
plastic mirror in front of your baby so she will be interested in lifting her
head to look at her own reflection.
Use
blankets or towels with different textures and colors so your baby can
experience different visual and touch sensations (e.g., switching between a
terry-cloth towel and a fleece blanket).
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Consider
alternatives to “typical” Tummy Time.
|
Positions
for Caregiver:
A great
way to carry out Tummy Time is to place your baby on your stomach or chest
while you are awake and in a reclined position on a chair, bed, or floor.
This is also a great way to begin Tummy Time with a newborn.
Positions
for Baby:
Side-lying
is another positioning option. Position your baby on a blanket on his side,
and support his back with your hand or use a small rolled up blanket. Make
sure both of your baby’s arms are in front of him, and slightly bend his hips
and knees so your baby is comfortable. This position can also aid in reaching
and playing.
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Tummy
Time Trouble
Tummy
Time is hard work! Not every baby is
going to enjoy laying on their stomach.
Remember that even if baby squawks or whines, it does not mean that baby
does not like it.
What if
your baby is just plain angry about tummy time? KEPP TRYING!!! DON’T GIVE UP!!! The more exposure and practice the
better. Baby will get stronger and
hopefully tolerate the position better in time.
Try to
keep the tips above in mind. Start in
small time segments. Interact and play
with baby during Tummy Time. If your
baby likes routine (most of us do!), try doing Tummy Time every time you change
baby – she will come to expect it and may not resist as much.
If you
see that your baby prefers to hold her head to one side, try to do activities
(make faces, sounds, talking) to encourage her to turn her head to the opposite
side. If you are unable to change the
preference, bring this up with your pediatrician or healthcare
professional. Also, if you have done a
lot of Tummy Time and are concerned baby is not meeting her developmental
milestones (remember there are averages for when babies meet milestones, but
these are not hard and fast rules!), you should feel comfortable letting your
pediatrician know!
Resources
1. Pathways Awareness. National
Survey of Pediatric Experts Indicates Increase in Infant Delays; More Tummy
Time is Key. Accessed at: www.pathwaysawareness.org.
2. Statistics compiled by the Pathways Awareness
Medical Round Table from a variety of sources, including the March of Dimes, Pediatrics
Annual Summary of Vital Statistics, and the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention
Resources for Families
For
more research on Tummy Time see the below articles:
