Tummy time for your baby

What is tummy time?

Tummy time, as the name suggests, is the time that your baby spends on their tummy when they are awake. It’s an excellent activity that has a lot of benefits for your baby’s health and development.

What are the benefits of tummy time?

— It helps avoid flattening of the back of your baby’s head.

— It helps your baby gain neck control & learn crucial movements such as lifting their head and turning over.

— It helps to build the muscles needed for sitting and crawling.

— It also helps strengthen their back, neck, arms, shoulder, and core muscles.

When to start tummy time?

You can start it as soon as your baby is born. As a newborn, you can help them lay on their stomach by placing your baby on your chest facing you or across your lap. This will help them get used to the position. However, be careful when you put your baby on their tummy. For example, if you lay them face down right after a feed, they may spit it up. It is highly important that you do tummy time always under supervision.

Source: NHS, Zyla Medical Team