Expert Overview On Tummy Time For Babies: How, When, And Why To Start

Is it really that important or is it just overrated? Let’s find out.

Are you a new parent struggling to incorporate tummy time into your baby's daily routine? If yes, this blog is everything you need to get started. Tummy time refers to the span of time during the day when you make your baby lie down on their stomach while they are awake and active. It is relatively new so if you are thinking of depending on your parents for any advice related to this, there are chances that it might be new to them as well. 

When & Why The Concept Of Tummy Time Introduced?

As I was working on this article, I couldn't help but wonder, “Who introduced tummy time and why?” Well, it has a very interesting history. 

Babies Should Always Be Put To Sleep On Their Backs

Safe To Sleep CamIn 1994, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) launched the ‘Back To Sleep’ (renamed, ‘Safe To Sleep’ in 2012) campaign to tackle the increasing cases of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS, which refers to the sudden and unexplained death of babies who were less than a year old. The campaign recommended parents make their babies sleep on their backs (supine position) instead of their tummies (prone position). 

As per the Indian Academy Of Pediatrics, “All babies should be put to sleep on their backs but let them find their own sleep position if they roll over during the night. Back to sleep is the safest position for healthy babies.”

While the initiative significantly lowered the incidences of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, it was hard to overlook the downsides. 

Introduction Of Supervised Tummy Time For Awake Babies

Making the babies sleep solely in the supine position led to the development of flat spots on the backside of their skulls and hindered their motor development. 

A study published in 1997, A Motor Milestone Change Noted With A Change In Sleep Position suggested that “Sleep position significantly influences the age of achieving the gross motor developmental milestone of rolling over; infants who sleep in the side or supine position roll over later than infants who sleep in the prone position.”

Another study published in 1998, ‘Effects Of Sleep Position On Infant Motor Development’ concluded that “The pattern of early motor development is affected by sleep position. Prone sleepers attain several motor milestones earlier than supine sleepers.”

Ultimately, to tackle this problem, AAP introduced the concept of supervised Tummy Time for babies when they are awake. 

So basically, while it is crucial to make your baby sleep on their back to alleviate the risks of SIDS, it is equally important to make sure that they are getting enough tummy time when they are awake to support their motor development and alleviate the risks of head structure abnormalities. It’s all about maintaining a balance. 

When To Start Tummy Time For A Baby?

“There is no standard recommendation to vary according to age. 30 min per day until 1 year is the IAP guidelines. But timing can be initially 5 min per day and it can be increased by 5 min every month” shared expert Paediatrician, Dr. Nida Asif

The earlier you start the better it is. The Indian Academy Of Pediatrics recommends at least 30 minutes of daily tummy time from birth till the baby is one year old. Even the American Academy Of Pediatrics suggests that “You can start the day your baby gets home from the hospital.” 

However, it is important to understand that this position is completely new for your baby and it is normal for them to be fussy at first. While facing the resistance, just remember, patience is the key and you need to take small steps to help them adjust. You can start with chest-to-chest tummy time by placing your baby on your chest while facing towards you. Gradually, they will get used to it. This is one of the best tips to start tummy time. 

Tummy Time After Birth

You might be surprised to know that you can expose your baby to tummy time even before the umbilical cord has fallen off. When you are in a reclined position, you can place your baby on your chest or stomach. This is a perfect opportunity for you to interact with your baby and encourage eye contact. 

Lap Time

Another way to initiate tummy time is by positioning your baby across your lap, face-down. Just make sure that their head is well aligned with their body. It is quite possible that your baby may fall asleep this way. In such cases, put them in the bed, lying on their back. To soothe your baby during lap time, you can try to gently move your legs in a rhythmic motion. 

How Much Tummy Time Is Good For The Baby?

You can start with two to three short sessions of tummy time for infants, each of roughly three to five minutes. As your baby grows, you can increase the number of sessions as well as the time for each session. By the time your baby is two months old, they should be getting 5 to 30 minutes of total tummy time daily. 

“Increase the duration as the baby grows, starting with 1-2 minutes and building up to 20-30 minutes per day.” - Dr. Janardhan Reddy

What Are The Benefits Of Tummy Time?

The fact that IAP and AAP recommend tummy time for babies in itself is proof of how important it is. Leading Paediatrician, Dr. Janardhan Reddy suggests “Tummy time helps develop motor skills and strengthens neck, shoulder, and arm muscles.”

Some known benefits of tummy time include:

• It helps to build your baby's upper body strength by supporting the development of their core muscles, to help them achieve milestones like sitting up, crawling, and walking.

• It helps to engage the muscle groups that are not otherwise used much.

• It helps your baby to gain control of their neck and head movement.

• It can aid in the development of your baby’s vestibular sense, i.e. movement and balance.

• It helps your child to develop a better sense of their body by allowing them to shift their weight on their arms. 

• It might help to reduce pain caused by gas build-up which is quite common in babies. 

• It helps them to practise and prepare for crucial developmental milestones like crawling, rolling over, and sitting upright. 

• It helps to enhance the baby’s motor skills allowing them to control their muscles and perform different actions. 

• It helps to lower the risks of developing flat spots that result from exclusively sleeping on the back.

Is Side-Lying An Alternative To Tummy Time?

If your baby does not like being on their tummy, you can instead make them lie on their side. It is a great alternative. You can roll a blanket or a towel and keep it behind their back for support. If you feel that your baby’s head needs support, use a small, clean, and dry washcloth for that. Just make sure that your baby’s arms are in the front. Try bending their knees a little to offer better support and comfort. Also, make sure you change your baby’s position every 10 to 15 minutes and make them lie on both sides. 

Tummy time tips and activities to do with your baby

Tummy time is a great time to make your baby playfully indulge in activities that could support their overall development and growth. When you are introducing something new to your baby, the best way to do it is by making it interesting and fun. The same goes for tummy time too. Here are some tummy time tips that can help to make the experience better for your baby.

• Make your baby reach out for you or a toy. You can do it by sitting at a small distance from your bay or by placing their favourite toy there.

• Encourage your baby to crawl or scoot by changing the position of the toy in a circular path around them. 

• Dress up your baby in light clothes, allowing them to stretch and move to their full capacity. You can go for onesies or bodysuits. If the room temperature is warm enough, you can make your baby do it in a diaper.

• Introduce your baby to new textures by making them do it on different surfaces like mats, blankets, clean floors, and so on. While doing so, make sure that the surface is clean and properly sanitised. 

• You can use an inflatable water mat to make it interesting for your little one. 

• Place an unbreakable mirror in front of your baby and let them see their own reflection. 

• Distract your baby by singing to them or talking to them. The idea is to engage them mentally.

• Lie down on the floor with your baby and make eye contact. 

Tummy Time Precautions 

“There are no side effects of tummy time, however, there can be complications like SIDS if the baby is left unattended. There can be injury to the face or head if the neck control is not yet complete. And positional torticollis is another thing which can happen if the baby is left only in one position. All these are rare but possible”, shared Dr. Nida.

There are a few things that you need to keep in mind to ensure that your baby’s tummy time sessions are smooth, safe and hassle-free.

• Avoid tummy time right after you have fed your baby. This can put pressure on their tummy and cause them to throw up.

• Avoid tummy time when your baby is sleepy as this puts them at a risk of falling asleep on their tummy. 

• During tummy time, make sure there is always an adult to supervise your baby. 

• Plan tummy time after changing your baby’s diaper or after giving them a bath as they are very alert. 

• If your baby falls asleep during tummy time, immediately place them on their back. 

Tummy Time Milestones In Babies: Month-Wise

With passing time, you will notice some changes and witness your baby making progress during the tummy time. 

• At 2 weeks, your main goal is to prepare your baby for tummy time on the floor, so you can start with tummy-to-tummy or chest-to-chest technique. Lap position is also ideal and it can also help to make your little one burp. Try to make eye contact with the baby.

• At 1 month, your baby might be able to turn their head and may even attempt to lift their head even if it's for a second. You can accompany your baby by lying on the floor with them and making eye contact. 

• At 2 months, your baby will have adapted to tummy time to some extent and will be less cranky. If your baby has started tilting their head, make sure they do it in both directions, to alleviate the risks of positional torticollis. 

• At 3 months, your baby is able to adjust some weight on their arms, with their elbows still behind their shoulders. Your baby’s neck muscles are stronger, making them capable of lifting their head up. Your baby should have a total of nearly 1 hour of tummy time on a daily basis. They will also try to track moving objects with their eyes. 

• At 4 months, your baby will have even better control over their neck muscles and be able to lift their head up to 90 degrees. Your baby will try to push themselves off the floor on their forearms. At this stage, their elbows and shoulders align. They will move their head in response to any voice or movement around them. 

• At 5 months, your baby will be able to push themselves off the floor on their hands, with their arms straight. They may also try to reach out to you or their favourite toys. You can offer support by gently placing your hand below their torso while they are pushing themselves up. 

• At 6 months, your baby won’t be solely dependent on you for it as they are able to self-direct their tummy time. They enjoy the process and even reach out to grab you or their toys. They can even move in circular motions on their stomach and roll from their tummy to their back and vice-versa. 

When Should Tummy Time Be Stopped?

You can stop it as soon as your baby starts crawling, which usually happens when they are around 7 to 8 months old. This is because they get similar benefits while moving now. Though tummy time is not mandatory at this stage, it is advisable to continue it up till your baby is a year old.

If you have any questions related to tummy time, you can connect with our specialists for their expert advice.