Tummy Time!

For those of you who already have babies, you probably already know about tummy time. It is one of those things that you should be doing that is sometimes hard to remember to do...especially with the second, third, fourth, fifth child!

For those of you who are pregnant or new moms, maybe you don't know what I am talking about yet, so let me share.

"Tummy time" is the phrase development specialists use to refer to time your baby spends on his or her tummy! (not too complicated there) It is an important aspect of your baby's development for them to have this time spent on his or her tummy, because it helps them develop their neck muscles, then their torso, their arms, and finally their legs. This time spent on their tummy is what will eventually get them to the developmental milestone of rolling over and then eventually crawling.

Even newborns can have "tummy time", but it looks different than what a three-month old can handle. A newborn baby's tummy time consists more of the time they spend on their tummy against mom or dad's chest, or from time to time against our laps or knees. After a month or two though, you can begin to put your little one on the floor on his or her tummy with either a towel, a Bobby, or some other soft prop-up device (there are several of these types of things made specifically for tummy time). Then after another few months, baby can handle being on his or her own on the floor. But usually during the first four or five months they don't like to be stuck on their stomachs for too long. Usually about five to ten minutes is all most babies can handle.

Putting a prop-up mirror or some other toy in front of them on the blanket when they are on the floor is a great way to help them enjoy this time on their tummies. Eventually they will begin pushing themselves up farther and holding their heads up, at which point this position will usually become a little more enjoyable for babies.

But I encourage you all to take time to incorporate this into your little one's day, even from when they are first born. It is such a privilege to get to watch your baby develop from a tiny infant who can't even control his or her own arms and legs, into finally a little walking and one day talking toddler.