You’ve probably been encouraged by your Health Visitor to place your baby on their tummy several times throughout the day. During sensory time in our Baby Bugs classes, we might also help to facilitate this during the session.
But why is Tummy Time important and how can you help to make this an enjoyable and more comfortable experience for your baby when you come to Baby Bugs?
Tummy Time supports your baby in reaching important developmental milestones such as motor development, but research suggests that motor development is also associated with the development of early language skills. This is thought to be a result of the increased social interactions an infant will experience once they start crawling or walking.
Tummy Time helps to:
Strengthens neck and shoulder muscles. Helping babies to develop the strength in their neck and shoulders that they need to hold their heads up, roll over, sit up, and crawl.
Prevent flat head syndrome. Also known as positional plagiocephaly, a condition that occurs when a baby’s head becomes misshapen due to spending too much time in one position. Tummy time helps to evenly distribute pressure on the back of the head and prevent flat head syndrome.
Promote motor development. Tummy time helps babies develop their motor skills, such as reaching, grasping, and crawling. It also helps them to develop their coordination and balance.
Stimulate sensory development. Tummy time exposes babies to new sights, sounds, and smells. It also helps them to develop their tactile sense, as they explore their surroundings with their hands and feet.
Encourage bonding. Tummy time is a great opportunity for parents to bond with their babies. It’s a time for parents to talk to their babies, sing to them, and play with them and this can help to strengthen the parent-child bond.
We always recommend bringing a soft mat or blanket to class with you to ensure your babies comfort, and to avoid placing your baby on their tummy for at least 30 minutes after a feed.
But more importantly, if your baby isn’t enjoying tummy time during class, then please don’t worry. There are plenty of other ways in which you can enjoy spending time together during the session and we can’t wait to meet you and your baby in class soon.
