Is tummy time really that important for your baby? The short answer is yes! Tummy time is a pivotal time and has a significant impact on your baby’s growth and development. While it might not be directly related to reducing the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), it does play an important role in the development of muscles and motor skills to help prevent it.

So, seeing as though this is such an important activity, when should you start doing tummy time, and what do you need to know about it? In this article, we aim to help you understand what your baby needs to be doing during tummy time and what products can help make it more safe and engaging for you and your little one. Let’s take a look!

What is tummy time?

When we refer to tummy time, we’re talking about when you place your baby on their tummy while they are awake and supervised. Tummy time encourages babies to lift their heads and engage their head, neck and shoulder muscles as well as their core. The whole point of tummy time is to help your baby strengthen these muscles and boost their motor skills. It can be tempting to leave your baby to do their own thing during tummy time, but it’s important to note that it should always be done under supervision.

When can my baby start tummy time?

The good news is that babies can actually start their tummy time sessions as soon as one or two days after they are born. The younger babies, like newborns, benefit from just facing two or three tummy time sessions, lasting between three to five minutes, per day. As your baby grows and develops, they can start having longer tummy time sessions. By the time they hit
two months old, they should have gotten 15 to 30 minutes of tummy time a day.

What happens if babies don’t get enough tummy time?

Whether they love it or hate it, tummy time is one of the shortest and yet most beneficial times of the day for your little one, so you should never skip out on it. Tummy time can be a great experience and gives you that bit of special bonding time with your little one, but there will be times when either you or your baby just aren’t up for it – especially when they catch onto the fact that tummy time requires them to put in some effort instead of lying around on their back all day – it’s like their own little gym session.

Fight the urge to skip tummy time because not giving your baby that time on the ground can have some adverse effects on their development. Here are some things that can happen if your little bundle of joy doesn’t get enough tummy time:

● They may take longer to develop motor skills, which means that it can take longer for
them to develop balance, coordination and core strength

● They may develop flat spots on their head (also known as plagiocephaly)

What do you need for a successful tummy time?

Technically speaking, you really don’t need anything more than a safe, flat surface for your baby to get their tummy time in. However, tummy time can be quite uncomfortable and a tedious task for babies and parents alike. So, in order to have a successful tummy time, here are a few things that we suggest you get:

● A soft but firm playmat or a blanket
● Some engaging baby toys
● An unbreakable baby mirror

How to have a successful tummy time

The good news is that tummy time is a relatively straightforward activity, and here’s how you’re going to do it:

Step one: Choose a safe flat place

The first thing you’ve got to do is set up or choose a soft, safe and flat place for your baby to be able to lie down on. A baby blanket or a soft but firm play mat on the ground is a great place to do it, as it minimizes the chances of your baby being smothered or falling off any surfaces.

Another safe and more engaging space for tummy time is on your tummy. All you need to do is lie down on your back and put them on your tummy so they can face your while getting their exercise in.

Step two: Put them on their tummy

As the name would suggest, in order to have some tummy time, you baby needs to be put on their tummy. If your baby doesn’t seem to be enjoying it or they don’t engage in the activity by themselves by lifting their head, don’t be afraid to get down on the floor and join them so they can see you face to face. You can also add some toys or an unbreakable baby mirror to the mix to make it more exciting.

Final thoughts

Never skip out on tummy time! Even though it might seem like it’s just a few minutes of the day and it won’t make much of a difference – it does! Not only is it crucial for their development, but it also gives you a few intentional moments of bonding time with your little bundle of joy. Check out `stores like Baby Toddler Kids to check out a range of baby mats, blankets and toys that would be perfect for creating the most comfortable and engaging environment for successful tummy times.

Baby on his tummy smiling. Text reads when to start tummy time.