WHY TUMMY TIME?
- It helps a baby become strong. At birth, a baby’s whole body and head rest down. In the following weeks and months, they will start to lift his head, at first just a little. Eventually, this leads to rolling and crawling.
- It gives them the ability to feel gravity. In the therapy world, we call this proprioceptive input. One of the many things young babies are learning is where their body is. That is why at around 2 months you will see them examine their hand in the air, not exactly sure that what they are seeing is themselves.
- It works out the tightness. Being formed and born can be hard. It’s extremely common to be born with some muscular tightness and imbalances. Think of it as a massage of sorts.
- It is good for head shape. It works out the imbalances and gaining strength, so when baby goes to sleep on their back for 10-18 hours a day, they are less likely to have a preference for staying in one position.
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Graph is from a Harvard study on the core concepts of early childhood development.
While CKD is a believer in the benefits of tummy time, it’s important to note the fluidity and accommodation that a brain can have. There are some very intelligent, artistic, athletic humans that didn’t do much tummy time and never crawled.
- Offer your baby plenty of opportunity and encouragement over a period of months.
- Celebrate their progress. Some parents are growing oak trees while others are growing roses with the proper nutrients and experiences, each will thrive in their environments. Try to celebrate your baby and don’t compare them to others.