Most new moms have probably head the rule about “back to sleep”. In the early 1990′s researchers found that putting infants to sleep on their backs reduced the risk of SIDS. Since the national Back to Sleep campaign the incidence of SIDS in the US has decreased by 40%.
What often gets left out in a discussion of back sleeping is the (literal) other side – “tummy to play”.
Tummy time has 2 main benefits. First, it keeps your baby from developing that goofy looking flat spot on the back of their head. While most flat spots or “plagiocephaly” will go away as the child spends more time sitting up, the American Academy of Pediatrics has noted an increased number of children with skull malformations. Second, tummy time helps your baby develop muscles in her head, neck and core that she will need to roll, crawl, and sit later on. A recent survey of occupational and physical therapists found an increased rate of motor delays in infants related to lack of tummy time.
Does your baby start screaming when you try to put her on her tummy?
You really can’t blame them – lying on your tummy and not being able to get up is frustrating at best. It does not, however, change the fact that it is extremely important. Try these tips to make tummy time more fun for both of you:
- Place favorite toys at different points in a circle around your baby. This gives him something to look at and encourages him to use different sets of muscles.
- Lie on your back and put your baby on your tummy – she’ll try to push herself up to look at your face.
- Try to do tummy time when your baby is feeling quiet but alert. To tired and he’ll won’t be in the mood, to active and he may get frustrated quickly.
- Put a rolled towel or other support under your baby’s shoulders to help her lift her head.
- Turn off the lights and shine a flashlight on the walls and ceiling – baby will be to intrigued to get mad!
The Academy of American Pediatrics recommends tummy time 3-5 times per day for increasing amounts of time (start with just a minute or two). Babies should start having tummy time as soon as they come home from the hospital unless your pediatrician says otherwise. Remember to always supervise your baby during tummy time.
For more information, check out these links:
http://www.aap.org/healthychildren/08fall/AskPediatrician.pdf
http://www.healthychildcare.org/pdf/SIDStummytime.pdf
http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=50825
