Common myths about tummy time debunked!

Well, you heard about it…It's hard to miss…it's everywhere. Tummy time is important!!!

The “Back to Sleep” campaign has babies sleeping on their back. This has helped to greatly reduce the incidence of SIDS, however, many babies are spending way too much time on their back, and it is interfering with development and even leading to flat head syndrome. This is why there has been such a push to increase awareness of the importance of having your baby spend supervised time on their tummy. Tummy time is important for building neck, arm and trunk strength, eye-hand coordination, and spatial awareness. It can even help with digestion for a gassy baby.

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There are numerous benefits to giving your baby an opportunity to explore their environment on their tummy. Here are just a few myths debunked:

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MYTH: Tummy time is only for babies that have difficulty lifting their head. 

 FACT: Tummy time is important for all babies, even those who are able to lift their heads easily. It helps to strengthen the muscles in their neck, back, and arms, which are important for development.

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MYTH: Tummy time is only necessary for a short period of time each day.

 FACT: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies spend at least 30 minutes a day doing tummy time, spread out over the course of the day.

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MYTH: All babies hate tummy time.

FACT:  Often parents avoid tummy time because their baby cries whenever they are in this position. As parents, it's hard to watch your little one cry and struggle! While some babies may not enjoy tummy time at first, it is not painful for them, they are just trying something that is hard. Your baby actually just needs a little help learning to get comfortable, adjusting to a new position, staying calm, connecting with a loved one, and engaging in this strange, new view of the world. But all of this work is REALLY hard! With practice and patience, most babies will learn to tolerate and even enjoy tummy time.

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MYTH: Tummy time starts at 2 months.

‍ FACT: Tummy time can start from day one! You can position that sweet new baby right on your chest after feeding and begin gently stretching out those muscles and introduce tummy time in a gradual manner. Tummy time doesn’t always have to happen on the floor. 

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There are some simple ways to make tummy time more enjoyable:

• Keep tummy time brief, especially in the beginning when you're first introducing it. Over time you can gradually increase the time your baby spends on their tummy. 
• Encourage your baby to lift their head and reach for toys. This will help build their strength and work on eye-hand coordination that will eventually lead to crawling and more advanced play skills. 
• Encourage eye contact and social engagement by getting down on the floor with them and talking or singing. Have an older sibling help by having them also get down on the floor. 
• Tummy time doesn't have to happen on the floor! Lay your baby on your chest, on your knees, in a football hold, on a play mat or popped up on a nursing pillow.

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Click here for more ideas of floor time activities!

It's important to note that tummy time should always be supervised, and babies should never be left alone on their stomach. If you have concerns about your baby’s development or ability to tolerate tummy time, give us a call and let us help!

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