Tummy Time Solutions
Why is Tummy Time Important?
You’ve heard it before… tummy time is SO important for newborns and infants. It’s so much easier to practice tummy time with your baby when you understand the benefits it has. Tummy time is important because it strengthens and creates symmetry in the muscles required for babies’ gross motor development [their movement milestones]! It’s is key in developing your babies anterior [front] muscles of the neck, core, back, and shoulders. The entire shoulder girdle actually develops strength during tummy time, which your baby needs to grasp and reach!
There are more benefits to tummy time than strength. When your baby practices tummy time, they are also stretching! Specifically, they are lengthening their hip flexors, abductors [outer hips], and the front of their neck. All while alleviating pressure from the back of the head which will help prevent Plagiocephaly or flat spots.
‘Why does my baby hate tummy time’?
The tummy time position is one of the most challenging positions for your newborn to achieve! There can be a lot of different reasons why your baby hates tummy time, but it’s important to remember that this position is challenging and it won’t inherently be comfortable for most babies to stay on their tummies for long durations! Here are some of the most common issues we see in babies that hate tummy time:
Your baby hates tummy time because they have poor tolerance. Build up tolerance by practicing tummy time frequently but for short durations! Diaper changes can be a great time for this.
Your baby hates tummy time because they can’t lift their head! Newborns don’t have the strength to do this yet and tummy time is a great place for them to practice and develop their neck strength!
Your baby hates tummy time because they have a joint restrictions in their spine. They may be prone to arching or swimming when they are placed on their tummy.
Your baby hates tummy time because they are unable to place weight through their forearms.
Your baby hates tummy time and they roll onto their back quickly. It’s normal that your baby will want to move and explore their new skills as they develop. However, they shouldn’t be avoiding tummy time due to discomfort. [its the stepping stone for ALL their future milestones].
Solutions for Tummy Time
Use a Boppy
Lay your baby on an inclined surface, like a wedge pillow.
Place babe over your lower leg during tummy time.
Use an exercise ball or pregnancy ball for your baby’s tummy time.
Incorporate different positions, like sidelying play, to make tummy time more enjoyable! [more on this below]
For older infants [5+ months] : use vertical and inclined-type play that encourages pushing through the forearms/hands.
Tummy Time isn’t Everything…
Tummy time is just one piece of the puzzle! An excess of any position during development can lead to poor movement and compensation patterns. Babies need a variety of positions to begin exploring their new world! We like to focus on the big four : vertical, supine [on back], prone [tummy time], and side-lying. To learn positioning techniques specific to your little one developmental stage, we recommend scheduling an appointment with our pediatric chiropractor.
