Tummy Time (“tempo a pancia in giù”) is playtime that can be introduced to your newborn from the very first days of life. These tummy exercises support motor development and are useful for many reasons .

Tummy Time: what it means and what are the benefits

Tummy Time is a moment when you allow your newborn to spend time on their tummy while awake and supervised; for your little one, it’s a moment of play; for you as a parent, it’s an important activity that helps stimulate psychomotor development. . In this position, children strengthen the muscles of the back and neck, and the arms and legs are also involved in this development process. ; they quickly learn to lift their heads, roll over, crawl, and sit.

Tummy Time can be introduced from the very first hours of life in a natural position: belly down on a parent’s chest . In addition to encouraging Tummy Time, skin-to-skin contact adds extra value and helps create and strengthen the bond between parent and child.

The so-called “tummy time” helps your newborn develop a series of skills that will be useful when they start crawling, and later when they take their first steps.

Safe Tummy Time

While Tummy Time shows how important it is for a newborn to spend time on their tummy, it’s essential to remember that during nap time, the baby should lie on their back to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Another recommendation for safe Tummy Time is to never leave your baby alone; they must always be supervised ; for this reason, parents should never step away .

How to introduce Tummy Time to your baby

The benefits of Tummy Time are greatest when it’s offered daily, gradually increasing the duration. Aim for two or three sessions throughout the day, and keep them away from mealtimes.

It’s important to consider the surface where this activity will take place: it shouldn’t be too hard or too soft. The changing table and a play mat are excellent options for this type of exercise.

Ma vediamo insieme le diverse modalità di Tummy Time che puoi iniziare a proporre al tuo bambino.

Tummy Time on the chest

You can introduce Tummy Time on your chest from the first weeks of life. Your baby can gradually get used to this position: sit on the sofa and lean back, resting your baby on your chest.

You can interact with your baby using sounds that capture their attention and encourage them to turn their head toward the source (you can use your voice or a music box). Gentle touches and simple games with objects can also help, as your baby will try to follow them with their gaze.

Il Tummy Time in questa forma più delicata e amorevole può essere proposto fino al compimento dei 2-3 mesi, dopo il bambino inizia a diventare troppo grandicello per questa modalità.

Tummy Time on the changing table

You can offer Tummy Time during diaper changes, using the changing table as a surface that is soft yet firm enough to prevent your baby’s face from sinking in.

In this position, where your baby can push up on their arms and support themselves, you can place objects nearby to encourage their desire to explore.

Tummy Time on the play mat

After 3 months, week by week, your baby’s desire to move grows more and more. During this phase, you can introduce Tummy Time using the tappetone game , which will become essential for reaching your child’s later motor milestones and where they will spend much of their day.

The mat should be placed on the floor. At first, you can lie down near your baby to encourage eye contact; later, they will want to explore their surroundings on their own, trying to grasp the objects around them.

Every day, your child will learn to move more, putting their motor skills into practice as they become increasingly complex: rolling over, making clockwise movements, crawling, crawling on all fours, and then standing up and walking.