It’s Tummy Time!

Playing with your baby while he’s on his belly is a fun way to bond, but there are other important benefits, too. Your little one sleeps on his back all night, so he needs some quality time on his tummy during the day to strengthen his neck muscles and upper body. This prepares him for many milestones to come: lifting his head, pushing up, rolling over, sitting up, crawling, and eventually walking!

When to Begin

You can start to put baby on his belly as soon as you bring him home from the hospital. Simply lay him face down while he’s awake a few times a day, for a few minutes at a time. A good moment to do this: after a diaper change, or after waking up from a nap. Keep increasing the amount of time as he begins to enjoy being on his tummy. By the time he’s a few months old and has better head and neck control, you’ll want to aim for 30 minutes of tummy time a day. (This doesn’t have to happen all at once! Break it up into several sessions a day if you like.)

Belly Basics

Playing with your baby during tummy time is a great way to strengthen your bond. While he’s on his belly, give him your full attention, and enjoy the one-on-one time together. Some fun ideas:

·        Lay baby on your chest. Lie on your back and place baby on your chest. Looking towards him, make funny noises and expressions so he’ll lift his head and try to push forward towards your face.

·        Get down on the floor with him. Lay head-to-head with baby, propping yourself up on your forearms. Start talking or singing to him. This will encourage him to lift his head to find out where your voice is coming from.

·        Grab a mirror. He loves to study faces, so put a baby-safe mirror in front of him while he’s on his belly. Then slowly move it side to side and up and down so he’ll follow his own image.

·        Use an exercise ball. Place baby’s tummy on top of the ball. While holding on to his back for support, slowly roll the ball back and forth.

·        Tempt him with toys. Place a brightly colored toy just out of baby’s reach in a variety of places—directly in front of him, to his right, to his left—so he can try to reach for it.

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