Outsmarting Gravity: Helping Your Baby with Tummy Time
Imagine if your head weighed a quarter of your entire weight. For me, that would mean carrying around a whopping 37 lbs on my neck! That's equivalent to the weight of a cinder block. Now, picture your baby dealing with this weight as they navigate their early stages of development. Babies are born with hefty noggins, and some have heads even larger in proportion to their bodies. While this can lead to minor delays in motor milestones, they usually catch up quickly. In this blog post, we'll explore a simple technique to make tummy time easier for your baby by outsmarting gravity.
Outsmarting Gravity: The Towel Roll Technique
To make it easier for your baby to lift their head during tummy time, try this simple technique:
Roll a towel to create a thickness of about 4 inches.
Place the rolled towel under your baby's chest during tummy time.
Ensure that your baby's arms are positioned forward, in front of the towel, with their elbows under or slightly in front of their shoulders.
By raising your baby's chest slightly off the floor with the support of the rolled towel, you effectively shift their weight away from their head. This subtle adjustment makes their head feel lighter and more manageable to lift. The boost provided by the towel roll can significantly enhance their tummy time experience and encourage them to strengthen their neck muscles.
Tummy time plays a crucial role in your baby's development, helping them build essential muscles and reach important motor milestones. By understanding the challenges posed by their relatively large heads, we can outsmart gravity and provide a boost to make tummy time more enjoyable for our little ones. Enjoy this journey of growth and exploration, supporting your baby's milestones along the way.
P.S. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not a substitute for skilled physical therapy intervention. While I am a physical therapist, I am not your child's physical therapist. If you have questions or concerns about your child's health and/or development, please contact your pediatrician.