Tummy Time - Is it really that important?
The simple answer is - Absolutely.
Tummy Time builds the foundation for the acquisition of all other motor skills. ⠀
Tummy Time:⠀
provides sensory experiences needed for visual, cognitive, language and motor development⠀
helps strengthen muscles ⠀
improves range of motion of your baby’s joints ⠀
prevents skull shape deformities (plagiocephaly, brachycephaly) and shortened neck muscles (torticollis)
Since the “Back to Sleep” (now "Safe to Sleep®") campaign was initiated in 1994 to combat and prevent SIDS, more and more infants seem to present with torticollis, plagiocephaly and delayed motor development**. Babies simply aren’t getting the opportunities to practice playing on their tummies or in an unrestricted environment. Parents are extremely fearful of SIDS (as they should be) and therefore fearful of putting their babies on their tummies AT ALL.
Baby products that keep your baby contained and entertained while we are pulled in a thousand other directions are also extremely well marketed. Our babies love them, so we keep using them and then before we know it our babies have been passed around from the swing, to the exersaucer, to the carseat, to the jumper and back to the swing again before they’ve ever had a chance to play on a flat surface. ⠀
⠀
This information is not meant to place any blame or guilt. I get it. I have been right there with all of you Mommas saying, “Hey, I needed a break." Or “I just had to pee.” Or “I needed to start dinner.” We are busier than ever before. Cultural expectations that we've set for ourselves are higher and more unrealistic than ever before. Mothers continue to lack support as they return to work or work from home or whatever the situation may be. So, naturally, we want to keep our babies happy and safe while we get a few things done or take a moment to just breathe.
⠀
It can feel so impossible, especially in the early weeks. We had a few “containers” (I personally really dislike that term but its trendy right now), however, Eloise never really tolerated any of them — even baby-wearing. It was exhausting. So I learned how to get creative with setting up safe spaces for her to play on the floor while I attempted to do anything else. ⠀
With the right tools and some consistency, peaceful and productive Tummy Time is possible and when it works, our babies absolutely thrive.
**Disclaimer: This website follows and recommends Safe Sleep practices as outlined by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Refer to this website’s Terms and Disclaimers for more information.
