TUMMY TIME - WHAT EVERY NEW PARENT SHOULD KNOW!

20/05/2020

Tummy time is just that—time that baby spends on his stomach while awake and supervised. Placing baby on his tummy encourages him to lift his head, which helps strengthen his head, neck and shoulder muscles and boost motor skills.

Here are some major benefits to tummy time:

Practice for other important milestones, such as rolling over, sitting upright and crawling
Boosts gross motor skills
Engages lesser-used muscle groups
Prevents plagiocephaly (aka flat head syndrome)
Helps baby master head control
Alleviates gas pain
Exposes baby to a different environment

When can I start giving my baby tummy time?

Your baby can start having a small amount of tummy time soon after he’s born. The earlier you start, the more quickly your baby will get used to being in that position.
Put your newborn baby on your stomach or chest while you’re awake and lying back on a chair, a bed, or the floor. Make yourself comfortable with a pillow behind your head and spend time talking to your baby and making lots of eye contact.
Try to give your baby some tummy time every day. Start with just a couple of minutes, two or three times a day, and gradually build up the amount of time your baby lies on his front.
It's a good idea to add a minute onto each tummy time session, every three or four days. If your baby gets tired or looks like he isn’t enjoying it, then stop.
Work up to around 40 minutes to 60 minutes of tummy time each day. It doesn’t have to be all at once – 6 sessions of 10 minutes counts too! If your baby loves tummy time and is happy to play on his front for longer, change his position regularly - about every 15 or 20 minutes.

WARNING!

Always supervise your baby's tummy time, and never put your baby onto his tummy while he’s asleep, even for short naps. Sleeping on his tummy may increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), though this is rare. Always put your baby down to sleep on his back.

bởi Super Admin
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