#tummytime #infants

Benefits of tummy time for infants!!

Tummy time can be simply defined as time which a baby spends lying on it's stomach over a soft flat surface. This surface can be a mother's lap for new borns or a cushion for older children.

This small activity is very important and helpful in growth and development of a baby and also sometimes helps soothe a crying child. It's a change from lying on ones back too. It helps a baby in achieving many milestones like steadying the head, turning, crawling, holding things etc.

Few benefits are:


1. It strengthens a babies neck muscles and improves head control and helps the baby steady it's head completely by the age of 2.5 to 3 months.

2. It helps in babies cognitive developmental i.e. allows the baby to develop recognition and relation with it's immediate environment.

3. It helps in strengthening the babies arms and hands which can later help in crawling and reaching for things and also forms hand arches which are important for holding things, turning the fingers to hold a spoon etc and also develops motor skills.

4. In babies, specially ones who suffer from colic it helps in improving digestion and soothes the tummy pain. It also helps bowel movements and gives relief in constipation.

5. Lying on the tummy allows the baby to balance and Stretch it's legs and bum, which is important for muscle development and later leads to timely sitting and crawling.

6. Tummy time also helps a babies back gain strength (babies in the womb are in limited space and thus their bodies are turned) and helps them straighen up while stretching to maintain a balance. This later helps in sitting and standing with support and also gives the baby a correct posture.


Things to remember when giving tummy time to your babies!!

1. For a full term healthy baby tummy time can be started as soon as one is back from the hospital. However you can also wait for things to settle for about 15 days and then start.

2. Never give tummy time when baby has just fed. Usually do it when baby is playful and at least half an hour has passed after feeding.

3. For small infants tummy time can be 2 to 3 times a day for 3-5 minutes while for kids above 3 months, it can be for 10-12 minutes two to three times a day.

4. Tummy time can be given to babies either safely on your lap or on a soft cushion or pillow which is not too thick. Please choose a surface that is flat. It can be done on a mat with thin mattress lying on the floor. Also try to caress the babies back while giving tummy time. This will help in digestion.

5. Tummy time is not always accepted well by infants and one has to struggle a lot as they cry their heart out. So, try to steal an opportunity of doing it when changing clothes or massaging. You can also engage the child through a rattle or toy.

So, mommies, motherhood is a journey where everyday there are new things to learn. Hope this information helps you in this.