How Mommy Made Tummy Time Fun

I thought tummy time was going to be easy.  I mean, it sounds pretty self-explanatory.  Tummy time is when you place your baby on his tummy and let him wiggle around happily, right?  I was so wrong.  My son absolutely HATED tummy time when he first attempted it.  Tummy time basically consisted of my son face-planting into his play mat and then screaming in frustration as he attempted to lift his head.  Obviously, it wasn't much fun for either one of us.  I slowly (and somewhat accidentally) discovered a way to ease him into tummy time and keep it fun for him.  I'm definitely not an expert, and what I did probably won't work for every baby.  However, I hope by sharing this information that I might help another frustrated little one out there as well or at least give you a good laugh.

Looking back, I took a three-phased approach to improving his neck strength, which improved the tummy time experience.

Phase 1 - Carrying Baby
Carry your baby vertically with his head peaking over your shoulder.  Support the back of his head with your hand at first and gradually offer less and less support until he is holding his head up on his own.  I recommend keeping your hand close to his head even if it seems like he is fully supporting it.  Sometimes my son would get tired after a few minutes and then suddenly loose control again. 

No, this isn't technically tummy time, but it does encourage the baby to gain some neck strength and control.  I saw a huge improvement in his strength after we carried him in this position for about a week, and he was ready to start trying to control his head while laying on his tummy.

Phase 2 - Tummy Time Support Pillow
Place your baby on a flat surface with his upper chest on a small pillow or a rolled up towel and his arm extending over that pillow or towel.  You just need something to elevate his head above the flat surface initially, so he doesn't start with his face laying on the flat surface.  That way, he won't get upset as soon as you set him down.  Also, he won't get upset if he tires after lifting his head high for only a few seconds and has to drop it back down.

Phase 3- Real Tummy Time with Visual Goals
Place your baby on a flat surface and have actual tummy time.  Keep him motivated by providing a visual goal.  Give him something fun look at when he manages to lift his head like a mirror, a book with an interesting pattern, or you!  Infants are more interested in their parents than anything else, so you are the best goal he could have.

The flat surface can also be your husband's chest.  My husband loves to place our son on his chest and have some daddy-son bonding time.  It has become a nightly ritual at our house.

This gradual approach worked great for my son, and I hope they work for your baby as well.  Now my son has presented a new challenge.  As soon as my one and a half month old started tolerating tummy time, he figured out how to roll from his tummy to his back, thereby getting himself out of it.  What a smarty pants!