What are the benefits of Tummy Time?

Carly Budd, Specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapist, is a passionate advocate for children's tummy time. We met up with her at a Serene Baby Tummy Time class along with practitioners Sareena and Nim, to find out why Tummy Time is such an important part of baby's and young children's play and development.

Skills developed through Tummy Time as part of a varied play diet can support an infant through childhood and beyond, with research time and time again showing that it improves many developmental outcomes. Yet, so often Tummy Time is misunderstood, and because of this it seems that babies dislike this important position for play, causing stress and worry to parents, and often giving up. However Tummy Time is not all as it seems, often parents ARE giving opportunities of this play position, but in more subtle ways. Once they understand this, and how to build from there, the experience is completely different.

Carly Budd, Specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapist

Good for looking at

• Physical development of spine, muscles and postural control
• Visual perception
• Sensory processing
• Building a bond with your baby

Reflect

• How would you describe tummy time and it’s benefits?
• What are your experiences of babies and tummy time?
• Is Tummy time on your radar for the babies you support?

Reflect

• Has your perspective of the importance of tummy time changed since watching the video?
• Is this a position for play you would put more emphasis on now?
• How will you bring this learning into your work with babies?