Back to sleep, tummy to play. While asleep, baby spends a lot of time on his back with his head in one position. This can cause flat spots on the back of his head. Tummy time helps prevent this. Place safe objects and toys close to your baby. You should never let him sleep on his stomach because this could put him at risk of dying of SIDS. Your Guide to Tummy Time. Save Pin More. How to Practice Tummy Time. What is tummy time?
After so many hours spent sleeping on their backs, babies need practice using their neck muscles. Here, learn the basics of this crucial activity, including when to start tummy time.
Start Slideshow. Baby laying on tummy, sucking his fist. Credit: Shutterstock. Try the following: - Recline on your back with Baby on your stomach, her head facing yours, then talk to her.
Get more ideas for tummy-time activities. Credit: Cheyenne Ellis. Tummy-to-tummy Lie down on the floor, sofa or a bed. Tummy to tummy. Eye-level smile Encourage eye contact by getting down to your baby's level. You can roll up a blanket and place it under their chest and upper arms for support. Eye-level smile. Lap soothe Place your baby face-down across your lap when holding or winding burping. Place a hand on your baby's bottom to help calm them.
Lap soothe. Tummy-down carry Carry your baby 'tummy down'. Tummy down carry. Whatever your baby's reaction, tummy time helps your baby develop motor skills that eventually lead to crawling. 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. The American Academy of Pediatrics AAP recommends that babies begin tummy time the very day they come home from the hospital.
Encourage your baby to work his way up to about 15 minutes total on his tummy every day or two to three sessions a day lasting three to five minutes each , always under your watchful eye. As your baby gets older, you can leave him on his belly for longer stretches, since older babies need more time on their tummies to build strength. Concerned about your baby developing a flat head from sleeping on his back?
Try not to worry: Most flat spots round out as babies grow older. Lots of babies hate tummy time at first, but most begin to tolerate and sometimes even enjoy it as they build the muscles required to lift their heads. In the meantime, make tummy time less torturous by:.
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