As soon as (and even before) your baby enters this world, your focus shifts to keeping them safe and healthy. Pediatric experts in the U.S. have shared many recommendations, among which, tummy time stands out.

Tummy time plays an important role in physical development. The connection between tummy time and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) isn’t immediately obvious, but there is a correlation between the two.

Tummy time can help your baby develop the skills and strength to move confidently and sleep safely as they grow. Let’s explore how this simple practice is crucial to your baby’s development and how it is connected to SIDS. 

What is tummy time?

Tummy time is your baby’s first form of exercise. It is a time during the day when your little one is awake and spending time on their tummy. Tummy time can help your baby develop motor, sensory, and visual skills. 

For example, when your baby is placed on their back, they can see what is above them or directly around them. However, when placed on their tummy, they can use their neck and shoulder muscles to lift their head and explore the world at eye level.

What is SIDS?

SIDS is the sudden and unexplained death of a healthy infant under the age of one. As most of these deaths happen while babies are asleep, they are also referred to as “sleep-related deaths.” Unfortunately, over 3,000 babies die annually in the United States from SIDS.

Additionally, while research is limited, there seems to be some correlation between infants who die from SIDS and other babies in the same family being at higher risk of succumbing to SIDS. Other factors that could pose a risk of SIDS include stomach sleeping, low birth weight, and preterm births.

Fortunately, following safe sleep practices can lower the risk of SIDS significantly. Here is a detailed list of safe sleep practices recommended by the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics).

How does tummy time support infant development?

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), babies need tummy time to grow and develop. It lists several benefits of tummy time, which are as follows:

• Tummy time helps strengthen your baby’s shoulders, neck, and arm muscles so they can start to crawl, sit up and walk.
• It enables babies to hone their motor skills by giving them the ability to move and control their muscles.
• It prevents the flattening of your baby’s head.
• Tummy time also helps prevent torticollis, the tightening of the neck muscles which causes babies to hold their heads in one position.

Does tummy time contribute to reducing SIDS?

While tummy time does not directly contribute to the reduction of SIDS, it is an important part of your child’s development that should not be overlooked. In the 90s, when the AAP recommended back-sleeping to prevent SIDS, there was an increase in developmental issues such as the ones listed above.

This was because parents assumed that babies needed to always be on their backs which led to a lack of motor development, flat head syndrome, torticollis, weak neck, shoulders, and arms, and a lack of head stability/mobility.

Therefore, while babies should always be placed on their backs to sleep, supervised tummy time while they are awake during the day is recommended.

When to start tummy time and how to do it

According to the NIH, babies can start tummy time a day or two after they are born. You can aim for two to three short tummy time sessions per day ( three to five minutes at a time). As your baby grows, you can lengthen the duration of tummy time (up to 15 to 30 minutes by two months of age).

To prepare your baby for tummy time:

• Try supervised tummy time after a nap or diaper change.
• Place a blanket on the floor for baby to lie on.
• Place a rolled-up towel under baby’s arms to help prop them up slightly.
• Set baby down on their tummy with a toy in front of them so they can interact with their environment and learn to play.

Remember, newborns can’t entirely hold their heads up for long periods, that’s why it is always important that tummy time should always be supervised.

Conclusion

As a parent, your baby’s safety and health will always be a top priority. While safe sleep practices to prevent SIDS are important, tummy time is equally important to physical development. While tummy time cannot prevent SIDS following safe sleep practices in tandem with tummy time will ensure your baby is sleeping well and developing both physically and mentally. So, embrace tummy time as a small, yet vital step toward a safer and healthier future for your little one.

Sources:

1. Tummy time. National Institutes of Health. Tummy Time for a Healthy Baby.
2. SIDS commons questions and concerns. American Academy of Pediatrics. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS): Common Questions & Concerns.
3. What is tummy time? Kids Health. Tummy Time.
4. Tummy time activities. American Academy of Pediatrics. 3 Tummy Time Activities to Try With Your Baby.
5. Why babies need tummy time. Stanford Medicine. Babies Need “Tummy Time.”
6. The importance of tummy time. Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Why Do Babies Need Tummy Time?