Becoming parents is a delightful feeling where both the parents and the family members wait for their baby’s arrival for a long time, but when a baby is born, here comes the real twist where the parents have to face the real challenges along with the baby. It involves various problems that babies face after being born. The major issue that babies face is tummy pain due to lack of physical activity. But new mommies, don’t worry; here is a complete guide that you can follow to help your baby stay active so that you can have a great time with the babies. First of all, let’s understand what tummy time is.
What is tummy time?
Tummy time is the same as it sounds like. It's an activity in which baby is placed on their tummy when they are awake. The activity is done under the supervision of a caregiver. This activity is considered necessary as it helps to simultaneously strengthen babies' neck muscles and cognitive development. It also helps to avoid sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
When can you start tummy time with your baby?
You can start tummy time as soon as you feel right. In the beginning, you should start by giving 2 mins at different intervals in a day, and gradually, you can increase the time to 5 min to 10 minutes in some time when the baby gets used to it. There are several ways to make it more fun and make this thing interactive with your newborn. You can also get down with the baby to make it better for bonding.
Benefits of tummy time
- The baby becomes more interactive.
- Babies learn how to support their head.
- It reduces the chances of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
- It helps in making the muscles strong.
- It helps in cognitive development in babies.
Issues that may come when tummy time is not done
- The baby may not be able to gather better upper back strength.
- Improper head stability will lead to a lack of proper coordination.
- Torticollis is the issue in which the muscles on one side of the neck get tightened, which can cause strain on other neck muscles.
- If a baby stays in the same position for a longer time, then the head of the baby may become flat instead of round.
How to make tummy time fun
- Lie down along with the baby to make it a more engaging, fun activity.
- You can add toys to make it more fun.
- If the baby becomes fussy, try to distract him with funny sounds or activities.
- Talk to your baby while doing tummy time.
Conclusion
Tummy time is an important activity to be followed in a baby’s daily routine. It helps in the development of the baby. While doing tummy time, try to be patient, as every child is different. If your baby has issues, consult your pediatrician to know why.
Shop for the Best Baby Care Products
