The Importance of Tummy Time for Your Newborn
Quick Insight:
Mummy and Daddy, even the tiniest of newborns like me benefit greatly from tummy time! It is recommended that full-term babies like me start tummy time within our first week of life. Initially, success in tummy time might look like very brief sessions—a minute or two a few times daily. It's crucial to end if you watch me crying & I have had enough, which signal it's time to take a break.
Tips for Newborn Tummy Time Success:
1. Incorporate High-Contrast Playthings
Place engaging infant toys within my line of sight—off to the side and at my eye level—to encourage visual exploration & development. At this stage, I usually do tummy time with my head turned to one side.
Featured in The Activity Kit 1 for Newborns: Sensory Toy and Tummy Set Holder are perfect for flexible positioning, helping keep me engaged.
2. Gentle Sensory Play to Encourage Skills
With my newborn startle reflex at its peak, it's best to start with soft, quiet rattles in high-contrast colors. If you shake the rattle while I’m facing away from you during tummy time, observe if I lift and turn my head towards the sound.
Featured in The Activity Kit 2: The rolling Rattle Ball is designed for gentle sensory play, supporting early head lifting and turning.
3. Keep Me Engaged with other learning toys
Instead of ending tummy time the moment I seem disinterested, introducing new learning toys like high contrast learning cards can reignite my curiosity and extend belly-down playtime.
Featured in The Activity Kit 1: The Black and White Cards, or a Sensory Batting Ball can offer just the right to keep my attention.
More Tummy Time Tips:
- Carefully roll me onto my tummy. Place my arms under my shoulders and help me support myself.
- Remember, I often prefer lying with my head to one side—similar to my in-womb position—to feel comfortable.
- I should regularly be turned to the opposite side that my head lays on so I don't develop flat spots on my head and to help neck muscles to be even.
- Show high contrast cards in my visual field when I'm finally strong enough to begin to motivate me to lift my chin to see images.
- Engage in face-to-face interaction during chest-based tummy time to encourage head lifting.
- Lay me on my belly on your thighs, and give me a gentle rub on the back while presenting high-contrast images in front of me to catch my visual attention.
- Carry me in a football hold for a different form of tummy time.
If tummy time seems to upset me, there's no need to push it. Persist with short, frequent sessions throughout the day. Babies introduced to tummy time early on tend to adapt more comfortably as we grow. Tummy time helps strengthen the muscles and increases coordination, prerequisites for rolling over, crawling, and eventually walking.
For more guidance on making tummy time a positive experience and to discover Tinyvers expert-recommended tummy time toys.