It is important to understand how crucial lying on the tummy is for the physical development of a baby. This is one of those skills which a baby simply MUST acquire for further development to proceed harmoniously. This position is crucial for strengthening the core and straightening the spine; and later on, for reaching the developmental milestone of standing up. Ultimately, the ability to push oneself off the ground — a skill that can be practiced while lying on the tummy – plays a key role in the process of child development.
Newborn babies lie on their tummies quite unevenly. Their arms and legs are bent, the pelvis is raised, and the body weight rests on the forearms, sternum, and cheek. This position makes raising the head difficult. The baby can lift the head just enough to turn it to one side or the other, but this involves a lot of effort.
Under normal circumstances and in time the arms will start to reach forward, the legs will straighten, and the pelvis will settle down. In this, it becomes easier for the baby to push himself off the floor and lift his head up. This is because the weight of the body no longer rests so high (near the sternum) but shifts lower — towards the pelvis. Through active support on the forearms, the child can easily lift his head up and simply enjoy being in this position.
Unfortunately, a lot of babies have difficulty learning how to properly lie on the tummy. Some babies do it very well, while others cannot accept and enjoy it because it is just too complicated for them. This kind of difficulty follows from the fact that, while those babies are lying on their tummies, they don’t use their hands to support themselves. Instead, they lift their heads up by working only with their spinal erectors. When this happens, the position is highly unstable, uncomfortable, and tiring; so it is no wonder when a visible and audible rebellion occurs. 🙂
Some children try so hard to lift their heads up that, by the time they are just a few weeks old, they already have started to roll over from the belly to the back. This is not a desirable “skill” at this age — it is a sign that the child needs a little more guidance on how to correctly lie on the tummy. A conscious and well-controlled roll from the belly to the back shouldn’t occur until around the 7th or 8th month of life.
The position of active support on the forearms is also very important. And, although not all children might love it right away, over time they come to accept it. 😉
Do you have to help your baby? The answer is yes and no. Most babies will naturally acquire this position; and, in time, they will get better at doing it.
That said, if your baby screams out loud whenever you try to put him or her on the tummy, you can try these 3 simple steps:
STEP 1: Extend the elbows beyond the shoulder line.
As long as the elbows are behind the shoulder line, it will be very difficult for your baby to get used to lying on the tummy — because it takes a lot of effort to maintain this position. Therefore, you can help your child reach his or her arms forward so that the elbows are directly under the shoulders or slightly in front of them. In doing this, the support position will be easier, and the body weight will shift lower — towards the pelvis. (In the case of newborn babies, their elbows are naturally positioned behind the shoulder line; but in the third month of life, the elbows will shift to directly under the shoulders. In the following months, they move forward even further.)
To keep the elbows in front of the shoulder line, you can use a rolled up towel. You can also try to gently lower the baby’s shoulders — this will motivate him or her to work even more actively.
STEP 2: Keep the baby’s bottom close to the ground.
Sometimes, the proper placement of the baby’s hands is not enough. Your baby might still have some issues maintaining the lying on the tummy position: His or her bottom may still be raised too high. That’s why you might have to “bring it down to earth”. 🙂 How is this done? It’s very simple — just put your hand on your baby’s bottom and gently urge it downward.
STEP 3: Hold the baby.
Holding the baby in a position where his or her tummy is on the ground while one of your hands holds the chest — and the other gives support to the pelvis (BOTH of the baby’s hands should be extended forward) — is a fantastic way to encourage lying on the tummy. You can also put your baby on your lap in this position.
Of course, it’s important to remember that when you put your baby on his or her tummy, it’s good to pay attention to the surface on which they will be lying — it should have the right firmness. Soft mattresses or sofas are not the best choice; a medium-hard, flat surface is ideal.
And that’s all for now. I hope that you have found this entry useful. 🙂
Let me know how YOU deal with situations such as this. 😉
- We should remember that not every child will enjoy lying on the tummy. The reasons for that might be quite diverse; and may include acid reflux. That is why it’s not good to force a particular skill… The position of lying on the tummy is important; and, for that reason, we obviously want our child to achieve it — but it needs to be done gently and gradually.
- In case of any doubts, you should consult with a specialist.
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Learn how to help your baby spend quality time on the tummy – and how both of you can have fun! Check out my ideas for playtime — from birth to first steps — in the following e-book:
