During waking hours, tummy time is essential. Experts find that babies
who don't spend time face-down often have some delays in their development
of motor skills. "The experience of being on their tummy helps babies
learn to push up, roll over, sit up, crawl, and pull to a stand."
Until 1994, when the AAP started urging parents to put babies to sleep on their
back, most babies slept on their tummy and were used to being in that position.
But today, most babies are much more comfy on their back. […] So if your
baby seems miserable [on his tummy], it's no wonder. Not only is it unfamiliar,
it's physically uncomfortable. It's hard work for your baby to keep his head
up when he's on his tummy, and he can't see much of anything down there. He
may even feel abandoned.
One mom-tested strategy is to distract your baby from the unfamiliar feeling
of being face-down until he gets used to it. The best thing you can do, says
Glassy, is join your baby on the floor. Encourage him, talk with him, shake
his rattle, make funny faces, play peekaboo. He might even enjoy watching you
do your leg lifts or crunches (he's working hard after all). Another option
is to lay your baby tummy-down on your tummy, either on the floor, in a recliner,
or even in the bath.
Once your baby has sufficient head control — around age 4 months — you
can play airplane: Lie on the floor and bend your legs. Put your baby's tummy
against your legs, his head at your knees. Then bend your legs while holding
on to him firmly. He'll probably love the new view. You might also put him
on the bed, near the edge, and sit on the floor with your face next to his.
He might appreciate the softer surface, and you can easily interact with him
in this position.
Prop a board book open in front of your baby, or place a favorite toy within
reach. Invest in a tummy-time toy or gym, designed especially for babies to
play with while on their belly. Some have lights, mirrors, moving pictures,
music and/or squeaky toys attached. Or place him on a colorful quilt or an
activity mat designed just for babies. Some mats have prop-up toys or mirrors,
and others are filled with water, for added fun. Take your baby's socks off
so he can get good traction on the mat.
Some parents find that giving their baby a new perspective — by propping
him on a rolled towel or nursing pillow, for example — makes all the
difference. If your child has some neck strength and head control (by age 3
or 4 months) but can't get up on his forearms, simply place the towel or pillow
under his chest and armpits, with his arms in front of it. (If he tends to
roll forward, keep your hand on his bottom.) When he can get up on his forearms
independently, remove the pillow and let him work on his motor skills without
it.
Try to figure out if there's anything in particular about tummy time that your
baby finds distressing. Maybe his blankie gets too scrunched under him for
comfort (and that shag carpet is downright scary). Maybe it's too cold on the
floor, or too slippery. One mom found that her baby liked tummy time as long
as his fists were out from under him so he could suck on them. Another discovered
that her baby was just fine on his tummy — as long as he was bare-butt!
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