SITTING UP BABY

It was very exciting for me when Emily was first able to sit independently at 5 months.  I had been propping her up against the couch for a while.  I was glad because she was spending much more time off her back and I thought this would help her crawl and be more comfortable on her stomach.  I could not have been more wrong!  My baby still hated tummy time and now wanted to sit slouching back all the time.

Sitting babies up prematurely prevents them from rolling, scooting and crawling because it does not help their muscle development.  Therefore, limit sitting as much as you can and let the baby spend more time on her tummy to help develop those neck and back muscles.

If your baby does love to sit, make sure she sits on her sit bones not back on her spine.  Proper early posture is essential for strong muscle development.  It is common for babies to develop poor posture if they have learned to sit slouching back early on.  Encourage your baby to come up onto her sitting bones by reaching up or out with both hands for any object or toy while sitting. 

TUMMY TIME ON YOUR LAP

One of the easiest ways to exercise your baby and play with her at the same time is doing it on your tummy or lap.

When she is in your lap, place her facing down off the edge of your lap.  You can use a mirror or toy held above eye level to keep her interested.  If you cross your legs, this will give the baby a lightly easier time so it's a good strategy to use when she is tired or fussy.

BABY TUMMY TIME: USE A MIRROR

A mirror is essential for tummy time!  Emily loved seeing her reflection in the mirror and would raise her head to stare at herself and touch the mirror.  We used the Sassy crib and floor mirror as well as full length mirrors.  She was fascinated to see the reflection of her surroundings including mommy and daddy. 

BABY TUMMY TIME: CARRY YOUR BABY LIKE AN AIRPLANE

The airplane carrying position is great for when you are just playing with the baby and still want to work her back and neck muscles.

How you do it is you place you arms underneath your baby from the front and back so she is lying on her stomach and then just hold her in front of  you like below.

It's important to keep it fun when engaging the baby in an exercise that's hard on her body.  To keep Emily from fussing, I sing songs and make funny noises; the sillier the better!

BABY TUMMY TIME: CARRY BABY LIKE A SACK OF POTATOES

When your baby hates tummy time, you want to strengthens those muscles by alternative means.  It sounds funny but carrying the baby like a sack over your shoulder does a great job of working her neck and back muscles.

The sack of potato position is the one my husband utilized the most.  It was harder for me to do because it required a bit more muscle and it was hard to keep the baby horizontal.  What you do is you hold the baby around her hips and legs and place her tummy on your shoulder.  She should be lying horizontal as she lifts her head to look around.

TUMMY TIME ALTERNATIVE

While tummy time on the floor is the ideal position for babies, they often fuss and find it uncomfortable.  If your baby hates tummy time, practice carrying her in positions that exercise her neck and back muscles.

Carrying the baby facing out and tipped forward is my favorite alternative tummy time position.  It's very easy to do and especially great for heavier babies and petite moms because you do not need a lot of muscle to do this.  In fact you can do this sitting or standing.

What you do is hold the baby against your stomach or hip while she's facing away from you.  Lean her forward at the hips so she has to work to keep her body and head up.  You can place a toy in front of her and then tip her forward.  When she reaches for it, let her come back up by herself instead of assisting her.

THE IMPORTANCE OF TUMMY TIME FOR BABIES

Tummy time is crucial for a baby's proper development.  It stretches and strengthens neck and back muscles that help a baby crawl, sit, stand, and walk.  Babies who spend most of their time on their back or sitting up usually walk later and can develop flat spots on the back of their heads.

My own baby hated traditional tummy time, that is when I placed her flat on the floor with nothing.  She would cry incessantly and I would give up and pick her up after a minute or so.  I later learned from therapy that I can carry my baby in certain positions that qualify as tummy time and strengthen the same muscles the traditional position does.

Please read my blog for several exercises that every mom and dad can easily do at home with their baby.  I had varied success with different positions and your baby might like certain positions more than others.