Wellness Corner
Give tummy time to baby, help enhance development
When the baby is awake, placing him or her on tummy or belly for a short period with supervision is called tummy time. It is a significant contributor of physical development of the baby. While on tummy, baby lifts its head, which strengthens the development of strong head, neck and shoulder muscles and promote certain motor skills. Being able to control head better reduces your baby’s risk of sudden death (called SIDS). Spending time on tummy also helps your baby's head become round instead of developing flat spots on the back of her head (called positional plagiocephaly). Tummy time can begin right after birth. When you put your baby on tummy, always place on a smooth, flat surface with no loose items (toys, blankets, pillows) around, which might block its airway. Some babies initially resist tummy time because they do not have good control and find it hard to lift their heads. But the more practice your baby gets, the better s/he will like it. Usually there is no set amount of time but experts recommend for few minutes. As your baby gets used to tummy time, place your baby on his or her stomach more frequently or for longer periods of time. For a 3- to 4-month-old baby, some research suggests aiming for at least 20 minutes of tummy time a day. We should pick our baby up if s/he starts crying or fussing. Remember, however, to never leave your baby unattended during tummy time. If your baby becomes fussy or sleepy during tummy time, change his or her activity or place your baby to sleep on his or her back in the bed. The following are some tips for turning tummy time into playtime: * When the baby cannot support his/her own head at all, put on your chest tummy down. Or put her across your lap on stomach for burping. * Get on the floor with your baby. Make faces, talk to them, get a tummy time mat, and hold colorful toys or a rattle in front of them. * If the baby starts to fuss, divert its attention. Turn on its back, then blow raspberries on her tummy. Flip her onto her stomach and make the same raucous noises on her back.
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