But regardless of your baby’s reaction, it is a crucial experience for healthy visual, motor, and sensory growth – and very necessary. Hence, it is vital to know the essentials and how to trick them into loving it.
Below are six common challenges parents face when introducing tummy play and possible tips your baby will love.
- At tummy time baby just lays there
In most cases, babies do not make any head control or limb movement when placed belly-down. This is usually nothing to worry about, as it is common with newborns and young infants new to tummy time. Using fun gears with creative activities is a great way to make tummy time a happy time for play and discovery – motivating them to hold their heads up and wiggle their little feet. Here’s one baby tool to make it fun-loving.
▪️ Boppy pillow
A boppy pillow is a classic and highly versatile nursing pillow, designed with 10% organic cotton plush and 90% polyester – a perfect tummy time prop. Using a boppy pillow for support during tummy time puts your little one in an incline position, making it easy for them to hold and lift their head for long periods. It also changes their sight-line, allowing them to touch or grasp something within their reach. So try placing some of their favorite toys or games within arm’s reach to encourage them to spend more time in this position.
Nevertheless, it is imperative to do it right. Spread a thick blanket, fluffy shawl, or soft quilt on the floor and place the pillow at the center. Lay your little one between the C-shaped opening with their tummy resting against the curvy part. But be cautious – younger infants have little head control; thus, they can lay face-flat on the boppy pillow, which can trigger suffocation.
2. Do I do tummy time on the bed or the floor?
When it comes to merging comfort with tummy time, deciding whether to place a baby on the floor or the bed is a common question from new moms; think about it, would you enjoy a workout session on the bed or the floor? While some parents recommend the floor for tummy play, as it helps with better balance and builds muscle strength faster.
Nonetheless, it is usually not a topic of worry. You can place your baby on the bed, but ensure she is in a safe position – not close to the edge. And if you choose to place your little one belly-down on the floor, make sure to either do it on a playmat or with a cushioned gear for extra comfort and to avoid harmful or painful head bumps.
3. Baby doesn’t use arms during tummy time.
Younger infants find it difficult to do half-lifts until they are strong enough to do little lifts with their head, generally between two to three months. After that, they’ll try to wave their arms, lift their torso, and push up onto their hands at six months. Different babies respond to tummy time differently and at different growth stages. However, if your baby throws a tantrum during tummy time and does not respond on their own, try to entertain or engage them.
Get on your belly and try to get them to follow your arm movement; this will excite them and get them to wiggle n’ waggle while on their belly. Don’t give up if this doesn’t work – you may need to play around with more tricks. Seeing your face might also help; sit in their front and hold your arms out for a hug; this might give them an incentive to lift their head and reach a few milestones.
However, pushing up requires constant practice. Keep trying new activities to trigger a happy response from your little one. Place a colorful toy above their heads, blow bubbles, clap your hands, shake a rattle bell, jiggle a rolling bell – your baby will definitely enjoy one of these.
4. Baby lifting bum while on tummy time.
Making progress with tummy time happens at several stages. Before your infant can do handed pushups, he’ll need to learn how to turn his head, do brief head lifts, keep his head high, stretch his legs, and put weight on his arms. These milestones naturally happen as he continues to practice and play in this position. If your little one lifts his bum instead of his head, it is most likely a precursor to crawling – completely normal.
He may start with little scoots, which only lasts a few instances. Some babies also do this to soothe themselves to sleep. If you observe this, try again a few minutes after awake time or 45 minutes after feeding, so they’re well-rested and watch what they do next. Nonetheless, bum-lifting is entirely normal and should not be a source of worry.
5. Baby getting worse at tummy time.
If, after several trials, your little one still hates being placed belly-down on the floor, it is not advisable to leave them crying. Try these alternative positions:
▪️ Burp him on your lap with his face down (laying on his belly).
▪️ Place your baby on your chest and lay on your back for a more soothing effect.
▪️ Try rolling your little one in-and-out of tummy time as a form of play technique.
▪️ Rock him back and forth in your arms while on his belly.
▪️ Help him place his hands on the floor, supported by his elbows in a comfortable position for early tummy play, and encourage him to lift and turn his head.
6. Baby stopped lifting head during tummy time.
One developmental red flag new parents complain about is unusual tummy time changes. At the beginning stages of initiating tummy play, some babies get the hang of it without any fuss, while some just grow into it. In a case where your baby stops lifting his head or suddenly refuses to do so, he may be getting bored, especially if you engage it frequently. One way to manage this is supervised tummy play. Raise a rattling toy above his head while he follows the sound; this serves as a form of distraction to engage head lifts and also tiny arm movements. Distracting them with age-appropriate auditory or visually stimulating toys can help trigger a positive response.
Conclusion
Tummy time prepares babies for interesting developmental stages. At three months, some infants can lift their heads; a month later, they might push up with their hands, and around nine months, many toddlers start crawling. However, different children attain these milestones at different stages, so it is important to watch them closely and encourage them to learn and grow.
Meta Description
Tummy time is an excellent exercise for upper body strengthening in babies. In most cases, infants do not make any head control or limb movement when placed belly-down… Why?… Here are six common issues new parents face during tummy time with possible solutions your baby will love.
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