If you’re a parent (or soon to be one), you likely
already know that ‘tummy time’ refers to placing a baby on his or her stomach
(while supervised, of course). But why is time spent in this position so
important?
It’s quite simple – babies need time on their tummies to
develop strong neck and shoulder muscles, which will help your little one
accomplish physical milestones like sitting, crawling and walking. Tummy time
is also an important factor in the prevention of positional plagiocephaly (the
back of your baby’s head becoming flat). This is because if a baby’s head is
left in the same position for long periods of time, the developing skull plates
may move in a way that creates a flat spot.
After placing your baby down for tummy time (which should
start the first day home from the hospital), he will naturally start trying to
lift his head to see what is going on around him. However, he won’t be able to
hold his head up for long periods of time until 3-4 months.
Only play with your baby on her stomach when she is awake
and alert. When you are playing, you’ll want to be on a hard surface, such as
the floor. However, we recommend using one of our plush animal mats so
your baby stays comfortable (and enjoys the company of their favorite animal
friend!)
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