TUMMY TIME: IMPORTANCE AND HOW TO DO IT
Tummy time is placing your baby on his stomach to play. Practicing tummy time helps babies develop the muscles necessary to lift their heads and, eventually, to sit up, crawl and walk. :Your baby should always be awake during tummy time and under your careful watch.
Note: Too much Back Time!
Causes infants head shape to be misshapen or flat,the baby can develop problems with the neck and head muscles, and it could provide less room for the brain to grow. As a result, several children may be prone to developmental delays, sensory issues, speech and language trouble and possible attention and focus issues in the classroom.
When to start tummy time?
As soon as the baby is born , tummy time must be started. By placing your baby on your chest while asleep, or on your lap while rubbing their back. This activities also makes a connection between you and your baby.
It is very common for our babies to hate tummy time. Some of us feel guilty when we try to lay down our baby on a flat surface and the baby get fuss or cries. But we should always remember that Tummy time is essential for every child’s future learning development and all parents should encourage tummy time activities as much as possible. It is important to know the “right” types of tummy time exercises that will positively engage your baby without tears while also building the connection between you and your child.
Our baby begins to cry as we introduce tummy time into their routine, it’s important to know that it is not because the baby is in pain or is uncomfortable. Generally, it is because the activity we are asking the baby to do is developmentally beyond their reach.This is the first step toward building the baby’s muscle tone in the arms, legs, neck, head and torso needed for crawling, walking and eventual reading and writing in the classroom.
Giving your baby enough tummy time or time spent in the prone position (stomach) will help them build the muscles in the neck to eventually lift their head. Believe it or not, this simple task is one of the biggest problems in the classroom. Many children with learning challenges don’t have enough muscle tone in the neck, head and shoulders to copy notes off the chalkboard and get their thoughts down on paper.
How much tummy time is recommended?
< 3 m0nths old- 30 to 60 minutes per day
3 months - increase to 90 minutes per day ( small increments are encouraged)
Continue to increase the length of time your child spends on their tummy as they grow and develop.
Research shows that babies who spend at least 80 minutes per day playing on their tummy while awake are more likely to reach their milestones faster than those who spend less time on their tummy.
Exercises for the baby that hates tummy time:
- place a few colorful toys in front of them. We like to use sensory bean bags, toys that make sounds, squishy balls, stuffed animals and other colorful toys that encourage reaching.
Do not leave your baby. Walking away could actually trigger the crying and wanting to be held.
Talk to the baby and say words of encouragement to reassure the baby, calm their fussiness and is also a great tool for developing their speech and language skills along with their expressive and receptive communication.
For this activity, lie on your back and pick the baby up over your head. Bring the baby toward your chest and then push them up in the air like superman. Talk to the baby while they are flying up and down and even kiss their cheeks and their neck, giving them the physical touch they need to feel connected to you.
This activity often makes the baby laugh, giggle and babble, which is all important for speech and language development. It also strengthens the neck muscles and develops the baby’s depth perception needed for visual tracking (reading) and other important visual-motor skills. It’s also a great workout for you.
If your arms get tired, switch up the superman exercise slightly. Stay on your back and lift your legs 90 degrees in the air. Place your baby on top of your legs (between your knees and ankles). Hold on to your baby’s arms or torso and bounce them up and down with your legs. This activity is also great for making your baby laugh and talk.
As your baby grows, this activity becomes more important. While they are little, you can set up different stations around the house with different toys and items that encourage tummy time. Changing their environment can keep the baby happy and interactive.
As the child grows older, baby stations are especially important for encouraging crawling. Placing different stations around the house that are easy for the child to get to, encourages reaching, grasping, scooting and eventually, crawling. While there are some babies that don’t crawl and turn out just fine, there are several that have developmental delays or learning challenges in the classroom later in life if they skip the crawling stage.
If your baby is not old enough or doesn’t have the strength yet to lift their neck, head and torso, roll up a towel and prop it under your baby’s arms and chest for better support. This way they can still see what is going on around them, which can reduce crying, but more importantly, it can improve their visual skills for reading and core muscles for postural control in the classroom.
Tummy time is the best way for our love one to explore everthing around him and to make a bond between you and your child.
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