Tummy time is very important for all infants and should usually start from birth. So what are the real developmental benefits of tummy time and what happens if infants don’t get it? Read on as we explore the benefits of tummy time for all babies.
Introduction
It is quite common to hear about the importance of tummy time for infants, but what exactly does it mean, and how much tummy time do little ones actually need? It is, in fact, essential for every baby’s development, and it’s never too early to start. Here are all the things you need to know about why tummy time is important.
What is Tummy Time?
Tummy time is a widely used term to describe the period when the baby is awake and lays on their stomach to play. Tummy time has numerous benefits to children’s muscle and strength development. As babies spend time on their tummy, they will start to strengthen the neck and shoulder muscles particularly, especially if you have given them the motivation to lift their head by putting your head above theirs for example, or placing a toy nearby for them to look at or try to reach. It can be a great time to bond and spend time with your baby. Supervision is paramount during this time.
When should you start tummy time?
According to the guidelines provided by raisingchildren.net, tummy time sessions should be introduced from birth and should regularly be embedded in their daily routine during the first year. You can start with a small amount of tummy time and then gradually increase the duration as the baby gets older.
It’s important to note here that if baby falls asleep on their tummy, they should then be placed on their back to continue sleeping, as per Red Nose safe sleep recommendations, to prevent any fatal sleeping accidents.
Why is it so important?
Tummy time should be a fundamental part of a baby’s routine as it is their first form of exercise and activity. It also helps to develop children’s upper body strength and promotes growth in core muscles such as baby’s neck, shoulders and back, improving their overall gross motor skills.
Part of children’s developmental milestones by three months is that infants should be able to lift and hold their heads up when lying on their tummy. Another major advantage of regular tummy time is that it helps prevent early motor delays, particularly flat spots (or flat head syndrome), also termed as positional plagiocephaly. Tummy time can simply be a great opportunity to bond and interact with your child too, encouraging face to face engagement. You can sing songs, smile and make faces with them, talk to them and simply enjoy each other’s company. Giving them uninterrupted time and helping them achieve their developmental goals is important for parent and baby.
It helps if an adult is at the baby’s level for more engagement.
How long should newborn babies have tummy time for?
As you introduce tummy time to newborns, it is recommended by health professionals to provide two or three sessions per day, starting with brief periods of one to two minutes at a time and then slowly increasing to three and then five. The best time to do this is after naps or nappy changes. Observe how the baby responds to tummy time; if they are not adjusting, you can stop or make sessions shorter. If the child responds well, you can introduce it more frequently and make sessions for longer periods.
How long should babies have tummy time for at 3 months? 6 months?
There is no specific set time as to how much tummy time is necessary because each child is ultimately different, and the time should be based on their developmental capabilities as well as how comfortable or uncomfortable they are during tummy time. The general guidelines are that infants aged 2-3 months should get approximately 20-30 minutes of tummy time. This can be broken down into smaller sessions throughout the day. At six months, tummy time is more self-directed as babies will be able to roll front and back and grasp toys on their own. Hence, tummy time can be over an hour.
Professionals recommend that infants should never be placed to sleep on their tummies due to the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). If a child falls asleep during tummy time, immediately switch them around to their back to sleep. Once baby wakes, you can place them on their tummy to play once again.
What happens if you start tummy time late?
Red Nose Australia, explains that Plagiocephaly (Flathead syndrome) is common in children but preventable if children are exposed to tummy time early on. Another important skill that is affected by late tummy time exposure is children’s visual tracking. During the first few months, before children are crawling, they learn about the world by rotating their heads and exploring their surroundings. Infants may struggle to position their heads and look around as effectively if exposed to tummy time at a much later stage.
“Tummy time can be safely started from birth. It has been found that babies who start regular tummy time early like this position more and can manage it for longer periods of time.”
The Royal Children’s hospital melbourne – rch.org.au
Is tummy time OK after feeding?
It’s probably not the best idea to do tummy time straight after feeding because the pressure on the stomach might cause babies to vomit up the milk. Give babies a 20-30 minute break to allow for better digestion.
Can lack of tummy time cause developmental delays?
Yes, If you start tummy time late or there is an overall lack of tummy time opportunities, your child is at risk of having developmental delays. For example, the baby’s core strength, motor skills, upper body muscles, coordination and balance will all directly impact their ability to crawl and walk. If children don’t get enough opportunities to engage in tummy time, these skills can develop much later and more slowly. Lack of tummy time can also lead to ineffective head and neck control as well as bad posture by the time they are six months.
What are the risks or dangers of not doing tummy time?
As summarised above, not engaging in enough tummy time can lead to major developmental delays in children’s motor skills and ability to move around. If children don’t engage in tummy time in the first few months of life, they are likely to develop their upper body strength and muscle skills at a much slower rate, which can lead to posture issues as well as affect their crawling, walking and general gross motor abilities.
Should you persist if the baby is upset?
Your baby hates tummy time? It can be quite common and although it can be hard to watch your baby unsettled during tummy time, try avoiding the urge to pick them up immediately if they cry. Some strategies to help settle them during tummy time are to rub their back and simply get down to baby’s level to play. Try different positions that are mentioned below and observe how your child responds.
An article in the NY times on tummy times highlights the importance of making tummy time interactive for children so they enjoy it. This can be done through singing songs, reading aloud, shaking toys or making noise to actively engage infants. Encouraging infants to reach out for different toys can motivate them to keep going!
What are some different ways of doing tummy time?
There are various ways to incorporate tummy time into your baby’s schedule. Including a variety of these can be beneficial to ensure it is an exciting and enjoyable time for your little ones. All types of tummy time must be done under close supervision by an adult.
Here are a few examples and tummy time tips:
- Tummy Time on the mat – this is one of the most common techniques; on the floor, simply spread out a blanket or mat and place the child on their tummy. You can place some toys around to keep them engaged, and get on the floor with them to help engagement as well.
- Lying directly on an adult’s tummy – Position baby’s chest on your chest or stomach and interact with them by singing and talking to strengthen their upper body and neck muscles.
- Tummy time massage – this can be a relaxing and enjoyable experience for little ones – lay them down on his or her stomach, and massage their back, maybe after bath time.
- Across adults’ knees- baby lies across your knees and soothe them by patting their back, and talking or singing to them, as they look out.
- Use props- a rolled towel or use pillows under their arms, to support children’s necks.
- Eye-level- Bend down to the baby’s level, so you face each other. Encourage the infant to lift and turn their head.
For younger infants, don’t forget to change sides every 10-15 minutes and alternate between turning baby’s head right and left. Additionally, tummy time should always be done on a low, safe surface. Avoid placing children on a couch or soft bed where they could roll off or suffocate from pillows.
“Tummy time is important for SIDS prevention. Tummy time helps to strengthen your baby’s neck, shoulders, arms and back which help your baby learn to move around. Strong muscles help your baby lift their head more easily and straighten their arms giving them a better chance of rolling or moving into a safe position. This is especially important if they roll onto their stomach while they sleep, and can help reduce the risk of SIDS and fatal sleeping accidents.”
pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/tummy-time
My son Andy’s lack of tummy time, and how it affected his gross motor abilities
My son Andy always hated tummy time. He would become very unsettled and this would escalate to the point of being in distress, despite my attempts at engagement and distraction. I tried this on a daily basis but it became so difficult that I actually gave him less and less opportunities for tummy time.
When my partner at the time was caring for him, he avoided tummy time play all together. In hindsight, I realised I should have tried other strategies and persisted but at the time, I was also struggling with him teething as well as having difficulty sleeping through the night, so I avoided any other opportunities where I knew he would end up distressed, therefore tummy time decreased.
Andy eventually learned to roll over and to crawl but he was a very late walker – taking his first steps at just 20 months of age. Once he started walking, he was very cautious with his movements, and was certainly no risk taker. His gross motor skills developed quite late in comparison to his peers and so the development of all his Fundamental Movement Skills (which you can read about in my article HERE), were also delayed. Eventually, Andy caught up to his peers when it came to his gross motor skills but this probably wasn’t until about 8 years of age.
After talking with health care professionals, it was suggested that a lack of tummy time in those first few months of life was probably a significant factor in his overall gross motor skill development and delay in reaching those milestones.
FAQs about tummy time:
Is tummy time good for gas?
Yes, tummy time can be great for relieving gas bubbles and helping the movement of gas pass through. It is great for promoting better digestion too.
Does tummy time count if the baby doesn’t lift their head?
Yes, infants slowly build skills to hold their heads up. Each child will gain skills at their own pace. After 4-5 months, if you are concerned about this, you can talk to your child’s paediatrician.
Can you use a pillow?
It is recommended that children gain head control first and then introduce pillows. Pillows can be a great prop to use to provide extra support and comfort to the child from time to time.
Can you use a pacifier during tummy time?
Using the pacifier to settle an infant if they are upset during tummy time is fine. However, when children move around, try to avoid giving them the pacifier to promote more interaction.
Conclusion
Tummy time for young babies has many benefits, and it should be encouraged from when they’re born. Start with brief periods and gradually increase the duration based on your baby’s cues and comfort. This will give your baby a better chance at reaching their developmental milestones. Tummy time must always be fully supervised and should be an enjoyable time of interaction and activity for your little ones. Just remember, all children will develop at their own pace. You can contact your paediatrician if you have any other concerns regarding your baby’s motor skills or overall development.
It’s so important for all parents to have basic first aid knowledge too. You can read my review of the Kids First Aid course HERE which is all online and equips parents with the basic knowledge they need to respond to the 10 most common emergencies involving young children.
