The TummyTime!™ Method

• Select a TummyTime!™ spot in your home (stock a basket with blankets, burp rags, and fun toys like the Manhattan Skwish toy, the 4-inch Oball rattle, and a baby mirror).
•  It may be helpful to choose a spot on a carpet, area rug, yoga mat, or padded foam floor.
• Place a clean blanket on the floor and lay your baby on his or her back to begin.
• Engage your baby in back and forth interaction. Use eye contact, cooing, and make different facial expressions. You are playing first to warm your baby up for tummy time experiences.
• Be available for eye gaze as much of the time as possible.
• Slowly roll your baby from their back to their tummy.  It can be helpful to roll baby to his or her side first, and wait until it flows to roll into tummy time position.
• You can sing or talk, make gentle playful noises, offer a toy for looking at, etc, to keep baby engaged during TummyTime! ™. 
• It may be very helpful to lie down on your tummy with your baby.  This benefits both of you, the baby has his mom/dad close by and you get to spend some quality time with him or her.  Additionally, you will also reap the physiological benefits of TummyTime! ™ (see Benefits of TummyTime! ™)
• When your baby starts to communicate they are ready to transition out of tummy time, by vocalizations or movements/facial expression.  Gently tuck one arm underneath the chest and roll your baby to his or her side and then back.
• It is supportive and loving to pick your baby up, hug him or her, and give lots of encouragement by holding baby close to your heart.  Reassure your baby, “You did it!”  “Wow, you are amazing on your tummy!” etc.
• Then repeat for 5-15 minutes, depending upon your baby’s abilities.

TummyTime! ™ recommendations:

• Focus on QUALITY and quantity will happen easily
• 3-4 sessions per day
• 5-15 minutes per session to start
• Gradually build up the time

 

TummyTime! ™ recommendations based on age:

• Newborn-2 months old – spend a minimum of 30 minutes per day during awake periods
• 2-4 months old – spend a minimum of 45-90 minutes per day during awake periods
• 4-6 months old – spend a minimum of 1-2 hours per day during awake periods
• 6-8 months old – the majority of waking hours will be spent in tummy time or sitting/learning to sit.  Babies should learn to sit before they learn to stand.

Consider a one-on-one consultation if you notice any of the following during TummyTime! ™:

• Baby fusses or cries consistently during tummy time
• Baby arches his or her back consistently
• Baby has a difficulty turning his or her head side to side
• Baby is unable to touch their face or mouth with a hand while in tummy time
• Baby spends less than 10 minutes per day doing TummyTime! ™

The KEY TO SUCCESS with this Method is the repetition and consistency, which help baby's nervous system feels safe and supported.  

It's best to do the TummyTime! ™ Method everyday, several times a day to build rich brain connections.   This promotes spending time quality time playing together, as well as nurturing developmental and regulatory skills.

One-on-one sessions can be scheduled by texting 513 404 7786

What if baby fusses/cries during tummy time?

If your baby does not seem to like tummy time, don't stop offering this position.  This is a good time to figure out WHY your baby is uncomfortable lying on his or her tummy.   With the TT! Method we go into "problem solving" mode and figure out a way for baby to enjoy this vital developmental position.

What makes tummy time more difficult for some babies?
*  having a strong head preference to one side (or torticollis)
*  having head molding/flattening (plagiocephaly, brachycephaly, etc)
*  tethered oral tissues, such as  tongue/lip/buccal ties
*  lack of experience on tummy
*  sensitive to movement or sounds
*  tense neck or trunk
*  etc

There are many reasons for this, but to summarize briefly, the soft tissue structures require mobilization in tummy time, and this requires flexibility and optimization of tongue/throat and shoulder girdle musculature, areas which often are tight and restricted for these babies.
Babies, especially in the first twelve weeks of life (the fourth trimester), need your help regulating/calming themselves.  Babies are experiencing lots of sensory input from their body, the environment and from caregiving experiences, and this includes tummy time. 

This TummyTime! Method ensures that baby feels safe and ready to play in tummy time!
TummyTime! classes and private sessions are loaded with information to help you understand baby's needs and behaviors, especially when they do not seem to enjoy the experience.

Is it okay for a newborn to do TummyTime?   YES!   The gold standard is tummy time on a parent's chest (preferably skin to skin) for the first 3 weeks of extrauterine life.  After this, a blanket on the floor with a loving caregiver!4
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