Benefits of Tummy Time

What is Tummy Time?

Tummy time not only sounds cute, but for a newborn, it’s a wonderful developmental exercise. Infants and even newborns should be placed on their tummies while awake every day to strengthen their neck and shoulder muscles.

How Long Should Tummy Time Be?

At first, begin with just a minute or two. If your infant enjoys tummy time, they can stay on their tummies for 10 minutes or until they get bored or show signs of frustration. By the time they are 4-5 months of age, some infants prefer to hang out on their tummy to play. Remember, this is an awake-only activity.

Why is Tummy Time Important?

Just like certain yoga exercises for adults, tummy time encourages your baby to lift their own body weight (including the head, which is the heaviest part of the body). Tummy time has been shown to strengthen muscles in the neck, shoulders and back, which helps your baby make the next big steps: lifting the head, rolling over, and finally scooting along the floor and learning to crawl.

Tummy time has even been shown to reduce the incidence of SIDS, or sudden infant death syndrome. Play it safe. Lay your baby flat on a blanket, keep toys, pillows and blankets out of reach, and don’t ever leave your child alone.