What is Tummy Time?
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the safest position for your baby for sleeping is on her back. This recommendation was put into effect in 1994 and as a result, the incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) has decreased by as much as 40 percent. With babies spending more time on their backs, pediatricians have noted an increase in cranial asymmetry, or misshapen heads. Babies’ skulls are still somewhat soft, and constant back positioning with no break can sometimes cause a flattening effect on the back of the head. Tummy time literally gets babies off their backs. It provides a break for the occipital area, or back of their heads, and gives babies a chance to strengthen their neck muscles to prepare them for crawling. It also helps them to get ready to push up, roll over, sit up, and eventually stand. The Benefits of Tummy Time Tummy time helps with both fine and gross motor development: • Once on their tummies, babies tend to kick and flail, working their
