Have your heard of Tummy Time? It's important to help strengthen your baby's neck muscles

You may want to start thinking about tummy time after about 1-2 months at home with your newborn. You should now feel more comfortable taking care of them as far as their day to day needs so this might be a great time to start. This should not be confused with the sleeping position. Placing an infant on their tummy while sleeping can put them at risk for SIDS. Tummy time is an activity ONLY for when your baby is awake.

You can start sooner than 2 months but let's be honest, they are not going to try and lift their head on day one. So if your baby has not shown an interest of trying to do so and you place them on their belly, they are not having productive "tummy time", they are just laying face down.

It is important for your baby to have daily time on their tummy so that they can strengthen their neck muscles and learn to push up so that they can start to crawl and eventually pull themselves up to stand.

You should start with 2 or 3 minutes at first and ultimately work their way up to 10 to 20 minutes, two or three times a day. There are several ways that you can partake in this activity. Just be prepared that they may cry at first because it's new and umcomfortable.

Have patience. This is very hard work for them and their head is difficult to hold up at first but practicing daily will help them master it and they'll eventually come to enjoy this time of play. Also, placing several age appropriate toys within reach such as a rattle or stuffed animal will make it more exciting. Eventually when they get stronger and want to learn to move or crawl so you can place the toys just a bit out of reach and it will encourage them to move toward them to grab them.

* You can simply lay a receiving blanket or other comfortable blanket on the floor and place you baby on their tummy.

* You can also place a nursing pillow or "Boppy" on top of the blanket to prop their chest up and make it easier at first. This was my favorite! Their chin rested on the Boppy so that they could see what was going on!

* Another way is to lay on your back and place your baby on you so that you are belly to belly. This way, they can see you and you can talk or sing to them easily.

* Just remember, don't walk away from your baby, especially at first. Get down there with them on the floor and encourage them, talk with them and show them their toys.

Return from "Tummy Time" to NewbornHelpline.com Home Page