Baby Hates Tummy Time: What Should I Do? – Serenity Kids

Baby Hates Tummy Time: What Should I Do?

Estimated time to read 4 minutes

During your baby's first appointment with their healthcare provider, you’ll likely start being asked questions about tummy time. While it may be evident that tummy time is important, it may not be clear exactly what it entails and why it’s so crucial for your little one. Paired with the fact that many parents find that their baby hates tummy time, it can leave you feeling confused and overwhelmed.

Just know that you aren’t alone. In fact, it’s extremely common for babies to hate tummy time, especially at first. This article explores the importance of tummy time and tips for making it a little more enjoyable for your little one…and you.

What is Tummy Time?

Tummy time refers to the time a baby spends in a prone position (on their tummies) while awake. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that babies be placed on their backs to sleep to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDs). With so much of their early days (and nights) spent on their back, tummy time is extremely important for a baby’s development.

Think of tummy time as your baby’s exercise.

Benefits of Tummy Time

While it may not be a favorite pastime among the baby community, there are many benefits associated with regular tummy time.

Some of these benefits include:

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How often should babies have tummy time?

It’s recommended to start tummy time within days of birth, starting with 2-3 times a day, each lasting 3-5 minutes. By the time they are 3 months old, aim for several sessions totaling at least 30-60 minutes a day.

Tummy time should only be done when your baby is awake and supervised. If your baby happens to fall asleep, simply roll them onto their back in a safe sleep environment.

Tips for encouraging tummy time

Unfortunately, nothing seems to bring on the tears quite like the dreaded tummy time. While it's common for babies to dislike tummy time—especially at first—there are several things you can do to help encourage your little one and make it a little more enjoyable for you both.

Start with short sessions and work your way up

With any new exercise routine, it’s recommended to start easy and work your way up—tummy time is no different. It’s not necessary that your baby jumps right into a 10-minute session. Start with shorter, more frequent sessions. As your baby builds strength and seems to enjoy it more—slowly add time to each session until your baby is able to do longer stretches at a time.

Entice your baby with toys

Distracting your little one may be the key to a tear-free session. Find one toy that your baby likes and set it aside as the “tummy time toy.”

Here are some popular toys for tummy time:

Join in on the fun

Why should your baby be the only one enjoying tummy time? Lie on the floor in front of your baby and recruit older siblings to do the same. You can distract your little one with funny faces or by singing a song.

Try alternate positions

Tummy time doesn’t have to just refer to spending time belly-down on the floor. Here are some other ways to incorporate tummy time into your baby's routine:

Don’t get discouraged

Babies can sense a parent’s emotions from an early age. If you’re feeling discouraged or frustrated, it’s likely they can sense it. It’s important to stick with it and keep trying to find what works best for you both.