Tummy time is an essential activity that every mother should know about as it brings multiple benefits to your little angel. This prone position activity can be a fun and crucial moment to develop your baby’s motor skills. In this article, we will explain the benefits of tummy time for your baby’s development.
Firstly, tummy time is an effective way to increase your baby’s core strength. Your child will need a robust core when preparing for the activities like rolling over, crawling, sitting, and walking. During tummy time, your baby pushes his body upwards and pulls his knees downward to strengthen the shoulder, hip, abdominal, and back muscles.
Secondly, tummy time plays a vital role in strengthening your baby’s neck muscles. As your baby raises his head and rotates it in different directions, it helps with the development of neck muscles. This practice improves your baby’s muscle tone and stability, providing them with the foundation for reaching, grasping, and other upper body movements.
Thirdly, tummy time exercises can enhance your baby’s sensory abilities. When babies spend their time on their stomach, they come into contact with various textures around them, such as carpets, blankets, or floors. Thus, they can learn and understand different textures and stimulate their senses, such as touch and sight.
Fourthly, tummy time helps in preventing the flat head syndrome. This syndrome is a condition where a baby’s head flattens on one side because of prolonged pressure and laying on the same position. To prevent this condition, a baby must have ample time for tummy time exercises throughout the day, giving their head and skull enough time to develop without pressure.
Lastly, doing tummy time exercises with the right techniques will help your baby to develop their visual abilities. When your baby raises their head and sees things in front of them, this helps with their visual development. This technique will also help your baby develop the necessary hand-eye coordination and balance they will need when they start sitting and crawling.
In conclusion, it is essential to begin tummy time exercises with newborns, and parents must know the benefits of it for their baby’s development. We suggest starting gradually and increasing the time as your baby strengthens their muscles. It is ideal to do tummy time when your baby is awake and alert and has an empty stomach. Supervision is necessary, and always make sure your baby is safe, comfortable, and engaged during the activity.
