Here's Why You Should Practice Tummy Time With Your Infant, Even If They Don't Love It

Babies spend a lot of time on their backs — it's the safest way to put them to sleep, and the position they're in when they're in the stroller, bouncer, or baby swing. So, your pediatrician will most likely recommend introducing "tummy time" (time on their stomach — just what it sounds like!) right away. The thing is, a lot of newborns are resistant to it. With weak muscles, it doesn't come naturally, and they often end up frustrated and unable to get comfortable.

"You don't want this to be a negative experience for them," Dr. Ei Ye Mon shared in a Cleveland Clinic interview. "If they're really fussing and crying, give them a minute or two and then pick them up and try again later." But you shouldn't give up incorporating tummy time into your baby's regular routine — here's why.

The Cleveland Clinic suggests thinking of tummy time as "baby's first exercise," which makes a lot of sense. When they're on their stomachs, babies are forced to use the muscles in their core, back, neck and arms. This will lead to the ability to push up, roll over, and eventually crawl. Once those things start to happen, tummy time will become a lot more enjoyable for your baby. Begin with short sessions of just a few minutes, a few times a day, until your baby becomes comfortable with the exercise. Then, you can gradually increase the amount of time they spend on their bellies until eventually, they're crawling across the room.

Positional plagiocephaly, or "flat head syndrome," is fairly common, and temporary. But, if you want to decrease your baby's odds of requiring a cranial helmet, regular tummy time can certainly help. When they're very young, you can lay your baby on your chest, belly or lap rather than the floor — the added benefit of skin-to-skin contact may be comforting for an infant.

Spending time in a new position changes your baby's view of the world around them. "It also helps develop their vestibular system because they get that sense of finding out how their arms and legs move," said Dr. Ye Mon. To amplify the experience, switch up your tummy time locations, and place toys nearby so that your baby has something to reach for.

Incorporate tummy time into your baby's routine by adding it immediately after an activity that already happens every day (or, multiple times a day). This will make it easier for you to remember, and for your baby to expect. Be sure to always supervise your baby's tummy time, and unless they're on your lap, put them on the floor rather than a bed or couch. Dr. Ye Mon also suggested putting a nursing pillow or blanket bolster on the floor to offer your baby some support.