Many new parents may not be familiar with the concept of “tummy time.” Even though the name is silly, tummy time is very important for your baby’s physical development and coordination.

Basically, infants need to spend time on their stomachs to learn how to crawl and move. Unfortunately, most babies spend most of their time lying on their backs to prevent suffocation and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). To develop muscle strength, a baby must be allowed to roll over, sit up, and crawl.

What Are the Benefits from Tummy Time?

The main benefit lying on his or her chest gives to a baby is muscle development. The tummy is the natural position from which babies sit and crawl. Sitting and crawling will be the first exercise your baby gets.

A great way to think of tummy time is as exercise time for your baby. Just like everyone else, babies need to exercise regularly in order to stay in shape. That means you should give your baby some time on his or her tummy each day.

When Should Tummy Time Start?

Most pediatricians recommend that you should scheduling tummy time sometime in the baby’s first month. Some doctors even think it should start right after birth.

You should definitely ask your pediatrician when he or she thinks the baby should start spending time on his or her stomach. There are some cases when infants should not be placed on their stomachs until a doctor gives the go ahead.

Once you have your doctor’s permission, you should begin at once and try to schedule time on the tummy every day. The sooner you begin, the better your child’s physical development will be.

How Often and How Long Should Tummy Time Be?

There is no set opinion on the length or frequency for tummy time among pediatricians. Some of them recommend 10 to 15 minutes once a day.

The best advice is to schedule the practice at least once a day and leave the baby on his or her stomach as long as he or she is comfortable. You’ll know if the baby is uncomfortable when he or she starts crying or fussing. Generally, the times will lengthen as the baby gets stronger and more comfortable.

You may have to wait until the umbilical cord stem falls off and the cord stub heals. The area around the belly button can painful until it has healed. Watch the baby carefully during the first few times because an infant can easily suffocate, particularly if she or he falls asleep.

How to Do Tummy Time Right

You will want your baby to enjoy tummy time and to be comfortable during it. That’s why it is best not to schedule it after a meal; this can lead to upset stomachs and to a mess if the baby starts spitting up food.

Instead, try to schedule it an hour before or after meals. Pick a time when the baby is alert and in a good mood because a tired baby might fall asleep on her stomach. A good tip is to observe the infant and learn the time of day when or she is most active and alert.

Don’t do tummy time before bed, because it could stimulate the baby and keep him or her up all night. That is probably the last thing that you want.

Watch this video and learn the five essential tummy time moves to make tummy time right:

How to Make Tummy Time Fun

Tummy time should be fun because you want the baby to enjoy it and look forward to it. Here are a few tips for making the time really fun:

• Stay with the baby and participate in the time. For safety’s sake, never leave the baby alone. Young infants can suffocate, and older babies can crawl fairly long distances, sometimes into the street or other dangerous places. Talk to the baby, sing songs, make faces, or whatever else comes to your mind to make it more fun.
• Add toys as the baby gets older. You can put favorite toys like rattles or stuffed animals out for the baby to crawl to. Eventually, the baby might start grabbing them. Be careful though; toys can scare some babies.
• End tummy time the moment the baby stops having fun.
• Go online. There are many great videos full of tummy time activities and advice you can watch and many good articles on the subject.

What If the Baby Does Not Like Tummy Time?

Not every baby likes tummy time at first; some simply dislike it. Many babies will be very uncomfortable at first because they will have difficulty crawling and sitting up. This is normal. It is just like a workout for adults; many people get uncomfortable at first.

The best thing to do is watch the baby; if he or she is simply angry or irritable, that part is normal. Squawking can also be normal, especially in a more vocal or expressive baby. A healthy infant will get over this sooner or later.

Watch carefully and make sure the baby is not in pain. If the baby exhibits a lot of pain or weakness during tummy time or doesn’t get used to it, ask your pediatrician. There might be another problem that has to be dealt with.