Do babies need tummy time? Part 1 - What is tummy time?

There are lot's of varying opinions on this topic, but here is my stance on it. Take or leave what you want. Babies need tummy time, and over the next couple of blogs I will share with you why they need tummy time. 

When I am discussing "tummy time", I don't just mean talking about putting our babies on their stomach, it isn't that simple. We need to open up discussions around tummy time being all encompassing for the overall handling over our babies.

It isn't just about getting someone to put their baby on their stomach for an hour (that is structurally inappropriate and potentially dangerous).

It is about educating parents on how to allow safe interactive head control at a rate that suits their child and in a position that suits their child (not all children suit a belly down on the floor activity).

It is about allowing neural connections that serve a child for a lifetime and set that child up for optimal total brain development. 

It is about taking pressure off the back of the head to help the natural expansion of the cranial bones to expand without being compromised.

 It is about helping eyesight development and coordination.

 It is about helping total gross motor skills develop.

 It is about creating awareness that interactive head control can be gained from many positions other than just tummy time. 

It is about ensuring the next generation don't continue down the rabbit hole of limited free play time, endless amounts of restriction in baby container's and a fear of putting a baby in any position other than on their back. 

It is about functional interactive head control and neuro-development support while ensuring the structural integrity of the child is supported and safe emotionally and physically. 

It is about education, empowerment and equipping parents and caregivers with a skill set that ensures their baby is getting what they need developmentally. 

Now, let's talk about the why: 

​30ish years ago the much needed back to sleep campaign was rolled out. As hoped it had the desired impact & has saved lives. We stand by these guidelines today. However, we couldn't anticipate that the back to sleep campaign would create a generational over interpretation of the back to sleep guidelines. "Never put your baby on their stomach to sleep" has been over interpreted to "never put your baby on their stomach ever". This over interpretation combined with an increase in baby container use and a decrease of free play on the floor has changed how our infants are being handled and is changing their development and structure.

More on what this change in handling actually means for the development of our children according to evidence based research in the next blog!

Stay tuned!