Tummy Time Tips & Tricks
Tummy time can be such a fun time, but it can also be an equally stressful time. Tummy time is important for development because it helps to strengthen baby’s neck, arm, and shoulder muscles. Building muscles will help your baby as they grow and learn to roll over, sit, crawl, and eventually walk. Tummy time can also help baby to build their motor skills.
Despite all of benefits of tummy time, many baby’s don’t like it. Especially when they are young. All three of my kids hated doing tummy time in the early days. They would scream and get frustrated when they couldn’t move or lift their head yet. I had to find ways to get creative and make it fun instead of a chore.
I wanted to share with you a few tips and tricks that were helpful for my kids during our tummy time journeys. I hope that by sharing they hopefully help someone else struggling with this phase.
1. Take Turns Between Tummy & Back
A big thing that helped for us was to switch back and forth between tummy time and then back time. We would have tummy time for awhile and when baby got too upset we would switch and do some back time. Then we’d take turns going back and forth for a little bit.
2. Lay Out Toys
Probably the biggest thing I’ve done for tummy time is to lay out toys within arms reach or in front of baby’s face. Having something to look at helps with distracting baby during tummy time so they aren’t laying there bored.
3. Interact with Baby
Talk, sing, and play with baby. Anything to help with distracting baby from their unhappiness while doing tummy time. Interact with them. Let them know they aren’t alone.
4. Use a Water Tummy Time Mat
Get a water mat. My third baby absolutely loved his water tummy time mat! You simply fill it with water and it has toys that move inside so baby can play and move the items in the water. It was a lifesaver with my youngest and I wish we’d had one with my older two.
5. Rotate Blankets & Mats
Use different blankets with colors and patterns underneath baby. And switch those blankets/mats out every so often to give baby something new to look at. Changing it up will help keep baby entertained with something new to look at.
6. Change the Location
And speaking of changing it up…try changing the location/room of where you do tummy time. If you always do it in the same room and same spot, try mixing it up with a different room or location.
7. Go Outside
And last but not least, take tummy time outside. There is something about fresh air and outside that baby’s just love (I know all of mine did). Try doing some tummy time outside to give your baby some new sights, smells, and sounds.
Bonus tip for encouraging crawling:Once baby is getting closer to crawling try putting toys, books, etc just outside of arms reach. This will help encourage movement for baby to reach for/try to get the toys.
I hope that these tips and tricks help make your tummy time journey a little bit smoother for you and baby! Do you have a tummy time tip that I didn’t mention? Let me know in the comments below!
