Tummy time is a crucial part of a baby’s development, helping them build strength, coordination, and awareness from an early age. By placing babies on their stomachs for supervised play, parents encourage the strengthening of key muscles in the neck, shoulders, arms, and back, which are vital for milestones like crawling and sitting up. The practice, which can be incorporated into a baby’s daily routine, also plays a major role in preventing conditions like flat head syndrome (plagiocephaly) by giving babies time off their backs, where pressure often rests

As per Affinity Health’s CEO Murray Hewlett, tummy time is a simple yet crucial practice for infants that involves placing them on their stomachs while awake and supervised.

 

“According to the National Institutes of Health, tummy time can profoundly impact an infant’s growth and future motor skills.”

 

Hewlett shares that the concept of tummy time emerged in the late 20th century as a response to the Back-to-Sleep campaign, which began in the early 1990s to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) by encouraging parents to place infants on their backs to sleep.

 

While the campaign significantly decreased SIDS cases, it led to an increase in positional plagiocephaly (flat head syndrome). Pediatricians and child development experts introduced tummy time to balance this.

Preventing Flat Head Syndrome

A baby’s skull comprises flexible plates that act like moving puzzle pieces, allowing the head to grow. These pliable bones are excellent for protecting your baby’s developing brain.

However, they can flatten if your baby spends much time lying on their back. Some babies also come into the world with misshapen heads due to their position in the womb or their journey through the birth canal.

 

Tummy time helps distribute the pressure more evenly across the baby’s skull, reducing the risk of developing flat spots and promoting proper head shape.

Other benefits of tummy time include building physical strength and enhancing cognitive skills, which are all benefits that lay the foundation for your baby’s future milestones.

Muscle strengthening is key to building strength in the upper body of your child. When a baby is placed on its stomach, it is encouraged to lift its head, which strengthens the neck and shoulder muscles. These actions also promote the development of the muscles in the arms and back, providing a foundation for rolling over, crawling, sitting, and eventually walking.

Another skill that is enhanced are your baby’s motor skills, helping the baby develop cognitive and sensory skills as babies learn to interact with their environment.

 

“When babies spend time on their tummies, they get a new perspective on the world around them. This helps them explore their surroundings more, boosting their visual and sensory development. They start to look around, reach for toys, and react to different sights and sounds, which all help spark their curiosity and learning,” said Hewlett.

 

Tummy time also encourages coordination and balance and can be a great bonding experience for babies and parents.

 

How to Make Tummy Time Enjoyable

It is not uncommon for babies to fuss during tummy time, especially in the beginning. If your baby seems unhappy, try shorter sessions more frequently throughout the day. Gradually increase the time as they become more comfortable. Engaging with your baby and making the experience interactive can also help distract them from any initial discomfort.

 

What If My Baby Falls Asleep During Tummy Time?

If your baby falls asleep during tummy time, gently turn them onto their back and transfer them to their cot or crib.

 

“Tummy time is a fundamental practice for infants that supports their physical and cognitive development. Parents can make tummy time an enjoyable and beneficial part of their baby’s daily routine by starting early, creating a safe and engaging environment, and being patient and consistent,” said Hewlett.