We know that it's safest for babies to always sleep on their backs, thanks to guidelines established by the American Academy of Pediatrics AAP in , but that means infants spend up to 15 hours a day facing the ceiling. As a result, today's babies have fewer chances to practice using their arms, back, neck, and head to lift themselves up.
Read on to learn more about the benefits of tummy time, with tips for starting the important practice. Leaving your baby on her belly for a few minutes while she's awake helps her work all the muscles in her upper body, promoting trunk stability and head control.
Tummy time also encourages your little one to practice reaching and pivoting, skills that are often precursors to crawling. And research shows that a lack of tummy time can delay your baby from meeting physical development milestones like lifting her head, rolling over, sitting up, and more. Regularly spending time on his stomach also helps your baby avoid developing a flat spot on the back of his head , which became more common after the AAP's aforementioned "Back to Sleep" campaign to help prevent sudden infant death syndrome SIDS.
In severe cases, head flattening, or plagiocephaly, can distort facial features. Tummy time is also helpful for babies with the condition torticollis , which causes the head to tilt unnaturally because the neck muscle is stiff and tight. Finally, according to research published in Pediatrics in May , tummy time is associated with improved cardiovascular health and body mass index BMI.
Begin at 2 weeks old with short sessions of 30 seconds to one minute. Try placing your newborn belly-down on your chest or across your lap so he gets accustomed to the position.
To make it part of your routine, put your baby on his tummy after each daytime diaper change. This educational content is not medical or diagnostic advice. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy. Registry Builder New. Tummy Time for Baby. Medically Reviewed by Lauren Crosby, M. Medical Review Policy All What to Expect content that addresses health or safety is medically reviewed by a team of vetted health professionals.
What's tummy time? Think of it as baby's first workout! Here's when and how to do tummy time and what to do if your baby hates it. Back to Top. In This Article. All About Tummy Time.
View Sources. In addition to tummy time, parents and caregivers can try these other ways to help prevent flat spots from forming on the back of baby's head:. Share Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email. Main navigation Skip left side navigation. Babies Need Tummy Time! What Is Tummy Time? Tummy time is important because it: Helps prevent flat spots on the back of your baby's head Makes neck and shoulder muscles stronger so your baby can start to sit up, crawl, and walk Improves your baby's motor skills using muscles to move and complete an action From the day 1 they come home, babies benefit from 2 to 3 tummy time sessions each day for a short period of time 3 to 5 minutes.
Tummy Time Tips These suggestions 1 can help you and your baby enjoy tummy time: Spread out a blanket in a clear area of the floor for tummy time.
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