Have you been wondering about the different ways that you can do tummy time with your baby,
or how to make it a more enjoyable experience for a baby who doesn't like to do it,
if so then this video is for you.
I’m Dr. Belousov. I equip parents with knowledge so they can care for their baby with confidence.
First off, tummy time is very important for a baby's development.
It will help your baby gain strength in the muscles needed for mastering skills in the future,
including rolling over, sitting, crawling, pulling up to stand and walking.
Tummy time also gives your baby an opportunity to visually explore the environment in a new way.
While laying on her back, she can only see the ceiling and whatever is directly around her.
But when she’s on her tummy, she is able to see the world at eye level,
giving her a different perspective. Babies need to experience a wide variety
of textures throughout the day. As he moves his body, arms and legs against different surfaces,
the friction that is created lets him know where his body is located in space. Tummy time
is the perfect opportunity to accomplish this. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends
that parents begin doing supervised tummy time with a full term baby within the first week
of a baby's life. Before the umbilical cord has fallen off, you can position your newborn
on your chest or abdomen while both of you are awake and you are in a position of leaning back.
During this time take advantage of the opportunity to encourage eye contact with your baby.
Speak in animated tones and use exaggerated expressions to get her to look at you. It's
a time for the both of you to bond. Make sure you are doing this when
she is comfortable, never hungry or irritable. And don’t do it directly
after a feeding, as it can lead to a spit up. Once the umbilical cord stump falls off the baby's
belly button, you can start doing tummy time on a firm flat surface while always being by your
baby's side. You can place her on a firm sofa, or put her on a play mat or blanket on the floor.
Start with only 15 to 20 seconds in this position. He will alternate
lifting his head and resting it back down. Gradually increase the length of each session
as he gets stronger. If he seems to be getting tired or starts crying, it’s time for a break.
Listen carefully to your baby's protests and watch her body language to have an
understanding of when the time is right to increase the length of her sessions.
Your baby might initially grunt or make other funny noises because tummy time is
hard work. Listen carefully to determine if she’s working to maintain the position
or is actually uncomfortable. Introducing tummy time gradually but consistently,
allows your baby to learn to tolerate this position within a short period of time.
For a young baby, it’s more important to provide frequent but brief tummy time sessions throughout
the day rather than one or two long sessions. A good goal to work towards in the first
month is 3 to 5 minutes of tummy time happening 2 to 3 times a day.
Work to the goal of doing tummy time for at least 80 minutes per day by 4 months of age.
It might seem like a lot of time, but this would be done in several sessions throughout the day.
It is best to set up a regular time such as after diaper changes or naps, and establish a routine of
doing it to get your baby anticipating tummy time. A newborn and 1 month old baby will typically
prefer to have her head to one side while on her tummy, this resembles her position in the womb.
If she is not lifting and turning her head on her own, after a few minutes assist
her in turning her head to the other side. If you are getting value out of this content,
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As your baby approaches two months of age, he will lift his head up and hold it at about a 45% angle.
He will also have his chest lifted up from the surface while supporting his
upper body on his arms. He will be able to turn his head from side to side while holding
himself up for longer periods of time. So what can you do if your baby becomes
fussy shortly after being placed on his tummy or begins to cry when you attempt to do tummy time?
Try having an object in front of your baby for him to look at as a distraction. A great option
is using his favorite toy or some cards with black and white images or high contrast color patterns,
since at the younger age that is what they prefer to look at.
Another great option is for you to get down to your baby’s eye level
and speak to her in a gentle and calming voice, or sing to her.
If there is an older sibling in the home, also have him involved in cheering her on.
You can also lay your baby on a firm couch while you are in his field of vision. Talk or sing
to him, or distract him by using your baby's favorite toy or black and white image cards.
If your baby absolutely is not tolerating being on his tummy,
try doing a side lying position instead. Place him on a play mat or blanket that is
on a firm surface. Prop his back against a rolled towel or small blanket for support.
Both of your baby's arms should be in front of him. Have his legs forward and knees bent
for comfort. Don’t forget to distract him with a fun toy or a black-and-white image.
After several minutes make sure to roll him to the other side for the same length of time.
Another variation of tummy time that you can try is laying your baby across your lap,
with his arms laying over the side of your legs. Rub his back and talk to
him. Use objects to keep him entertained. The key to helping a baby who is resistant
to tummy time is to start gradually, be consistent and distract distract distract.
The position of laying on their tummies is challenging for babies, especially those
who haven’t been exposed to consistently doing it from the first weeks of life.
Even if your baby dislikes it, Continue to make tummy time part of your baby's regular routine.
Try not to become discouraged if your baby is not progressing as quickly as you would like.
By remaining consistent you will start to see your baby’s skills improving, and it will become a more
enjoyable experience for the both of you. Please share this video with anyone who you
know would benefit from this information. If you would like a free download of my
baby development checklist, you can get it through the link in the description below.
Enter the topics that you want to see covered in my future videos in the comment section.
This video is a part of my baby development series.
Some episodes are linked above and the others can be found on my Youtube channel Friendly Kid Doc.
I’m looking forward to seeing you in my next video.