Tips for Introducing Tummy Time
1. Keep it short
Try and aim to have tummy time for a few minutes a day but as soon as your baby starts to get restless or tearful, pick them up and give them a cuddle. Short bursts of tummy time prevent babies from thinking they are being punished or abandoned
2. Entertain them
If you can give tummy time a purpose, it not only distracts them but it helps them to see it as a fun activity. Try using colour changing lights or finger puppets which can be moved slowly across their eye line. As their neck strength grows, you can lift the objects higher, encouraging baby to follow it.
3. Prop them up
It can be daunting for a baby who is used to looking up at everything to suddenly be left with their face flat on the floor. Try putting a rolled up blanket or small cushion under their chest with their arms either out in front or to the sides. This lifts their body for them so that they only need to bring their head up themselves.
4. Flying Baby Yoga Pose
Yoga can be a great way of creating calm between you and baby and so this move helps to make baby feel safe and encourage them to stretch themselves. Sit on a soft surface with your knees bent. Hold baby against your shins with them facing you. Hold onto their arms. Roll backwards so that your shins are parallel to the ground. Bring Make sure that baby’s head is over your knees so that it is suspended as you bring your knees toward you. Baby can see your smiling face from this position and builds their trust in you as they feel weightless.
5. Hold them high
Tummy time is about increasing neck strength but this doesn’t have to happen when lying down. Try holding baby on your shoulder (as you would when burping them) and bring their head up higher than your shoulder so that they are no longer resting their head on you. They get a great view from there and wouldn’t even associate it with tummy time.
6. Tiger in the Tree
This yoga and massage pose is fantastic for easing things such as colic but can also be very useful in strengthening neck muscles. You lay baby over one of your arms, face down and then link your fingers underneath of them so that you make a bridge for them to lay on. Their arms should be loose either side of yours and their head should come up over the crook of your arm. Young babies will let their head hang to begin with but will lift their head as soon as there is any stimulation in the room. To use this as a massage, gently knead their tummy with your uppermost hand.
7. Make sure they are ready
If your baby is tired or hungry just before tummy time, it can make them more anxious and they may make negative associations with tummy time so choose a time when they are alert, well fed and relaxed.
