Most mums are made aware at some point in their pregnancy or early on in their babies’ life that tummy time is integral to baby’s development. But what exactly is it and why is it so important?
What is tummy time?
Tummy time simply means placing your baby on their stomach to play. Babies can start practising tummy time from birth and it’s recommended that they have about 15 minutes of tummy time in total each day, which can be built up over time as baby grows. This could be split across two to three sessions if necessary. It is recommended to start by putting your baby stomach-down across your chest or lap to help them get used to the position.
Why is tummy time so important?
Tummy time has a great deal of benefits for your baby’s development:
- Strengthens back, neck and shoulder muscles
- Helps baby begin to lift their head
- Aids baby in meeting important milestones such as sitting up, rolling over, crawling and walking
- Improves your baby’s motor skills
- Can help to prevent flat spots on the back of your baby’s head
- Laying down next to your little ones during tummy time can strengthen their attachment and early bonding skills
How to do Tummy Time
Clear a small area on the floor and place your baby on their stomach on a play mat, gym, or towel.
My baby hates tummy time!
Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Babies can react differently to being placed on their stomach – some enjoy it, whilst others seem to hate it (and will bawl angrily to let you know!). This is totally normal, and whilst it can be stressful, there are ways that you can help baby start to enjoy tummy time.
Here at Halilit, our range of developmental baby toys from Taf Toys includes a number of innovative tummy time aids that can be used from birth to encourage your baby to enjoy their tummy time practice.
Developmental Pillow
The Developmental Pillow features a unique ergonomic design that supports baby’s chest whilst allowing free movement of the arms, head and neck, helping with muscle development and making tummy time that little bit easier. It even includes a detachable rattle and teether to play with and develop motor skills and hand-eye co-ordination.
Blogger Sophie said of the pillow “Hugo seems really comfortable on the Developmental Pillow, and he will happily stay on it playing and looking around without becoming frustrated or restless. I had previously found that if I just put him on his front for tummy time, he would get fussy quite quickly and want to roll onto his back. I like the soft fabric and bright colours they are engaging and exciting which adds to Hugo’s enjoyment.”
Kimmy Koala Tummy Time Book and 2 in 1 Tummy Time Pillow
The Taf Toys Koala Daydream Collection won the Best Infant Development Range at the Progressive Preschool Awards 2019 thanks to the excellent range of development toys in the collection. This includes two unique tummy time aids - the Kimmy Koala Tummy Time Book and the 2 in 1 Tummy Time Pillow.
The Tummy Time Book features a plethora of fun activities for your baby to explore, with bright and colourful illustrations for older babies and high contrast imagery to delight the developing eyes of younger babies.
The fantastic 2 in 1 Tummy Time Pillow is a unique tummy time aid, with both a smaller and larger pillow to suit different developmental stages. It's also perfect for play dates or baby groups!
