How Long Should Newborns Spend on Their Tummies?

Experts agree that newborns should sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, but your child needs time on her tummy, too. Like everything that comes with parenting a newborn, tummy time is something you'll master soon enough. Just a few minutes a day can go a long way.

  1. The Reason for Tummy Time

    • Her delicate little legs, narrow shoulders and skinny arms will one day support her as she skips, climbs and runs all over the house. Spending time on her stomach, starting soon after birth, helps your baby strengthen the muscles she'll need for milestones such as sitting up and crawling. Tummy time aids in the development of a baby's head, neck and shoulder muscles, says Dr. Jay L. Hoecker of MayoClinic.com. Because your newborn spends much of her time sleeping on her back, tummy time gives her head a break from pressing against a mattress or your arm. These brief periods on her stomach can help prevent flat spots from forming on her still-soft skull, according to Hoecker.

    Tummy Time Length

    • You might be surprised to hear that tummy time can become a part of your daily routine only two or three days after birth. HealthyChildren suggests that your newborn spend time on her stomach starting the day she comes home from the hospital. Two or three times a day, place her on her tummy for a period of a few minutes at a time, according to the site. That's the goal, but a helpless newborn unused to tummy time might cry when placed in this position, and as a new parent your instinct will be to rescue her. If she doesn't seem to like tummy time, try laying her down for just a few seconds throughout the day. She'll soon get used to being on her belly.

    Tummy Time Dos

    • The simplest way to execute tummy time, at least for the first several days, is to lay a blanket across your lap and gently rest the baby across it. Try laying her down just after a feeding, when she should be content. Soon she'll be ready to lie on a blanket spread on the floor. Roll up a receiving blanket, suggests the March of Dimes, and place your baby so the blanket is underneath her chest and her arms are spread. Engage her by placing a toy in front of her or by lying down face-to-face so you can admire her cuteness.

    Tummy Time Don'ts

    • Though she might be more resilient than her tiny frame suggests, starting tummy time with your newborn still takes care. Don't place her on her belly if she has any medical conditions or had any complications at birth without first asking her pediatrician for permission. Don't position her so that her nose or mouth are at all blocked, and if you're placing her on the ground, never leave the room without assigning another adult to watch her. She can't do much right now, but falling objects and curious pets could still harm her. Don't force her to stay on her tummy if she's distressed. Scoop her up and soothe her, reminding yourself that you can always try again later.

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