From the Guidelines
Babies can start tummy time from the first day they come home from the hospital, as long as they are awake and supervised, and should aim to build up to more than 30 minutes of daily tummy time by 3 months of age. This is based on the most recent evidence from 2022, which emphasizes the importance of early physical literacy and motor skill development 1.
Key Points to Consider
- Tummy time should begin as early as possible to promote motor development, facilitate development of the upper body muscles, and minimize the risk of positional plagiocephaly, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2011 1.
- For push-ups specifically, babies typically develop the strength to push up on their forearms around 2-3 months of age, and can push up on extended arms around 4-6 months.
- Tummy time is essential for developing neck, shoulder, and core muscles needed for later milestones like rolling over, sitting up, and crawling.
- It also helps prevent flat spots on the back of the head that can develop when babies spend too much time on their backs.
- Always place your baby on a firm, flat surface for tummy time, and never leave them unattended.
- If your baby dislikes tummy time initially, try shorter but more frequent sessions, get down at their eye level to engage them, or place toys within reach to make it more enjoyable.
Implementation
- Begin with short sessions of 3-5 minutes, 2-3 times per day, and gradually increase as your baby gets stronger.
- Consistent with the framework utilized for diet and sleep, caregivers are provided with brief instruction on how these structured movement times are incorporated into a 24 h period and contribute to optimal timing, such as tummy time being most effective either immediately before a feed or one hour after to prevent reflux 1.
From the Research
Tummy Time and Push-Up in Babies
- Tummy time is an essential movement experience for infants, and it is recommended to start tummy time from an early age 2, 3.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends tummy time for infants as young as 2-3 months old, but there is no specific age mentioned for push-ups 4.
- A study found that children who started tummy time within 4 weeks of age were more likely to have favorable movement and sleep outcomes at 12 and 24 months of age 3.
- Another study suggested that physical therapists should promote participation in physical activity, including tummy time, in children with Down syndrome from infancy through adolescence 5.
Age for Tummy Time and Push-Up
- There is no specific age mentioned for babies to start push-ups, but tummy time can start as early as 2-3 months old 4.
- A scoping review protocol aims to identify multidisciplinary interventions used to promote tummy time in infants aged 0-12 months, but it does not mention push-ups specifically 6.
- Tummy time is associated with improved motor development, reduced likelihood of plagiocephaly, and other health outcomes, but the association with push-ups is not clear 4.
Recommendations for Parents
- Parents should start tummy time with their babies from an early age, ideally within 4 weeks of age 3.
- Parents should aim to provide a combination of tummy time and other physical activities to promote overall development and health outcomes in their babies 5, 4.
- Parents should consult with their pediatrician or physical therapist to determine the best approach for their baby's individual needs and development 2, 6.