Contents:
- Medical Video: Tummy time exercises for your baby
- Why is teaching babies on their own stomach important?
- When should you start training prone babies?
- How to train prone babies who are safe and comfortable for your little one
Medical Video: Tummy time exercises for your baby
Seeing your little one grow and develop is the most precious moment for mothers. One of the activities that you should not miss during the development period is tummy time, that is when the baby starts practicing on his own stomach. Indeed, why do babies need to learn to lie flat? When should you start teaching baby prone? You can get all the answers through the following review.
Why is teaching babies on their own stomach important?
According to Lean Kridelbaugh, MD, a pediatrician at Children’s Medical Center of Dallas, tummy time is the right time to play and interact with babies.
Tummy time encourage your child to learn to lift his head slowly and gradually. In addition, this session is also useful for strengthening the head, neck, and shoulder muscles, as well as training the little one's motor skills. The more often the baby is prone, the motoric development will be faster.
Learning to lie down over time will accustom the baby to being able to roll over or turn his own body. From here, babies will begin to learn to be able to sit, crawl, and walk gradually.
Getting your baby on his stomach can also prevent the head of the baby while preventing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) which can be caused by sleeping too often on your back. For this reason, you cannot miss this one phase.
When should you start training prone babies?
The baby will naturally try to lift his head to see what's around him. However, the child has not been able to lift his head until he is 3 to 4 months old.
Reported from the page of The Bump, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) allows babies to lie on their stomach since the first day of return from the hospital. You can start by lying down on your baby's chest or thigh while making skin contact with your little one to strengthen the inner bond between mother and child.
Tummy time it should be done 2 to 3 times a day and each session lasts only 3 to 5 minutes. After your child gets used to it, you can do it more often or with a longer time, which is about 20 to 30 minutes a day when the baby starts to age 3 to 4 months.
But remember, keep an eye on your little one while on his stomach and watch the little one's movements. If your child shows uncomfortable movements, immediately return the baby's position to his back.
How to train prone babies who are safe and comfortable for your little one
Before training a prone baby, there are several things you need to prepare first. Prepare a soft or clean bedding or blanket so the baby feels comfortable. The best time to train a prone baby is every time you finish changing his diaper or when your child wakes up from a nap.
Spread the bedding or blanket that you have prepared on the floor, then lay your baby for three to five minutes. Here you are encouraged to invite your child to communicate or show his toys to practice his response and motor skills.
Your baby will try to lift his head to see your face and communicate with you. Especially when there are toys around it, this will provoke the muscles of the body to move according to the direction of the stimulant given. Thus, your child will learn to move or shift his body little by little.
It should be noted, you must keep an eye on your child while on his stomach. Pay attention to the response given, whether your child feels comfortable or not. If your child starts to show signs of discomfort, immediately return the baby's position to his back. The important thing is that you and your child must enjoy this phase well without having to force it.
