Belly Time For Newborns: How Much Is Enough?

Tummy time is an important activity for newborns to strengthen their neck, shoulder, back, and arm muscles, and improve their motor skills. It involves placing a baby on their stomach while they are awake and supervised. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends starting tummy time as soon as a newborn arrives home from the hospital. Initially, newborns can start with a few minutes of tummy time, two to three times a day, gradually increasing the duration as they get older. By the time a baby is 3 months old, they should have worked their way up to about an hour of tummy time per day. Tummy time helps prevent flat head syndrome and promotes sensory development, offering a different perspective and a chance for bonding.

Tummy time helps to strengthen neck, shoulder, and arm muscles

Tummy time is an essential activity for newborns and infants to strengthen their neck, shoulder, and arm muscles. It involves placing babies on their stomachs for short periods while they are awake and supervised. Here's how tummy time helps strengthen these muscle groups:

Neck Muscles

When babies are on their stomachs during tummy time, they are challenged to use their neck muscles to lift their heads and look around. This helps develop the neck extensors, which are responsible for straightening the neck and lifting the head. Tummy time is particularly beneficial for newborns and infants aged 1-3 months who are still developing neck control. By strengthening their neck muscles, they will eventually gain steady head control, which is crucial for sitting up, crawling, and walking.

Shoulder Muscles

Tummy time also helps to strengthen the shoulder muscles. As babies lift their heads during tummy time, they simultaneously engage their shoulder muscles. This strengthening of the shoulders, along with the development of neck control, lays the foundation for achieving important milestones such as rolling over, sitting up, and crawling.

Arm Muscles

For older babies, aged 4-7 months, tummy time continues to be beneficial even when they have gained some mobility and can roll over or sit with assistance. During this stage, tummy time helps them strengthen their arm muscles as they practice lifting their head and chest by straightening their arms.

Overall, tummy time is a crucial activity for newborns and infants to strengthen their neck, shoulder, and arm muscles, improving their motor skills and laying the foundation for achieving important developmental milestones.

It helps to prevent flat spots on the back of the baby's head

Spending time on their tummies while awake is highly beneficial for newborns. This practice, known as "tummy time", is essential for a baby's motor, visual, and sensory development. It helps strengthen their neck, back, and shoulder muscles, and it also helps prevent flat spots on the back of their heads.

Flat spots on a baby's head, also known as flat head syndrome or positional plagiocephaly, can occur when a baby sleeps with their head turned to the same side during the first few months of life. This condition is common, affecting up to 50% of babies, and is usually very mild. It is caused by the softness of a newborn's skull, which can easily compress if left in the same position for too long.

Tummy time helps prevent flat spots by allowing babies to work on different muscle groups than when they are on their backs. By practicing push-ups, babies develop the muscles in their arms, shoulders, upper back, and neck, which are necessary for lifting their heads and eventually sitting up, crawling, and walking.

To incorporate tummy time into your newborn's routine, start with a few minutes at a time, several times a day. You can place your baby on their tummy on a playmat or a clean towel, surrounding them with a few favourite toys to keep them entertained. As they get used to it, gradually increase the duration and frequency of tummy time sessions.

In addition to tummy time, you can also vary your baby's sleep direction in the crib. Alternate placing their head at the head and foot of the crib, as they will naturally look out into the room, encouraging them to turn their head both ways. It is also important to limit the time your baby spends in car seats, rockers, and other equipment that restrict head movement.

By incorporating tummy time and making small adjustments to your baby's routine, you can effectively help prevent flat spots on the back of their head while also promoting their overall development.

It promotes sensory development

Tummy time is an important exercise for newborns and infants to strengthen their neck, shoulder, back, and core muscles, and improve their motor skills. It is also crucial for their sensory development.

Babies have eight sensory systems: tactile (touch), vestibular (balance and movement), proprioception (body awareness), visual (sight), olfactory (smell), auditory (hearing), gustatory (taste), and interoception (sense of pain, hunger, or temperature). Tummy time helps stimulate these sensory systems and promotes their development.

For example, during tummy time, babies practice lifting their heads and strengthening their neck muscles. This stimulates the vestibular system, providing information about the position of their head in relation to gravity and the speed and direction of movement. As they gain strength and improve their coordination, they are able to push themselves up and look around, which stimulates the visual system and helps them develop depth perception.

Additionally, tummy time activities with caregivers encourage babies to use their limbs to reach, push, pull, kick, and twist. These movements stimulate the neural networks that drive their motor coordination and physical balance, enhancing their sensory development.

Tummy time also provides a break for the back of the baby's head, helping to prevent flat spots from forming on the skull. It is recommended that babies work up to about one hour of tummy time per day by the time they are three months old. This can be broken up into shorter sessions of a few minutes, several times a day.

Tummy time is a crucial exercise for newborns and infants, promoting sensory development and providing a foundation for reaching, rolling over, sitting up, and crawling.

Tummy time is important for motor skill development

Tummy time is an important exercise for newborns and infants to strengthen their neck, back, shoulder, arm, and core muscles. It is also crucial for their motor, visual, and sensory development.

How to Do Tummy Time

Tummy time is placing your baby on their stomach to play while they are awake. It is recommended to start tummy time as soon as your baby arrives home from the hospital. Start with short sessions of 30 seconds to one minute, gradually increasing the duration as your baby gets used to it. Always stay with your baby and watch them closely during tummy time.

Benefits of Tummy Time

Tummy time helps babies develop the muscles needed to lift their heads, sit up, crawl, and eventually walk. It is the first step for infants to learn how to lift themselves up and is a prerequisite to rolling over, sitting up, and crawling.

Additionally, tummy time helps prevent conditions like flat-head syndrome (positional plagiocephaly) and twisted-neck syndrome (positional torticollis). Flat-head syndrome can occur when babies spend too much time on their backs, causing a flat spot to form on the back or side of the head. Twisted-neck syndrome can cause the baby's head to tilt to one side due to neck stiffness, making it difficult for them to move their head from side to side. Tummy time strengthens the neck muscles and encourages babies to rotate their heads, helping to prevent this condition.

Tummy Time Milestones

By the age of 3 months, babies should be able to handle a cumulative one-hour of tummy time each day, spread throughout the day in shorter sessions. By this age, babies will have gained enough head control to lift their heads between 45 and 90 degrees without tilting to the side. They will also be able to put weight on their arms, with elbows bent at a 45-degree angle.

At 4 months, babies can push up on their forearms to lift their chests off the floor, with elbows bent at a 90-degree angle. They can also lift their heads to a 90-degree angle while keeping their heads centered above their torso.

At 6 months, babies tend to direct their tummy time activities, reaching for toys and pivoting in a circle. They may also start rolling from their tummy to their back and vice versa.

Tips for Successful Tummy Time

• Keep it consistent and make sure all caregivers are aware of the importance of tummy time.
• Schedule tummy time after each diaper change or bath so your baby learns to expect it.
• Use tummy time as an alternative to sitting your baby in a carrier.
• Get down to your baby's level, face-to-face or side-by-side, to encourage eye contact and interaction.
• Use toys, rattles, and mirrors to make tummy time fun and engaging.
• Sing songs and make silly noises to entertain your baby during tummy time.
• If your baby resists tummy time, try shorter sessions and gradually increase the duration as they build their muscles.

It provides opportunities to bond with your newborn

Tummy time is an important activity for newborns and infants to strengthen their neck, back, shoulder, arm, chest, and core muscles, as well as improve their motor skills. It is also a great opportunity to bond with your newborn.

Tummy time is when a baby spends a few minutes a day on their stomach while awake, and it can start as soon as your baby arrives home from the hospital. It is recommended to aim for a total of about 15 minutes to an hour of tummy time a day by the time they are 3 months old.

Physical Bonding

Tummy time allows for physical closeness and touch, which is essential for bonding. You can lie on your back and place your newborn on your stomach, tummy-to-tummy, or hold them tummy-down on your chest or across your lap. This physical closeness helps create a sense of security and comfort for the baby.

Interactive Play

As your baby develops, tummy time becomes more interactive, and you can incorporate play into this time. Get down on the floor with your baby, face-to-face or side-by-side, and chat with them. You can also use toys, rattles, and mirrors to encourage visual tracking and make tummy time fun for your little one. This interactive play helps strengthen your bond with your baby.

Developmental Milestones

Tummy time plays a crucial role in your baby's development, helping them gain motor skills and muscle strength. As they grow stronger, they will be able to lift their heads, roll over, sit up, crawl, and eventually walk. Witnessing and supporting your baby through these developmental milestones can enhance your bond with them.

Sensory Exploration

Tummy time provides babies with a different perspective and sensory experience. They get to explore the world from a new angle, promoting sensory development. As they spend time on their bellies, they start learning how their arms and legs move, and this exploration can be a shared experience that deepens the bond between you and your baby.

Early Interaction and Play

Tummy time is an early opportunity for interaction and play with your newborn. Even though it may not seem very interactive at first, as your baby's skills develop, they will become more engaged and responsive during tummy time. This early interaction and play are crucial for bonding and can help create a strong foundation for your relationship with your baby.

Remember, tummy time should always be supervised, and babies should never be left alone face down, even if they are propped up. It is important to follow your baby's lead and make tummy time a positive and enjoyable experience for both of you.

Frequently asked questions