Tummy Time For Newborn Baby And Safety Practices: A Guide For Parents

What is tummy time? When should you start tummy time? Can newborns also have tummy time? 

New parents, you’ve probably heard of the term ‘tummy time’ from your mum or dad friends. But do you know when to start or how to do tummy time? To help you become more informed about tummy time and why it’s important for your little tot, we’ve made the ultimate guide for safe practices and when you should start.

If you are about to bring your newborn home or have just done so, your doctor may have explained the importance of placing your little one down on his back to sleep. However, it’s equally important to ensure that your baby has supervised time lying on his stomach while he is awake.  This is what parents and newborn experts refer to as tummy time. 

What Is Tummy Time and Why Is It Important?

Adequate and regular tummy time helps your baby strengthen his neck muscles and upper body, which will, in turn, assist him in reaching important physical milestones such as sitting, crawling and walking in the later months, says rehabilitation trainer Mr Poh Ying Bing.

It’s also very likely that he will hit these physical milestones earlier than babies who do not spend any time, or little time on their tummies, as suggested by research.

Also, if your baby is always on his back, he may get a flat spot on his head (positional plagiocephaly). This is because an infant’s skull is still soft and is made up of several ‘movable’ plates, explains Dr Jay Hoeker of Mayo Clinic.

So, if your baby’s head remains in the same position for a long time, then these plates may move and mould together in a way that causes a flat spot.

While this is mostly a cosmetic issue which will eventually go away, the medical experts at WebMD point out that this also means your baby’s head, neck and shoulder muscles aren’t getting adequate exercise.

Another reason tummy time is important is that when your baby is on his belly, he has to look up and to the left and right to see what’s going on around him. This is very good for his eye muscles.

In a nutshell, here are some of the amazing benefits of this simple newborn workout:

• Super Strong Muscles: Tummy time helps your baby build strong muscles in their neck, shoulders, and upper body. All those mini push-ups pay off big time!

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• Stellar Motor Skills: While they’re lifting that tiny head, they’re also getting a crash course in motor skills. Tummy time boosts their coordination, setting them up for crawling and beyond.

• Flat Out Against Flat Head Syndrome: Tummy time gives their cute noggin a break from constant pressure, reducing the risk of flat spots on the back of their head. Double win!

• Eye Contact Extraordinaire: When they’re on their belly, they get a whole new view of the world. More face-to-face time with you means better bonding and brain development.

• Epic Independence: Learning to lift and turn their head helps babies gain confidence in their movements. Next thing you know, they’ll be exploring the world on their own two feet!

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When to Start Tummy Time

If you’re wondering what age to start tummy time for your baby, Dr Wendy Sinnathamby, a specialist in paediatrics and consultant at Raffles Children’s Centre, says you can start tummy time when baby is around six weeks old — ensuring all the while that you watch him very closely.

However, paediatric bodies such as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggest you can start tummy time for your baby from the day you bring him home.

Either way, it’s best to check with your baby’s paediatrician about the best age for your little one to start tummy time. Remember that every child is different, so there’s no need to panic immediately if your baby happens to be a bit slower in reaching this milestone. If there is a cause for concern, you can then seek help from a doctor.

Getting Started: How To Do Tummy Time

Choose a time when your baby is alert and awake. A good time is after a nap or diaper change. It is best to avoid tummy time immediately after a feed, as this may make him feel very uncomfortable.

Keep it simple. Place a mat or clean blanket on the floor and place your baby on his stomach on it. Start with sessions that are just 3 to 5 minutes long, two to three times a day.

According to the Mayo Clinic, you should aim to get at least 20 minutes of tummy time a day for your baby by the time he is three to four months old.

As you start tummy time, you may notice your baby’s head landing in an awkward ‘face-plant’ position more often than not. Don’t worry about this — but be alert as to when this happens so you can quickly encourage him to raise his head.

If he starts to cry after a minute or so, try to encourage him to stay on his tummy for just a few seconds longer by talking and singing to him, or interacting with him in other ways (we describe these on the next page).

But if you feel he’s really had enough, carry him and try again later.

How to Get Baby to Like Tummy Time

Now that you know when to start tummy time and how to do it, let us look at some ways to make it a pleasant bonding moment for you and your newborn. 

It’s very common for little ones to dislike tummy time immensely at the beginning. But even a few minutes of tummy time initially are better than nothing at all. It will give your bub the opportunity to strengthen and develop those muscles.

If tummy time is more torture than fun, though, give these tips and tricks a try:

• Change locations and the view he gets while on his tummy:  Try your bedroom in the morning and your living room in the evening. And if you seem to be placing him down with his head pointing in the same direction, turn him the other way so he gets a different ‘view’ of his surroundings.

• Do tummy time together: Lie down next to your sweet baby on your own tummy — either facing him or side-by-side, and coo and smile together.

• Massage: Who doesn’t like a good back rub? While your baby is on his tummy, gently rub his back and legs. You could even try out some baby foot reflexology while you’re at it!

• A new face: Have daddy get involved in tummy time too. Even an older sibling could get down on their tummy (of course, while being carefully supervised) and entertain your little one while he is on his tummy.

• A ring of toys: As your baby gets older, place some toys around him in a small circle. As he reaches for the toys, he’s also working on hand-eye coordination while strengthening his muscles.
• You’re the floor: Lie on your back and place baby on your chest. Coo and sing, which will encourage your baby to try to raise his head to see your face.
• More support: Roll up a thin blanket or towel and make a bolster out of it, which you can prop under your little one’s chest, while stretching his arms forward and over the bolster. Keep his mouth, chin and nose away from the roll.
• Weave it into other baby-related activities: Place your little one on his belly as you dry him after a bath, apply lotion or burp him while placed across your lap.

Newborn Tummy Time Safety Tips

• Never place him on a high surface for tummy time, where he is exposed to the risk of rolling or falling off. Stick to a low, solid surface instead. Your best option is the floor with your child placed on a mat or blanket.

• Always supervise and monitor closely. When his head drops, immediately try to encourage him to raise it. Otherwise, carry him and then try again. Never leave him with his face down on the ground, as this poses a suffocation risk.

• Never leave your baby alone with older siblings or pets.

• Ensure there are no small objects near him, especially as he grows older and more curious and starts popping things in his mouth.

• If you can see that your little one is getting drowsy, or he actually falls asleep while on his tummy, immediately turn him over onto his back for a nap. Letting a baby sleep on his tummy is strongly discouraged by paediatricians and health experts around the world, because this exposes him to the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

• If your helper, mother, mother-in-law or another carer will be helping to look after your little one, please inform them of the above safety tips, and why it’s so important to follow them carefully.

Here at theAsianparent Singapore, it’s important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn’t serve as an alternative for medical advice or medical treatment. theAsianparent Singapore is not responsible for those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend consulting your doctor for clearer information.