Tummy Time Tips With Tiny Love [+Giveaway!]

Most new parents have heard of ‘tummy time’ for their little ones. But did you know that tummy time should start young, be practiced every day, and done several times a day? Read on to learn more tummy time tips and about the importance of tummy time, fun ways to get in tummy time and how to use the Tiny Love playmat for tummy time with your little one. Tiny Love sent me the Magical Tales Black and White Gymini in exchange for this review. As always, all opinions are my own. 

Tummy Time Tips With Tiny Love 

What Is Tummy Time?

Tummy time is just what it sounds like! Time spent on baby‘s tummy. Since the ‘back to sleep” initiative was started in the early 1990s by the American Academy of Pediatrics, babies are encouraged to sleep on their back, verses their stomach. Although this is the safest way for all babies to sleep, it does mean that babies are spending more and more time on their back. Babies are encouraged to spend time on their tummies each and every day, when they and their caregiver are both wide awake and under close supervision. Read on to learn more tummy time tips. 

Why Is Tummy Time Important?

Tummy time is important because it helps your baby develop the neck, back, and shoulder muscles needed to meet infant developmental milestones.

It may also help prevent early motor delays and conditions such as flat head syndrome (positional plagiocephaly) and twisted neck (positional torticollis). Tummy time promotes trunk stability and head control. 

When To Start Tummy Time

The first of my tummy time tips is to start from day one. As soon as the baby is home from the hospital, they are ready to start practicing tummy time. However, it is never too late to start tummy time. Don’t feel bad if you didn’t start right away, just start today! 

How Long To Do Tummy Time

Start with short, small increments and work up to longer stretches based on your babies age. At birth, start with a few seconds. Even 30 seconds is long enough. One of my biggest tummy time tips is to watch and listen to the baby‘s cues. They will likely let you know when they have reached their tummy time maximum limits. By 2 months old, aim for three 5-minute sessions daily. Strive for around 20 to 30 minutes a day of baby tummy time by the time he is 3 or 4 months old. Then keep practicing until the baby can roll over on his own, which could happen around 6 or 7 months of age.

Tummy Time With The Tiny Love Gymini

There are several ways to do tummy time. Some include having the baby lay on your chest as you lay on your back, or while holding baby, position one hand under the tummy and between the legs and carry baby tummy down, use the other hand to support the baby’s head and neck. You can also allow the baby to spend time on the floor using the Tiny Love Gymini. This happens to be our favorite way to enjoy tummy time and a lifesaver of all tummy time tips. It is perfect for keeping baby engaged and to encourage baby’s development. 

Tiny Love Black and White Gymini

The Tiny Love Black and White Gymini is the perfect way for baby and parents to enjoy tummy time (and back time too!). It comes with a developmental guide, specially created by child development experts that walks parents through the best tummy time tips including ways to get the most out of the gym according to baby‘s age. Based on their unique 7 Development Wonders system, the 36-page guide helps you to get the most out of your loved one’s new activity gym. Discover fascinating facts about your baby’s development, including how to stimulate his or her innate desire to explore, and use their best play tummy time tips—suitable from day one!

Tummy Time Tips By Age

The Black and White Gymini can be used while the baby lays on their back, for tummy time, or while sitting and playing. 

0+ months: SENSES

The gym’s contrasting black & white colors, textures, and sounds stimulate baby’s senses from day one. Tummy time tips: be sure to hang the soft mobile at around 25 cm from baby‘s face, and let them enjoy its simple black-and-white geometric shapes, which were specially designed to help stimulate newborns’ vision.

0-2+ months: EQ – BONDING & COMMUNICATION

Move the adjustable arches into the open position and enjoy some quality bonding time with your baby, enjoying playing together and connecting while encouraging development. Show baby the various activities, talk about the characters in simple sentences (“Here’s Marie the hedgehog!”) or simply enjoy some precious eye-to-eye contact and communicating with your little one.

2-4 months: GROSS MOTOR SKILLS – TUMMY TIME

Place the Gymini’s soft book in front of the baby while in the tummy time position. The book was created with unique contrasting graphic elements. Such as the image of the circle within a circle, which attract and engage babies’ attention. This will help baby stay in tummy time for longer periods of time.

3-5 months: FINE MOTOR SKILLS

Introducing babies to different textures helps develop their tactile sense and encourages the development of fine motor skills. The Gymini’s satin ribbons, plush cloud, crinkly flaps, and other elements enrich baby’s tactile experience and help practice various types of grasping.

4-6 months: COGNITION – UNDERSTANDING CAUSE & EFFECT

When the baby is older, it’s time to go on exploring the playmat’s various features in a more sophisticated way. As their understanding of cause and effect takes shape, they begin to realize that they have control and can actually make things happen. The Gymini’s musical hedgehog toy offers babies an excellent opportunity to further their understanding of cause and effect. Tapping the toy and attempting to prompt the music feedback supports this cognitive understanding.

Our Experience

Our little one is 6 weeks old. Although tummy time is not his favorite activity, we still strive to practice it several times a day. I love the Tiny Love Gymini because it is easy to get out, use, and store away when we are done with it. It gives my son a soft space to lay on whether on his back or tummy. Unlike a lot of toys, this one will grow with him and can be used at various ages and stages. This really is a must-have item for any little one!

What are your tummy time tips? Comment below!

Enter To Win

One lucky Thrifty Nifty Mommy reader will receive a Tiny Love Gymini!  This giveaway is open to the US only.  Just enter the widget below for your chance to win.  Good luck!