You know it’s important, but you’re too tired to fight the tummy time fight! Our tips, below.
Does your baby cry every time you put him down on his stomach? Do you give it a half-hearted attempt before scooping him back up? You know he needs tummy time…but maybe you’ll try again tomorrow.
Why babies need tummy time
Poor things are doing enough, just eating, sleeping and getting used to the world! For a new baby, tummy time is a full-body and completely exhausting workout. Why make them suffer through tummy time?
- Tummy time allows babies to develop head stability, neck and motor strength, which in turn will help them learn to roll over, crawl, and sit.
- Tummy time can help prevent plagiocephaly (flat heads).
- Tummy time promotes play and sensory development.
So how do I get my baby to stop crying?!?
Remember how tummy time is a workout? Sometimes, I kind of want to cry through those too. So start small. Two minutes of tummy time is a successful two minutes! And success breeds success: two minutes leads to five, which leads to ten. Eventually, you want your baby doing at least a few minutes of tummy time during every wake window. As he gets older, he’ll be able to tolerate more and more.
Put your baby on a comfortable but firm surface, like a play mat or blanket on the carpet. You can surround him with high-contrast toys (check out some that I love, below) for him to look at, or you can lay on your belly right next to him and join in the play. Make it fun, even newborns can be calmed by your voice and your touch.
If your baby is having a really hard time tolerating staying on his belly, you can try propping him up on a Boppy nursing pillow, or even putting a rolled up cloth diaper under his chest to give him a boost. You can sit like a pretzel and prop him on your thigh. You can lay down and put him on your chest. You can even wear your baby in a baby wrap when he’s awake and looking around. All tummy time counts, and each successful tummy time will help your baby learn, grow, and get stronger.
Some of my favorite tummy time toys, below.
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