Topic 1 Page 14 Infant Toddler

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(Unit 8) Topic 1: The Whole Child

4 Clock Hours of Early Childhood Education

Supporting Infant Development: Tummy Time

Topic 1 Page 14

Tummy time is defined as “placing the infant in a nonrestrictive prone position, lying on his or her stomach, when not in sleeping equipment.”

Although it seems pretty straightforward, tummy time can be a challenge for teachers, as many infants are not always fond of this new position.

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The American Pediatric Association recommends that infants be placed on their backs to sleep in order to reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). This means that babies will need enough supervised time on their stomachs during the day to strengthen their neck and upper body muscles.

When infants are on their bellies, they have to hold their head up to look around to see people and objects. It may not look like much, but this position requires a lot of work for little ones! Later on, infants will use the muscles they are developing during tummy time to reach, roll over, sit up, and eventually crawl.

Studies have found that babies who do not spend time face down can experience delay in motor development later in life. Think of tummy time as the foundation for all other skills that they will one day do. If they do not get enough time and build enough muscle strength, they may struggle to catch up and meet developmental milestones. Providing infants with adequate tummy time will benefit them for the rest of their lives.