Too often in practice does a mother tell me that her baby hates tummy time, and that its a stressful to try and enforce it stressful for both the baby and the mother. If your baby begins to cry as you introduce tummy time into their routine, it’s important to know that it is not because the baby is in pain or is uncomfortable. Generally, it is because the activity we are asking the baby to do is developmentally beyond their reach, a little like when we take up running for the first. When we start training , we may feel breathless a little un-eased. Once we repeat the activity over and over it becomes easier. This is the first step toward building the baby’s muscle tone in the arms, legs, neck, head and torso needed for crawling, walking and eventual reading and writing in the classroom. Tummy time can be hard work! Try and understand that eventually the baby will develop the strengthen and agility to continue, but just like our training it does take time and some babies need a little extra motivation. Along with increasing strength that assists certain milestones from being met, tummy time can help with future readying and cognitive development through 3 neurological pathways that are fired up as soon as the tummy hits the ground.
- Tummy time increases Sensory input to the brain. We now know that 0-6 year olds its sensory input that drives cognitive development. Thats why there is a push for playtime rather then learning time in the before 6 year olds. Sensory integration into the brain, sets the foundations for future learning. in a new born tummy time further increases this sensory input. what to enhance the sensory stimulation try and change up the surfaces. Use a blanket, mothers skin, grass, etc.
- Proprioception- Proprioception is a fancy word that really means body’s awareness in space. Its feedback from your muscles , joints and balance centres to the brain to tell your brain where your joints are and what steps need to be taken out with movement. An example of this is when lifting a pen the proprioception feed sends all the appreciate messages to the brain and then the brain signals the contraction of muscles , strength and movement that needs to be carried out by the body. if you have ever seen a toddler try to walk, their proprioception is still taking place thats why they are usually wobbly and clumsy!
- Vestibular function – another fancy word that means sense of movement. this is one of the most important reasons to provide tummy time, without the body having a sense of movement or a decrease sense of movement, it may struggle with reach milestones such as crawling, sitting and standing. this system really is whats makes moment nice and smooth.
Tummy time is crucial to your child’s cognitive, sensory and motor development. This simple activity, easily completed in approximately 20 minutes a day, is both beneficial, bonding and fun! don’t stress out if your baby cries and hates tummy time, just by having him on his tummy for 1 min twenty times a day is just as effective as lying for 20 minutes straight. with most babies now a days spend most of their time on their backs in prams, bouncers, car seats it is more important to provide tummy time for your little bubba’s developing brain.
there are a couple of other exercises that i often prescribe for the babies they may need a little extra help in the above systems they are however age appropriate that is why i haven’t added them in this email. if you are interested or feel that your child may need assistance and I haven’t already given them to you please ask me at your next adjustment!
Sandy Xx
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