When should babies have tummy time
Tummy Time (for Parents) - Nemours KidsHealth
Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD
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What Is Tummy Time?
Tummy time is laying babies on their stomachs for brief periods while they're awake. It's an important way to help babies strengthen their neck and shoulder muscles, and improve motor skills.
Be sure to stay with your baby and watch closely during tummy time.
What Can Tummy Time Help With?
Tummy time is good for:
- Newborns and infants 1–3 months old who are just developing neck control. Tummy time helps develop the muscles they'll need to roll over, sit up, crawl, and walk. Always stay with your baby during tummy time.
- Older babies, 4–7 months old. They should still spend some supervised time on their bellies, even if they can roll over and sit with some help. Tummy time helps them practice lifting their head and chest further by straightening their arms. This strengthens arm, chest, and back muscles.
- Newborns who have a neck condition called torticollis (tor-ti-KOLL-iss). Tight neck muscles keep the baby from turning their head. Tummy time encourages babies to look around, and along with exercises your doctor will show you, can help your baby's neck muscles relax.
- Babies with flat head syndrome (positional plagiocephaly). This happens when babies spend too much time on their backs in the first few months of life. This can cause a flat spot, either on one side or the back of the head.
How Do I Do Tummy Time?
Newborns
Start newborns on tummy time by placing them belly-down on your chest or across your lap for a few minutes at a time, two or three times a day. While lying on their belly, they can practice lifting their head and strengthening the neck and shoulder muscles. As your baby gets used to it, you can go for a little longer.
Older Babies
Place a blanket down in a clear area on the floor. Place your baby on their stomach on the blanket for 3–5 minutes to start, several times each day.
Your baby may get fussy and frustrated in this position. Keep the first sessions of tummy time brief and gradually lengthen them. It's also a good idea to do tummy time when your baby is fed, changed, and happy.
As your baby gets used to it, place your little one belly-down more often or for longer periods of time. Experts recommend that babies work up to about 1 hour of tummy time a day by the time they're 3 months old.
Make some noises or shake a rattle to get your child to look up and push up. Place a favorite toy in front of your baby to encourage reaching and forward movement.
Babies With Torticollis or a Flat Spot
This exercise is good for babies with torticollis and/or a flat spot, and can help treat both problems:
- Lay your baby on your lap for tummy time. Position your baby with their head turned away from you. Then, talk or sing to your baby. Encourage your little one to turn and face you. Do this exercise for 10–15 minutes.
What Else Should I Know?
- Always stay with your baby during tummy time.
- Always place babies on their backs (never on their bellies) to sleep to help prevent SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).
- Do tummy time on a low, safe surface. Don't put your baby on a sofa or bed, where they could roll off or suffocate on pillows or a soft surface.
If your baby doesn't seem to enjoy tummy time, add some variety. Sing songs, keep colorful toys nearby, get down on the floor and eye-to-eye with your baby, and have others join you. Don't give up! Tummy time is important, and some babies just need a little extra time to get used to it.
Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: October 2019
What You Need to Know About Tummy Time
What is Tummy Time?
Tummy Time is one of baby’s first exercises—and the most important!
Tummy Time is the period during the day your baby spends awake and on their stomach.
It is a crucial exercise for baby’s motor, visual, and sensory development.
Baby can begin Tummy Time as a newborn. They can continue to do Tummy Time throughout their first year. Watch the Tummy Time guide:
Tummy Time: Know the Basics
Why does my baby need Tummy Time?- To develop the core muscles of the neck, back, and shoulder muscles
- To meet developmental milestones
- To possibly help prevent early motor delays and conditions, such as flat head syndrome (positional plagiocephaly) and twisted neck (positional torticollis).
As a newborn baby, as soon as they come home from the hospital.
How long should you do Tummy Time?Aim to achieve at least an hour of Tummy Time total per day by 3 months of age.
This hour of Tummy Time can be broken up into smaller parts. From newborn age, start with a few minutes at a time and build up to longer sessions.
Start with small increments of a few minutes at a time, several times a day. Eventually, try to do longer Tummy Time sessions, eventually building up to a full hour.
At what age should baby stop Tummy Time?Once baby begins crawling, around 7-9 months, they will be getting the developmental benefits of Tummy Time while moving, and it is not as essential to have them do Tummy Time. However, it is still beneficial to have baby spend some time in the Tummy Time position (also known as prone position) during play.
Always Remember: Back to Sleep, Tummy to Play!
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends baby always sleep on their back. That means spending time on their tummy while awake is crucial for development!
And remember: if baby falls asleep during Tummy Time, be sure to place them on their back and let them continue to sleep.
Learn More
Essential Tummy Time Moves
Try these different ways to do Tummy Time with baby:
Tummy-to-Tummy or Tummy-to-Chest- Lie down on the floor or a bed, flat or propped up on pillows. Place baby on your chest or tummy, so you and baby are face-to-face. Always hold firmly for safety.
- Position one hand under the tummy and between the legs and carry baby tummy down. Use other hand to support baby’s head and neck. Nestle baby close to your body to help get baby accustomed to the position.
- Place baby face down across your lap.
A hand on baby’s bottom will help steady and calm them. This move can also be used to burp and soothe baby.
- Get down to baby's level to encourage eye contact. Baby loves to see your face!
Want to be a Tummy Time expert? Take the course!
Your Guide to Tummy Time has everything expecting and new parents need to know about this crucial exercise, including Tummy Time options and activities.
Learn More
Check out what others are saying about the course:
“If someone's wants to be an expert in Tummy Time, Pathways.org's tummy time expert course is an essential course that every parent should consider.
The introduction of tummy time, the importance, how it impacts the child's progression, how it helps prevent medical conditions, how to ensure a baby's engagement in tummy time and all the wonderful ways of implementing it were well explained and guided!
I'm totally in love with this course and would definitely recommend this course to anyone who might need it”
Tummy Time Abilities
What Tummy Time should look like each month:
How do you know baby is making progress during Tummy Time? Check these abilities to ensure baby is continuing to develop.
- Using Tummy-to-Tummy, Tummy Down Carry, and Lap Soothe positions
- Working towards Tummy Time on the floor
Watch baby do Tummy Time at 2 weeks!
Expert Tummy Time tip: Many parents like Tummy to Tummy for their newborn. This allows you to be face-to-face with baby and enjoy lots of baby cuddles!
At 1 month, baby is...- Turning head during Tummy Time
- Attempting to lift head up – even if it’s only for a second
Watch baby do Tummy Time at 1 month!
Expert Tummy Time tip: Get down on the floor at baby’s eye level. Baby loves your face and voice!
At 2 months baby is...- Spending at least one minute in Tummy Time several times a day without becoming upset
- Doing the majority of Tummy Time exercises on the floor
- Possibly tilting their head to one side
- Watch to make sure they alternate tilting to both directions instead of always favoring one side, which may be a possible sign of positional torticollis
Watch baby do Tummy Time at 2 months!
Expert Tummy Time tip: Face baby different directions in their crib each night to help develop neck muscles by turning a different direction to look at you each morning.
At 3 months, baby is...
- Beginning to put weight on arms, with elbows behind their shoulders at a 45 degree angle
- Gaining head control and is able to lift head between 45 to 90 degrees, without tilting head to either side
- Spending a total of 1 hour each day in Tummy Time
- Starting to visually track toys or rattles you move around during Tummy Time
Watch baby do Tummy Time at 3 months!
Expert Tummy Time tip: Place baby tummy down on an exercise ball, holding their sides for support. Slowly move the ball toward and away from you, allowing baby to lift and hold their head more easily.
At 4 months, baby is...
- Lifting head up 90 degrees and keeping their head centered
- Pushing up on forearms and brings chest off floor. Elbows will be under their shoulders at a 90 degree angle or in front of shoulders.
- Lifting head and moving neck to track toys, voices, and faces during Tummy Time
Watch baby do Tummy Time at 4 months!
Expert Tummy Time tip: Babies love faces—even their own! Use mirrors during Tummy Time to help keep them engaged and having fun.
- Beginning to push up on hands with straight elbows
- Starting to move hands forward to reach for toys that are placed nearby
Watch baby do Tummy Time at 5 months!
Expert Tummy Time tip: Do baby push-ups. Place hands under baby’s chest and tummy, and use gentle lifting cues to get baby to push up on hands for brief periods.
At 6+ months, baby is...- Self-directing Tummy Time
- Reaching and grabbing toys of different sizes while on tummy
- Able to pivot in a circle while on stomach
- Rolling from back to tummy and tummy to back
- Starting to prefer being on their stomach. Being on their tummy allows them to play, move, and explore more easily.
Watch baby do Tummy Time at 6 months!
Expert Tummy Time tip: Encourage baby to practice rolling and moving while on their tummy.
Use toys to keep them motivated!
How Tummy Time Helps Baby's Development
Tummy Time helps baby's motor and sensory development
Tummy Time is crucial for healthy motor, sensory and visual development:
Motor
- Strengthens baby’s back, neck, shoulders, and core muscles.
- Build a foundation for baby to meet motor milestones including rolling, sitting, crawling, and more.
Sensory
- Feeling different textures (blankets, carpet, etc.) on their arms, hands, and cheeks can help baby’s sense of touch (tactile sense).
- As baby moves and their weight shifts, they gain a sense of body awareness (proprioception).
- Positioning baby differently helps develop their movement and balance (vestibular sense).
Vision
- Helps develop hand-eye coordination. By looking down at their hands, baby is seeing how they move and what they can do.
Did you know you can use time on the floor to play as an alternative to baby being in a carrier or bouncy seat?
In addition to having proven developmental benefits, Tummy Time can help prevent two conditions: positional plagiocephaly and positional torticollis.
Positional plagiocephaly is the development of flat spots on the back and side of the head, which can lead to asymmetries of the head and face.
Positional torticollis is the stiffening of neck muscles, causing baby’s head to tilt to one side.
Learn More
Tummy Time Tips for Success
If baby isn't enjoying Tummy Time, try some of these ideas!
If baby has different people caring for them...
Make sure all caregivers know Tummy Time is a normal part of baby’s daily routine
If baby resists Tummy Time...
Do a couple minutes of Tummy Time after every diaper change or after every bath so baby starts to expect it
Avoid Tummy Time immediately after feeding
If baby cries during Tummy Time…
Try doing Tummy Time exercises when baby is most happy
Make Tummy Time fun time
- Sing songs during Tummy Time to calm and soothe baby
- Use rattles, toys, and mirrors to encourage visual tracking
- Get down on the floor at baby’s eye level.
Baby loves your face!
If baby falls asleep during Tummy Time…
Place them on their back—do not let them sleep on their tummy
Remember: Every bit of Tummy Time makes a difference!
Don’t get discouraged. If you have done plenty of Tummy Time with baby, but are concerned they are not meeting their milestones, bring your concerns to baby’s pediatrician or healthcare provider.
Learn More About Early Detection and Intervention
Tummy Time Activities
Why is tummy time so important for your newborn baby?
HomeHealthWhy is tummy time so important for your newborn baby?
When a newborn baby lies on its back, it is natural and habitual for parents. When it comes to accustoming a child to the stomach, mothers have reasonable fears - the baby still does not hold his head and has poor control over his body, it seems to his mother that he will be uncomfortable on his stomach.
But these are useless fears - pediatricians say that laying a child on his stomach is useful and important: in this position, the child develops motor skills better and learns to hold his head faster.
At the advertiser's address, in Health · 08 Apr. 2022, 01:00 · 0 Comments
For a long time it was believed that you should not put the baby on the stomach until the umbilical wound closes. Modern pediatrics has revised its approach to child development. Neonatologists advise parents to start laying their baby on their stomach from the first day of life. Most babies tolerate this position very well, and it does not harm the navel.
Some children do not like to lie in this position, then parents have to teach their babies.
This must be done because the position on the tummy is very beneficial for the newborn. You will have to overcome the child's anxiety, his mood and even tears, and in no case should you retreat. Help your baby grow strong, mobile and healthy.
Why is it necessary to lay the baby on the stomach?
A one-month-old baby who is used to lying on his tummy, the world around him seems wider and more interesting. Exercise also has a positive effect on the physical condition of the child. Let's mark all the useful points:
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Lying on his stomach, the child trains the muscles of the neck in order to quickly and easily learn to hold his head. Other muscles of the body are also tensed, the shoulder girdle, arms and abs are strengthened. Getting used to leaning on his hands, the newborn is preparing to crawl
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When the baby lies on his stomach, he increases the angle of view, sees his hands, notices toys and develops a grasping reflex.
At the same time, the mental abilities of the child are stimulated -
The bones of the moon child's skull are soft and may flatten from prolonged lying on the back. To prevent the baby's head from looking flat, lay it on the stomach more often.
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Strengthening the neck muscles helps to avoid torticollis in the newborn. Having laid the child on his stomach, approach him from different sides so that he tries to return to you.
-
Being on the stomach, the child massages the stomach and trains the abdominal muscles, thereby improving metabolism. Gas is expelled more easily and the risk of colic is reduced. The formation of an umbilical hernia is prevented.
Rules for performing exercises for children
You cannot just take and turn the baby on his stomach, several conditions must be observed.
Since the position is new for a vulnerable baby, mommy must do everything correctly and accurately. Follow the following rules:
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Place the child on a firm and level surface. Use a regular or changing table for this. You can cover the floor with a sheet or blanket and put the child on it, as long as there are no drafts and the floor is warm. A rigid support will help the child develop motor skills
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Do not give him or her any food before putting the baby on his stomach. This position can cause regurgitation, and after feeding, babies want to sleep rather than exercise. For example, you know that after 30 minutes it is time for your baby to eat infant formula, then this period is the optimal time to put him on his tummy.
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Be sure to be close to the newborn. Do not let the baby bury his nose in a blanket or pillow, remove them.
Watch his position, do not leave him unattended even for a minute - this is especially important at the age of 2-3 months, when the child actively rolls over -
Pediatricians recommend putting the baby naked on the tummy. Check how many degrees in the room where your baby is, so as not to catch a cold
Since the pose involves muscle training, never lay the baby out after meals or before bed. Exercise is performed only when the child is awake.
How to teach a child to lie on his tummy?
If your little one does not like to lie on his tummy, is naughty and resists, try to teach him to do this. Remember that this position is necessary for the child to develop properly. Be patient, act consistently, with an understanding of what you want to achieve. Try doing it like this:
-
Lay the baby out for a very short time, no more than 10 seconds.
The main thing is that during this time the mood of the baby does not deteriorate, and he feels comfortable. -
Do the first exercises on the stomach: this is familiar to the baby, and this position will not make him feel insecure.
-
Gradually increase the time of lying on your stomach, but be sure to watch for when the baby begins to worry and let you know that he is tired of lying like that.
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Turn exercise into a daily, obligatory ritual. Do it at a certain time so that the baby is ready for it.
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Complement lying on your stomach with pleasant treatments: massage and stroking. The attention of the baby will switch, and he will happily accept the new position.
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Lead the habituation process without coercion.
Do not insist if the baby is naughty - just try every day and little by little, perhaps he will like it soon. -
Choose the right time to practice. A lethargic, hungry or sleepy baby is unlikely to be happy to do what bothers him.
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To reduce discomfort, engage the child's attention with auditory and visual stimuli. Bright toys and squeakers are suitable for this.
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Change the texture and color of the surface the baby will sit on. Little tricks will help distract the child and improve his tactile skills.
Gradually your baby will like to lie on his tummy. If mom and dad make an effort, then very soon the baby will delight them with their successes.
The "lying on the tummy" position brings maximum benefits
If all your efforts do not lead to positive results, the baby continues to resist and does not want to lie on the tummy, offer him other options.
Regular activities with your child will lead you to success - especially since at a certain age, children themselves begin to like not only to lie down, but also to sleep on their stomachs. The once unloved position turns into the most convenient and comfortable.
In the first days and weeks after birth, the baby moves very little. The main postures are lying on your back or on your side, with your legs tucked up to your stomach. Young mothers are very afraid of injuring the child. To prevent this from happening, it is important to follow the recommendations of doctors.
Pediatricians recommend that parents do "tummy games" 2-3 times a day for 3-5 minutes each time. In early childhood, lying on the tummy can last only a few minutes until the child gets tired.
When the child shows interest in tummy time, increase the time and frequency of exercise. After 3-4 months, try lying on your tummy for about 20 minutes a day.
If your baby is happy and alert, let him stay on his tummy for as long as he likes - 40 to 60 minutes a day.
Being on your tummy is a very important activity, try to make the most of this time. Make these moments fun and bright for your newborn, try to make him feel comfortable, distract and entertain him. The more your baby will lie on his tummy, the faster he will learn to control his body and begin to surprise with new successes.
Disclaimer:
The views expressed on this page are those of the author and not of The Portugal News.
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Pediatrician Olga Ustinova, answering questions from TIA readers, told how to swaddle, apply to the breast and lay the newborn on the stomach
May 22 Chief physician of the Children's City Clinical Hospital No. 1, doctor of the highest category, candidate of medical sciences, pediatrician, gastroenterologist Olga Ustinova in an interview with TIA spoke about the nutrition and digestive problems of a child in the first year of life. Readers have asked many questions in the comments. Answering a question from a reader marusya, Olga Ustinova told whether it is necessary to swaddle babies and how to do it correctly, how to lay a newborn on her stomach and how to hold a baby while breastfeeding.
Swaddling
Mothers quite often ask the question: "Is it necessary to swaddle a newborn?". Here it is necessary to decide individually with each child. If the baby is very active, then in the first 4 months of life, when the physiological hypertonicity of the limbs persists, it is better to swaddle. But, for example, from two months you can only swaddle the legs, leaving the baby's arms free. The child wants to move, especially from the age of three months, they begin to reach for rattles, and parents should not interfere with development. There are children who from birth do not want to lie in diapers, but want to freely place their arms and legs in the crib, they easily get used to vests and sliders. Mom will see this right away, you should not go across such a desire of the child.
How to swaddle your baby properly
You need to swaddle slowly, without sudden movements.
Place two diapers on the changing table, one on top of the other. We will fix the legs with the top diaper.
The child lies on the back, on diapers. The arms are movable.
We stretch the legs so that it is comfortable for the child.
We wrap the right edge of the upper diaper around the right leg, the left - around the left.
We bend the lower end of the diaper and wrap the legs around them, we make a kind of cocoon in which the baby will be warm and comfortable.
Then we wrap the handles with the bottom diaper. We stretch the right handle along the body and wrap the diaper around the body. Then we repeat everything with the left handle. Next, lift the torso of the baby from below and wrap it.
A swaddled baby is comfortable to feed and hold in a column
Pediatrician Olga Ustinova, together with Yekaterina Filatova, a nurse from the neonatal pathology department of the Children's City Clinical Hospital No. 1, showed how to properly position a child in a column so that the baby burps air.
- Sometimes the air leaves quickly, but sometimes the mother has to wait. Breathing or spitting up (when air comes out with breast milk or formula) is accompanied by a characteristic sound. We are waiting for the air to come out twice, after which the baby can be put in the crib. The newborn sleeps without a pillow, the head must be turned to one side, changing side after each feeding (either to the left or to the right).
It is better to breastfeed your baby while sitting rather than lying down
From the point of view of the physiology of the child, during breastfeeding, the mother should sit, not lie down. Doctor Olga Ustinova and nurse Ekaterina Filatova told and showed how to properly hold the baby during breastfeeding.
- The baby's head and neck are on the mother's arm. In contact with the mother's body, feeling her warmth, the baby relaxes and begins to actively open his mouth, making sucking movements. He is ready to eat.
The baby begins to suck, the semi-horizontal position helps the milk reach the stomach faster. If the mother has no medical contraindications to sitting feeding, then this position will be optimal. For her own convenience, a woman can put a bench under her foot, put pillows under her elbow and back. The time the baby is at the breast is 10-15 minutes, if the baby sucks sluggishly, then up to half an hour, you should not keep it at the breast longer, otherwise it will become a habit for the baby. Instead of getting used to resting in his crib, the baby will become tame and it will not be easy to wean him from this.
How to lay the baby on the stomach correctly
It is possible to lay the baby on the stomach from the age of 3 weeks: we start from half a minute and, observing the reaction of the baby, gradually increase the time of lying on the stomach.
This position helps the child clear the gastrointestinal tract of excess air.
The most delicate part of the body of a newborn baby is the cervical spine. With one hand we hold the neck, with the other - the stomach and chest - carefully turn the baby on the stomach. We help to turn the head to the left, to the right (alternate side before each feeding) so that the spout does not rest against the surface. Lie down, again fix the neck, tummy and turn over on the back. If the child does not like to lie on his stomach, he reacts to the coup with a cry, you need to contact your pediatrician, a neurologist. Such a reaction may be the result of an injury to the cervical spine.
The older the child, the more actively he moves. After three months, the baby should not be turned over on his stomach, but helped him to roll over on his own, thereby motivating him to completely independent rollover.
By the age of three months, the baby already holds the head well enough.
