Let's Talk Tummy Time!

You're doctor has probably said it, getting daily exercise is important! Is it any surprise that the same holds true for the little ones in your life? Whether your child is two months or twenty, working those little muscles is an important step in their development! That's right, I'm talkin' tummy time! Did you know spending time on their tummy helps infants to develop strength in their neck, shoulders, arms, back, and torso that helps them learn to crawl?

Photo Credit

If your baby shows little or no interest in tummy time, it can be difficult but try to be patient! Try setting them on their tummy in shorter intervals through out the day. The more time they spend on their tummy, the more normal it will become.

When should my baby start tummy time?

The American Academy of Pediatrics  recommends encouraging tummy from the first day home while they are awake and alert in short intervals (3-5min) 2-3 times a day. As they grow older and begin to enjoy the activity, more time is needed to build more strength.

Need some inspiration? Try the following activities to help encourage tummy time for your baby!

Tummy to Tummy
You can start encouraging tummy time from birth by resting your baby on your chest. This will help the position feel more natural later on, not to mention give you some great social interaction and eye contact with your baby!

Entertainment! 
Staring at the carpet can get boring, try placing a toy or a colorful cardboard book in front of them. To give them a different perspective, change up the view! Roll up a small receiving blanket and put it under your babies chest with there arms over it.

Lap Time
To mix it up, try laying your baby down lengthwise across your knees while providing neck support. Remember to keep the baby's head aligned with their body. You can also move your legs softly from side to side to keep them entertained, if they fall asleep just remember to move them to their back.

For some babies beginning tummy time is a blast! For others, not so much. Just remember to keep trying, it's a process! As they say, you gotta crawl before you can walk. But let's not get ahead of ourselves here!