Our Family Chiropractor talks all things Tummy Time…
Mamas – you’ve probably heard of ‘tummy time’ – but what is it? And why is it so important?
In early life, our nervous system development is in full swing. The nervous system controls every function in our body – so we want to nourish this development and watch our little ones thrive!
One crucial thing we can do for our child’s nervous system is tummy time.
Tummy time is laying babies on their stomachs for some time while they are awake and supervised.
Tummy time can begin from birth – there’s no need to wait. As a general rule, you can introduce tummy time for a couple of minutes at each nappy change.
Some babies may not tolerate this position – so here’s what we recommend:
● Engage your baby by being on their level where they can see you
● Shake a rattle to encourage your baby to look up
● Place a toy in front of them to encourage reaching and forward movement.
From little things, big things grow
Tummy time helps babies develop strength and motor (movement) skills to reach, roll over, sit up, and crawl. These humble beginnings establish a foundation for walking and future skills.
Tummy time also promotes good head shape. But why is this important? The shape of a baby’s head is important because it can impact their development.
Plagiocephaly is the flattening of the side and back of the skull by external forces. Research demonstrates there is a relationship between plagiocephaly & developmental delay.
Tummy time helps strengthen the neck and shoulder muscles, allowing babies to move their heads to help prevent these flat spots. This head movement also provides incredible input into the nerve receptors and to the brainstem, which is responsible for motor and cognitive development & associated milestones.
If you notice that your baby is:
– favouring one side while sleeping or feeding,
– having difficulty turning in one direction,
– or suspect your baby may have a flat spot, we recommend you have them assessed by a health professional.
Our Family Chiropractor aims to improve nervous system health and spinal function for people of all ages. As mothers and chiropractors, we have a passion for natural healthcare and looking after the whole family. We provide safe, gentle and effective Chiropractic Care for babies, children, pregnant women, mums, dads, grandparents and athletes.
