It’s tummy time for your infant. When Kreesha was born, I used to wait eagerly for her paediatrician to approve of her tummy time. Her doctor told me once, she is two months old, you can start her tummy time. So what exactly is tummy time?
Tummy time is a technique to enable your infant to move their hands and legs. Lying on their stomachs, the kids learn to move their legs first and then make a slight jump with their hands. I started tummy time for Kreesha, when she was 2.5 months old. This helped her in early crawling and walking.
“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 visual, motor, and sensory development. Baby can begin Tummy Time as a newborn, and continue throughout baby’s first year.” Pathways.org
Tummy Time helps your new born:
- Develop their core muscles of back, shoulders and neck
- Meet developmental milestones easily
- Enhanced Motor skills
- Prevents flat head
How to do tummy time?
- The preferred and suggested time by doctors for tummy time is after the baby wakes up from a nap or after diaper change
- Preferred place: Clean floor with playmat or clean towel
- Baby Position: Baby lying on his/her tummy over the mat / towel
- Tools: Place some likeable toys for baby to stay motivated
- Time: Twice / thrice a day for 4 – 5 minutes each session
- Follow up – Increase the time slowly as your baby starts enjoying the sessions.
“Always Remember: Back to Sleep, Tummy to Play!” The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Love,
Wonder Mom
