5 Tips to Make Tummy Time Fun

5 Tips for Tummy Time Fun

By: Heather Van Mil

Tummy Time Tips

As many parents know, tummy time is a very important part of your baby’s development, but do you know why?

As Leslie Farrar from Leap! Therapy for Kids explains,

“Tummy time is extremely important for infants as it helps with many aspects of infant development.  Tummy time helps to develop improved strength in the neck, back and shoulder muscles, which will help infants learn to sit and to move.

Tummy time is also important to help prevent flattening of the head and tightening of the neck muscles on one side [torticollis], which can happen if infants spend too much time in one position on their back.

Encouraging your child to lay on their tummy can help to improve muscular balance and strength, among other things. There are many ways to help little ones to be comfortable and enjoy being on their tummy, so if they are resisting, seek some help. Time between parents and their infants should be an enjoyable and positive experience.”

My baby resists tummy time, help!

Are you wondering what to do if your little one resists tummy time? Check this out.

Let your baby explore on the floor

Put away the swing, the exersaucer, the bouncy seat, the carrier and the stroller – at least for a bit. Often babies won’t like tummy time if they are used to being contained.

Provide distractions

Engaging your baby in play with a favourite toy will help them forget that they’re doing something they don’t like. My favourite is a mirror laid flat on the floor with colourful balls rolling by or a flashlight shining on the floor in a darkened room.

Get down with them

Not only will you be leading by doing, you will be engaging them, face to face, on their level. Sing a song or make silly faces – after all, you are your baby’s favourite toy.

Repetition is key

Just minutes a few times a day is great. As Leslie mentioned, you want your time with your baby to be enjoyable and positive, so wrap up your tummy time when they have had enough, but don’t let that discourage you from trying again later. Every little bit helps.

Find a friend

Babies are endlessly fascinated with each other and learn so much from observation. Get together with a friend or join a Mom and Baby class where group tummy time is featured. It will not only motivate your baby, but help encourage you too!

Heather van Mil is the General Manager at Gymboree Play & Music by day and Freelance Writer and Blogger at www.lifeloveandthepursuitofplay.com by night. Somewhere in between she is also a wife and momma to 2 beautiful girls who frequently inspire the content on her Facebook, Twitter and too many other social media feeds to count! 

10 Comments

  1. 1

    Wow! What perfect timing. My sister is due in 2 weeks, and this gave me the refresher I needed. My guy is 2 now, so been a while since we needed tummy time around here.

  2. 3

    Oh, I remember this! Neither of my babies liked tummy time no matter what, but getting on the floor with them definitely helped. I like the idea of tandem tummy time – I bet that would make a big difference!

    • 4

      It’s funny how some babies are against it right from the get go! I’ve never met a baby yet that can resist mom’s smiling face in the tummy time mirror though – for a fee seconds at least!

  3. 5

    Man, I remember my monkey’s sad little furrowed brow and grunts when I diligently did tummy time. If she lasted 2 minutes it was a roaring success. Great tips I will share with my new mama buddies. Xoxo

  4. 7
  5. 9

    My twins are 4 1/2 now and this phase seems so long ago. I have a hard time remembering what they did. I know we had a for-baby mirror with photo on the other side that they could look at, fun toys to handle and books that we stood up. I also had nice quilts and blankets that had been made for them.

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