Tips for Tummy Time: How to Make It Easier on You and Your Baby

Tummy time is understandably a difficult milestone to work through. It’s generally the first time your baby may start to cry outside of being hungry, tired, or having a wet diaper as they’re transitioning away from you and exercising. Many parents feel guilty about doing tummy time with their baby because they can’t stand to listen to their baby cry and not intervene. 

Perks of tummy time/ general movement as a baby include more restful and longer sleep periods, better digestion, more independence, less time carrying around, and less potential for you to develop aches and pains. Tummy time is the foundation for all future motor milestones, so passing on the recommendations for this could result in future difficulties, delays & inability to move with ease as they age. Try our mommy & me classes to learn more about your child's needs. 

Tailor Tumy Time to Your Needs

Tummy time can be modified to be easier, more engaging & less stressful. Learn how below:

1. Encourage Stimulation: Pre-position your toys and baby to encourage stimulation and/ or eye contact. Ensure that your baby’s forearms are placed under their shoulders so that they can push through their arms to keep their head elevated. 

2. Change gravity restraints: add elevation, such as doing tummy time on your chest while you’re slightly reclined, or place a rolled-up towel or boppy pillow under your chest. This will reduce the restraints of gravity and make tummy time less taxing for your baby.

3. Time: More frequency and less duration are the keys to making tummy time more manageable. Even if you start in 30-second increments, you can do this numerous times throughout the day to reach a target goal of 30 minutes in 24 hours, which is fairly attainable. Ideally, a baby 2 months old would tolerate 1-2 hours per day, up to 3 hours per day for 3-month-olds, and 4 per day for 4-month-olds, depending on their sleep and wake schedule. 

4. Modeling: Modeling is a tool often overlooked because of the stark contrast between an infant and an adult, but it is an incredibly powerful intervention. Get down on your tummy and face your baby as you talk to them, show them fun toys, and place their hands on the toys in front of them. The more they feel part of a session, rather than FOMO with you standing nearby or in another room, the more they feel safe on their tummy. 

5. Be Patient After Eating: Wait at least 20-30 minutes after eating before practicing tummy time, particularly if your baby struggles with reflux or gassiness. This will reduce discomfort, spit-up & frustration for your baby.

6. Motivate: Find motivating items that make your baby intrigued, and utilize these during tummy time. Age-appropriate toys can make or break your baby’s motivation and willingness to try hard activities with you now and in the future. A baby’s job is to play, and they work for comfort, praise, fun & stimulation.

Learn more about our services and preventive care. These tips will help enhance your tummy time experience! For more information, please set up an initial consultation with us and share some pictures and videos of what you’re currently doing so we can give more detailed information.