Tummy Time: What’s the Big Deal?
You probably heard your baby needs to do tummy time. However, you may be wondering, especially if your baby hates lying on her tummy, what’s the big deal? Does it matter if we just skip it?
Yes, it does. Here’s why.
The Back-to-Sleep Campaign
Infants who sleep on their tummy have a two-fold greater chance of suffering a crib death (aka Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS). In 1994, in an effort to reduce this, the National Institute of Child Health and Development, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the Health Resources and Services Administration, and SIDS groups collaborated to form the “Back-to-Sleep” Campaign.
The back-to-sleep campaign has been wildly successful and today most infants sleep on their backs. We have seen a decrease in crib deaths which was the impetus for the focus. However, as an unintended consequence, we now have more babies than ever developing flat spots on their heads. See my previous post.
In order to reduce the chance your baby develops a flat spot (positional plagiocephaly), I strongly encourage you to do tummy time with your baby.
Tips for Safe Tummy Time
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFO: Always supervise your baby. Be within arm’s length away and do not get distracted by electronics. It doesn’t take long for your baby to smother. Do not place her on plush or cushiony surfaces where fabric can block her nose or mouth.
Following the safety info above, here are some tips to get you started:
- Do some brief tummy time while your baby is lying on your chest. It often helps if you are in a semi-reclined position, such as reclining in a recliner with your baby on your chest. This position keeps your baby’s head higher than her hips and reduced her spitting up.
- Vary whether your baby is laying on your left shoulder or your right shoulder so she can practice turning her head in both directions. See more on this here.
- Try to do a few minutes of tummy time while your baby is awake in the morning, in the afternoon, and in the evening. You can build more time into your baby’s schedule as she gets older and has better head control.
In conclusion, your baby needs to spend some time on her tummy and, while she’s an infant and is prone to smothering, you must do this while she is awake and you are there and paying close attention.
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be delving into some other very important reasons your baby can not afford to skip tummy time. Don’t miss those important posts!
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(Photo from Pixabay)
