Babies spend a lot of time on their backs gazing up at the ceiling. As a result, babies have fewer opportunities to practise lifting themselves using their arms, backs, necks, and heads. Laying your infant on their belly for brief periods, a few times a day, on a hard surface (avoid beds or other furniture they could fall off of) will help them gain a new viewpoint and also help with their development. A clean hardwood floor or even a carpet work just as well as an expensive blanket or fancy pad.
How much Tummy Time is needed for your baby?
It is advised by the American Academy of Pediatrics that you begin with two to three daily sessions of tummy time. Start as soon as possible, ideally the day or the day after you bring your newborn home from the hospital. When your child is a newborn, you should make an effort to keep them on their stomachs for a few minutes each session. Don’t push your infant to cry if they do so. Later, you can try again.
Your baby will benefit from tummy time most when they are aware and not hungry. You should hold off for around 20 minutes following a feeding since if you don’t, your child might spit up.
Your child will benefit from tummy time for greater periods at each session as they get older. To become ready to roll, play with their feet, and crawl by the time they are three months old, your baby should spend about one hour on their stomach each day. This hour might be divided into several sessions throughout the day.
Your infant doesn’t require tummy time after they can crawl. The motion is sufficient to maintain the strength of the back, shoulders, and neck muscles.
5 benefits of tummy time
- Improves motor development
Your little one uses and builds the muscles necessary to lift their heads, roll, and eventually crawl when they spend time on their bellies. They gain strength in their back, neck, and arms as well as their core muscles when they are on the ground. Tummy time enables developmental milestones like rolling and crawling to occur slightly earlier. Infants who don’t spend enough time in this position are more likely to face a delay in motor development, according to studies.
- Lowers the likelihood of a skull deformity
Babies’ skulls may start to flatten in the back because they lack the neck strength to elevate their heads during the first few months of life. Positional plagiocephaly is the name for the condition where this results in a head deformity. Infants who spend time on their tummy have a lower risk of developing a deformed skull. Talk to a kids specialist in Dubai to determine what’s best for your baby
- Encourages sensory development
Your baby will learn how their arms and legs move when on their bellies and can experiment with various body postures and movements. Because babies spend practically all of their time, in the beginning, lying on their backs, this causes them to temporarily turn their perspective upside down.
Changing your baby’s posture might encourage a variety of motions. By turning them onto their stomachs, you can alter their perspective and aid with vestibular system development. It feels strange to be on their tummy in the beginning, and with the balance, they start to gain new perspectives on the world and a fresh sense of how it feels and moves.
- Develops cognitive process
There aren’t many opportunities to enjoy yourself with your newborn at first. Tummy time is a particularly important opportunity for interaction and playing with your baby, which is a bonding activity.
Children’s cognitive development can be aided by tummy time. They become more aware of their surroundings and gain a fresh perspective on things. Their brains begin to function differently and form new connections as a result. Children gradually develop their ability to reason and explore as they get older.
- Strengthens the neck muscles and enhances head control
For your baby to strengthen their neck muscles, it’s important that they practise raising their heads off the ground. They gradually develop head control and the ability to hold their heads up independently as they practise using their neck and shoulders. One of the best ways for your infant to develop better neck control is through tummy time.
Making the Most of Baby Tummy Time
To get the most out of tummy time, there are a few straightforward, doable pieces of advice. Think about performing the following:
- The greatest moment to turn your baby over for tummy time is when they are fully awake and attentive. Compared to a baby who is hungry or exhausted, a cheerful infant will be considerably more cooperative.
- Start with brief sessions. Some newborns prefer to spend longer time on their stomachs than others. Particularly if you have a fussy child, starting tummy time sessions at a little interval can help them get used to being belly down.
- Employ toys as rewards. Placing toys just out of your child’s grasp can help to motivate reaching and movement. To keep your baby’s interest, choose toys that are visually appealing and have entertaining effects, like lighting.
- Involve your family. During tummy time, encourage your other child to lie down next to the newborn. For a baby, having others around can be entertaining and engaging. For your developing child, lots of speech and appreciation can make a big difference.
- If your infant cries when placed on their stomach, you can introduce tummy time by turning them onto their side. In this position, they can continue to practise the beneficial exercises that support healthy development. Just make sure you utilise a towel or blanket to provide them with additional back and neck support.
Speak to the best Pediatrician in Dubai about tummy time and how you can help your toddler get the most out of it.
Our experienced award-winning Pediatricians at myPediaclinic in Dubai Healthcare City help young children have a stress-free and relaxing visit. As one of the most trusted and kid-friendly clinics in the country, the doctors and staff at myPediaclinic are focused on delivering quality treatment and consultation for the long-term health and well-being of their patients.
