We all know that tummy time is important for babies to build muscle strength, especially in their necks, to hold those little heads up.
Research even shows that babies who are given tummy time regularly, tend to roll over, crawl, and walk earlier than those who do not.
But, sometimes it is hard to get that tummy time in, especially if you have a baby that fusses when they are placed on their tummy.
Here are some of my “secrets†to successful tummy time with your baby and some pictures of Jenny enjoying her tummy time…
1. Start early. Begin having a few minutes of tummy time each day with your baby as early as possible.
Jenny had jaundice when she came home from the hospital. When her pediatrician’s nurse called to give us the first results of her billirubin levels for jaundice, she {jokingly} told us to give her sunlight therapy by “sticking her out the window and turning every 15 minutesâ€. While we didn’t follow her advice in sticking her out the window, we did move the pack and play into our sun room and she spent her days soaking up indirect sunlight. As she did this, we made sure to turn her from front to back and we noticed that she loved being on her tummy! Thus, our tummy time routine with Jenny began very early on.
2. Give your baby tummy time when they are at their happiest. Don’t try to place your baby down for tummy time when they are already fussy, hungry, dirty or overtired. This will only result in frustration to your little one. Try to schedule tummy time when your baby is fed, has been changed, and is generally happy and awake…ready to play.
3. Provide an interesting atmosphere. Give your baby bright, colorful objects to look at during tummy time. We have a small gym that Jenny likes to play in. Yes, even at three weeks, I an tell that she does enjoy looking at the little toys that surround her when she is having her tummy time. If you don’t want to or just can’t invest in a gym, placing your baby on a blanket with a few baby toys close to them will work just fine.
4. Get down on the floor right alongside your baby. Use this time to play with and talk to your baby. This will make it an enjoyable time for the both of you!
5. Follow your baby’s cues. After a few minutes of tummy time, if baby gets fussy, don’t force them to continue on in agony….let the baby let you know when tummy time should end, especially in the beginning when you’re establishing this routine. It’s better to have an enjoyable tummy time that only lasts a few minutes a few times a day than a long agonizing tummy time that leaves both you and baby stressed out.
Post linked to: You Capture at I Should be Folding Laundry where this week’s theme is “Get Down Low”
Amy @ Finer Things says
So true! My infants spend most of their days on their tummy. I’ve had early rollers and crawlers each time and NO flat heads. The flat head thing scares me more than the “risks” of being on the tummy.
Uma says
I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many rolls on such little arms! This is a good refresher course for me. Thanks!
Jordan says
She just gets prettier! And I’ve tried it all…both of my boys HATE tummy time! They just don’t like being on the floor in general….Mommy’s exhausted arms are the place of preference. But, glad to see Jenny’s enjoying her time!
.-= Jordan´s last blog ..The Love Of A Boy =-.
Lori says
This is an informative article. I really enjoyed reading this and I also think its absolutely adorable! Very nice reading.
Sheila says
Love,Love,Love,these pic’s she is so sweet ,love ya all
PathwaysMom says
Loved your post! Pathways Awareness works to educate parents on the importance of Tummy Time (as well as general infant development) and to provide resources to make it more enjoyable for both parent and baby. It appears you are already a TT-pro, but check out our materials and continue spreading the word to other parents: http://bit.ly/8IhuuF.
Best,
Annie and the Pathways Team