Tummy time simply involves laying your baby on their tummies while they are awake. This exercise promotes strength and healthy development.

Babies that do not spend enough time on their tummies will often skip or delay developmental milestones. This can then lead to poor coordination, delayed language development, abnormal immune response, and muscle imbalances. Tummy time is the most natural and beneficial exercise to encourage infants proper growth.

You can begin tummy time once the umbilical connection has healed and the stump falls off. Around one and two months old, it’s normal to observe your baby being able to hold their head up. This should be comfortable for them and they should be able to raise their head approximately 45 degrees.

Tips to help make tummy time better for you and baby.

Attempt tummy time when your baby is well rested and fed, to avoid irritability and fussiness. Also, give them time to digest their milk, approximately 30-45 minutes post feeding, to avoid excessive spit up. We recommend starting slow, with 1 – 2 minute intervals throughout the day. From here you can gradually increase based on your baby’s comfort, happiness, and ease. Having your baby lay on your chest is another great method. Infants love being held and looking at your face, especially with skin to skin contact. You can also hold your baby across your thighs face down while you massage their back. Doing this can double as a soothing activity before nap time.

How does chiropractic care help?

To get the most out of your baby’s tummy time, be creative and try different ways to optimize their experience. Always supervise your baby, to ensure their safety. If your baby does not seem to enjoy tummy time, it could indicate stresses along their spine. These injuries could of occurred during birth or even changing a diaper due to improper lifting. These misalignments interfere with their nervous system ability to control normal postural muscles. Pediatric chiropractic care can address this concern with gentle adjustments.

Pediatric chiropractic care is essential in the development of a healthy child. It can help with developmental delays that may be present by relaxing muscle tone and restoring brain body communication. At Third Coast Chiropractic we love caring for babies from birth through every stage of development.

“It’s better to grow healthy kids

than to fix injured adults.”