0-3 Months Baby Tummy Time Activities
How much tummy time does your 0-3 months baby have? Tummy time should be one of your number one priorities with your newborn. They’re never too young to start and it’s thought that the earlier you put them on their front, the less likely they are to hate tummy time.
However, your baby will find this time boring if they’re not stimulated. This is where my 0-3 months baby tummy time activities come in handy.
In this blog post, I will give you ideas on how you can interact and bond with your baby during this time. I will also show you how you can give your baby tummy time whilst holding them, other things you can lay them on, and the toys you can use. This will keep it fun and exciting. It will also help them love this time, making it less of a chore and a guilt-free time for you too!
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Give Your 0-3 Months Baby Tummy Time Whilst Holding Them
Your baby is only little once, so it’s only natural you want to make the most of the precious newborn moments. You can still make sure your baby gets tummy time, whilst you’re holding them. This means you can make the most of the snuggles. Some of the ways you can do this include:
- Laying them over your legs
- Laying them on your chest
- Using the tiger in the tree hold
- Taking them for a ride on your shins
Laying Them Over Your Legs
Laying your baby over your legs is a great technique for winding. But it also helps your baby to strengthen their muscles whilst laying on their front. Make yourself comfortable before placing your baby belly down on your legs. Kids Health recommends you support your baby’s head and make sure it’s higher than their chest.
Laying Them On Your Chest
Laying your baby on your chest encourages them to lift their head up to look at your face. It’s so easy to fall asleep while holding your baby. Especially when you’re surviving on zero sleep and recovering from giving birth. But it’s dangerous. So make sure you are alert when trying this.
Using the Tiger In the Tree Hold
I feel this is one of the less talked about holds but it’s one of my favourites. An osteopath taught me this and it helps to soothe colicky babies. If you’re not familiar with this hold, check it out here.
Putting your hand on their tummy helps to calm them. as well and giving them tummy time. Your baby will find this comfortable because they can rest their head on the crook of your arm whilst you can gently sway them.
Taking Them For a Ride On Your Shins
As soon your baby can hold their head up, try taking them for a ride on your shins. Singing nursery rhymes or baby sensory songs like Flying Baby from Bloom Baby Sensory Classes will help to keep your baby engaged and focused on you. This is such a fun activity to do as your baby gets older too. My 1 year old still loves this game!
Providing Other Things For Your 0-3 Months Baby to Lay on During Tummy Time
As well as using yourself or the floor, you can also lay your baby on other things during tummy time. Here are some examples:
Play Gym
A decent play gym will ensure your baby has a soft, clean space when they’re on their tummy. Play gyms come with a number of add-ons that you can use to stimulate your baby whilst they’re laying on their front. Often we see babies laying on their back under a play gym. But using Lots of Links will help to bring toys down closer to your baby’s eye level. This helps to motivate them to bat, and grab them whilst on their tummy.
Foil Blanket
A foil blanket is an inexpensive way to stimulate and engage your baby for longer during tummy time. They are a great sensory experience for your little one because they’re reflective and make crinkly noises when your baby moves.
Gym Ball
You may still have a gym ball laying around from when you were pregnant. Before you deflate it, try using it with your baby. To do this, lay them on their tummy and hold onto their hips. Then gently rock them forwards, backward and side to side. Facing your baby whilst doing this will help to reassure them. But you can also try this when you’re behind the ball too. See Pink Oatmeal’s blog post for an in-depth explanation of how to do this.
Tummy Time Pillow
For smaller babies, you can lay them on a tummy time boppy pillow. The pillow acts as a wedge under their arms and helps to keep them face up. A rolled-up towel will also have the same effect. Using something like this may also get your baby to enjoy tummy time for longer.
Water Mat
A tummy time water mat, provides good, clean sensory fun. You only have to fill it up once for your baby to enjoy it for months. A water mat was one of my baby’s favourite thing to look at during tummy time. He enjoyed making the foam fish move as he got older.
Using a variety of things from this list is a good way to add variety to your baby’s tummy time sessions. Something that is particularly useful if your baby hates tummy time. Exposing your baby to different textures like blankets and bedsheets, will also help you to create good sensory experiences for them too.
Using 0-3 Months Baby Toys During Tummy Time
Using a play gym and hanging toys down low for your baby to enjoy is one of the ways I mentioned a baby can enjoy tummy time. However, there are many other tummy time toys and resources you can use as well. They include:
- Bubbles
- Finger puppets
- Instruments
- Fabrics and scarves
- Mirrors
- Books
- Foam blocks
- Balls
- Everyday objects
Bubbles
Bubbles are great to develop baby’s visual tracking skills. They’re fun for all ages, so siblings and older kids can join in the fun too. Don’t have bubbles at home? Check out my baby-safe bubble mixture in my entertaining bubble activities blog post.
Finger Puppets
I recently wrote about using finger puppets in different ways at 0-3 months baby activities. However, using them during tummy time shouldn’t be overlooked. You can move them in different directions to help your baby’s visual tracking skills whilst they’re on their front. Finger puppets are also a nice size for your baby to grasp and hold on to.
Instruments
Instruments are another toy that’s good for tummy time activities and they help with visual tracking. My little one loved watching the beads in his rainmaker and the noises grab his attention.
Fabrics and Scarves
Fabrics and scarves can be used in many different ways with babies. They are great for playing peek-a-boo with whilst they’re on their front. Draping scarves over your baby’s skin is a great sensory activity. They will also love watching you throw them in the air and floating to the ground. This is another activity that’s good for developing visual tracking.
Mirrors
Reflections fascinate babies and playing in a mirror will help them gain a sense of self and develop their language skills. Try making faces at your baby in the mirror during tummy time. Sing and talk to them too.
Books
Propping a book up in front of your baby will interest them and give them something to focus on during tummy time. Baby board books are sturdy so they work well for this. You can try using more than one book to see which one (if any) interests them more. Doing this with my baby encouraged him to push up onto his arms.
Foam Blocks
Foam blocks are a simple toy that can be used in so many different ways. Galt soft toy blocks are the perfect size for little hands and have colourful images. This makes them great to use with newborns and older babies. When your baby is on their tummy, you can put foam blocks in front of them to encourage them to move.
Balls
Balls are great to use during tummy time. They will help your baby to develop their visual tracking skills. Balls provide a great challenge when your baby is a bit older too. They will encourage them to move towards them.
Everyday Objects
Your baby will love looking at and exploring everyday objects. When my baby was this age, I discovered that he enjoyed looking at a crisp packet. (I definitely ate too many during those first months with my newborn!). The bold colours and crinkly sounds grabbed his attention. Sometimes it’s the simplest of things that amuse them. See if there are any random everyday objects that fascinate your baby.
Conclusion
There are so many different ways and activities you can do during tummy time. Try to use times spent holding your baby to your advantage by putting them on their tummy. This will help you to make the most of those precious newborn moments and will strengthen your bond. Laying your baby on a variety of different materials provides lovely sensory experiences for them. Hanging and putting toys in front of them encourages visual tracking and encourages movement.
It can be hard giving your baby tummy time when they’re crying and don’t like it. Putting them on their front little and often, is one of the ways you can help them adjust. Take a look at my ultimate guide to tummy time for more tips.
For more activity ideas for your baby, check out the 0 – 3 months section. This includes blog posts such as activities for 2 month olds, newborn activities, 7 of the best 0-3 months baby activities, and more.
Don’t forget to save for later so you can come back and remind yourself of all of the ways you can liven up tummy time.
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