When to start tummy time is something every new parent wonders about in those early baby days. It’s super simple.
Just place your baby on their tummy while they’re awake and supervised.
This helps strengthen their neck, back, arms, and shoulders.
All that baby wiggling builds the muscles they’ll need for crawling, sitting, and more.
A few minutes a day go a long way, even from week one!
Tummy time is good for babies since it stops them from getting a condition called positional plagiocephaly, which happens when there’s too much time spent on their backs.
Olympic events help improve a person’s motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and visual tracking.
Tummy time mainly encourages a baby to use their senses and helps them to explore new places that are important for their development.
Jump to:
- How Does play with tummy time toys help children develop?
- Things To Consider in Good Tummy Time Toys
- There Are Several Tummy Time Toys And Each Has Its Own Benefits.
- Selecting The Ideal Toys For Your Child During Tummy Time
- Tricks To Make Any Tummy Time More Fun And Helpful
- The Challenges Parents Worry About And Their Tips
- Ways To Make Toys For Tummy Time
- Conclusion:
How Does play with tummy time toys help children develop?
Though tummy time is very good for babies, some don’t like it at the start. There are babies who object to lying on their stomachs by crying, refusing, or just ignoring the idea.
This is why tummy time toys are such great tools. These products are meant to draw the baby’s interest and offer enough stimulation when they are lying face down.
When used with tummy time, toys in bright colors and with textures, mirrors, and sounds can keep a child entertained and stimulated.
The aim is to prevent boredom in the baby and make them work their arms, head, and hands, each of which helps in strength building and coordination.
By having fun during tummy time, the baby starts to enjoy it and this makes it simpler to increase these exercises.
Things To Consider in Good Tummy Time Toys
While buying tummy time toys, you should look for features that are good for a baby’s senses and movement.
Any kind of toy with strong colors, pattern contrast, or even plain black-and-white appeals a lot to very young children.
Caressing a baby’s body is also very important. Toys that have different textures support babies in touching, feeling, and discovering new things, therefore improving their awareness and hand dexterity.
Rattles, crinkles, and music add to the sounds of toys and benefit a baby’s sense of hearing while holding their attention for a longer time.
All toys should be safe for children, so they should not contain small parts, be made of harmless materials, and clean-up should be quick.
Being portable is an additional benefit for parents who have to bring their baby to different places around the home or outside.
The toy you use during tummy time should adapt to new situations or age levels to stay helpful for a longer period.
There Are Several Tummy Time Toys And Each Has Its Own Benefits.
There are various toys for tummy time, each created to assist in a specific part of a baby’s growth. One type of tummy time mat is filled with padding and comes with toys, mirrors, lots of textures, and various colors.
A soft surface and a chance to play are what they provide for the baby. Visual toys such as mirrors are popular among babies since they enjoy looking at a few features, and spotting their reflection keeps them busy for a while.
With different parts to touch and colorful pictures, soft fabric books let kids have fun and learn at the same time.
Pillows or rollers made for tummy time give more support to the baby’s chest so they find it easier to lift their head.
Moreover, toys with sounds, different textures, and bright shades entertain babies and support the development of several senses at the same time.
Selecting The Ideal Toys For Your Child During Tummy Time
The toys you get for your baby’s tummy time should match their age, progress, and the things they like best.
Tiny babies should play with things that have a striking contrast and a soft surface, since they have just started to learn about the world.
As the child gets more active, you can offer them toys that create sounds, have parts that move, or are interactive.
Another great idea is to refresh your child’s toys every now and then. Playing with the same toy day in and day out may cause your baby to be bored, but replacing it with something new makes it more fun.
Other choices are toys that serve several purposes, for example, a tummy time mat turns into a play gym, or a mirror that can be used while your child is just sitting down.
Always check product reviews to confirm that the toys you buy for your baby are safe, will last long, and are enjoyable too.
Tricks To Make Any Tummy Time More Fun And Helpful
Try some easy and fun activities in addition to putting toys in the baby’s path as your tummy time methods.
Begin with lots of breaks for short sessions, since this is better for newborns instead of one long session.
Staying at your baby’s eye level and having fun with them during tummy time helps to comfort and inspire them.
Playing music, talking, or offering your baby’s favorite toys nearby will help them raise their head and become more involved around them.
A further way is to start tummy time by putting your baby down on your chest—it allows you to bond and exercise your baby’s muscles.
You can also plan to do tummy time after you change your baby or after he or she has woken from a nap.
If you repeat meals on a regular basis, your child will quickly start to like them.
The Challenges Parents Worry About And Their Tips
Sometimes, your efforts won’t help and the baby might resist during tummy time.
Crying or discomfort is a tendency for babies when they sleep on their stomach.
To fix this, have your pet out for only a little while, maybe for just one to two minutes, then add a little more time each time.
Trying soft music, gentle motions, or holding the baby against your skin can relax your baby when you are pumping.
If your baby doesn’t respond well to normal tummy time, you could give them a tummy time pillow to lie on or place a mirror nearby in order to catch their interest.
Should your baby feel frustrated, try going to another room, lying him or her outside on a blanket, or play gym with some fresh toys to capture their attention.
Taking their time and working regularly helps most babies gain an interest in tummy time.
Ways To Make Toys For Tummy Time
If you’d like to save and make your own toys, there are numerous simple DIY ideas available for tummy time play at home.
As an example, make sensory bottles by inserting colorful beads, glitter, and some water into clear plastic bottles and covering the lid tightly.
A sensory patchwork can be made by sewing squares of different textured fabric to a big mat.
You can create crinkle toys by adding clean chip bags or wrappers into soft fabric and giving babies something fun to listen to.
Consider sticking a safe mirror to a sturdy panel for kids to enjoy playing without fear.
In addition, you can add safe kitchen items, for example wooden spoons, silicone spatulas, or soft cloths, to a toy rotation basket.
Homemade baby food allows you to feed your baby without spending much and also gives them many interesting sensations.
Conclusion:
Not only is tummy time good for a baby’s development, but it’s fun for babies to use in their own ways as they play.
Tummy time becomes more interactive and fun to use with toys that are designed for the purpose.
If your baby is kept active, comfy, and cheered on, tummy time will turn into something your child actually enjoys each day.
No matter if you buy school supplies for your pet or create your own, what matters most is to always be attentive and respond to your child’s needs regularly.
Observe your baby as they begin to raise their head, play, or smile, since tummy time helps them in reaching important milestones along the way.
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