TOUCHPOSITIVE

The benefits of tummy time

The NHS recommends tummy time as a way to build muscles that your baby will eventually need for sitting and crawling.

By stretching and moving in the tummy-down position, your baby will strengthen their back, neck and shoulder muscles. They will also improve their general coordination as they get used to being in a different position.

This type of development - the ability to make big movements of the whole body - is often called gross motor skills.

When to start tummy time

You can start trying tummy time from birth. But to begin with, it’s best to try it with your baby lying on your chest, rather than on the floor, so that you can keep control of what they’re doing.

By having your baby on your chest, you’re able to give them a listen to the familiar sound of a heartbeat, which can help keep them relaxed and calm.

It's important to make sure that your baby does not get too hot so don’t use blankets over you both.

And make sure that you are wide awake. It's easy to feel sleepy while enjoying a lovely face to face cuddle, but falling asleep with your baby, especially on a sofa or armchair, can be dangerous.

When they’re ready, try moving them to the floor.

From around 3 months of age, if you find that your baby has difficulty lifting their head, you can roll up a towel and pop it under their armpits.