Babies, Parenting, Child Health, Infant Nutrition

Baby Development – Lack of Time on Tummy Shown to Hinder Achievement of Developmental Milestones, Say Physical Therapists

08.08.2008 | 2:08:38 pm | Posted by mummums

By Colleen Hurley, RD, Certified Kid’s Nutrition Specialist

As your baby is growing and developing, it is exciting to be able to see your little one become more mobile. Turing over, sitting up by himself, and being able to grasp a toy within reach are all milestones in baby development. Having play time is an important part of healthy baby development; but not just play time, time for lying on their tummies to be exact. A new study found that babies need adequate amounts of “tummy time”.

In a national survey of pediatric physical and occupational therapists, conducted on behalf of Pathways Awareness, the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) found that inadequate amounts time of babies spend lying on their tummies is correlated with an increase in motor delays. Pathways Awareness is a non-profit group dedicated to the early detection of motor delays in infants providing education for both parents and professionals.

baby development, parenting The survey revealed the increase in motor delays was found in babies who spent too much of their awake time on their backs. Of the therapists surveyed, 2/3 stated they have seen an increase in early motor delays in babies over the preceding 6 years. The number one contributor to this increase is due to the lack of “tummy time”, or time babies spend lying on their tummies while awake.

An APTA spokesperson stated that lack of tummy time can result in organization, cognitive, and developmental delays, in addition to eye-tracking and behavioral problems. The spokesperson went on to explain that while many parents are advised to let babies sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of SIDS, many are not educated on the importance of tummy time.

Many parents utilize car seats that are also infant carries, resulting in a generation of infants who spend long periods of time in one position. When awake, APTA recommends putting baby in a variety of positions starting as early as the first few weeks of life. Parents can help increase tummy time by integrating movement into everyday activities such as feeding, diapering, carrying, and play time. Tummy time can help prevent tight neck and back muscles and the development of flat areas on a baby’s head, promotes development of neck and shoulder muscles, and helps build the muscles babies need to sit, roll, and crawl. The APTA website provides a free, downloadable brochure for parents and caregivers highlighting ways to increase tummy time.

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