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Something you can give your baby and it won’t cost you a penny!!

There is no doubt that putting your baby on their back is currently the safest sleeping position and has contributed to a dramatic drop in cot deaths in recent years. However, as highlighted by the “Tummy time for tots” fact sheet released by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, babies might be spending the majority of the day also on their backs.

 

Paediatric Physiotherapists have noticed some side effects which are thought to be as a result of babies not experiencing a variety of positions during the first few months of their development, for example: alterations in head shape, muscle tightness on one side of the neck and a delay in gross motor abilities.

 

As a baby develops and grows stronger they will naturally benefit from experiencing different positions i.e. front, back and their sides. Each position enables them to learn to control and coordinate their bodies and this is essential for their musculoskeletal growth and motor skill development, ie Tummy lying enables them to develop their head control, encourage growth and development of the muscles and bones of their neck and encourage shoulder stability.

So what you can do to help reduced these side effects?

• Place you baby in different positions throughout the day whilst under your supervision

• Try to change their position frequently

• To help them to orientate to both sides alternate the direction that you change their nappy and the direction they sleep in the cot.

 

Here are a few examples of some play and positioning ideas:

Side Lying

Place them on their left or right side with a rolled up towel along the back of their spine to prevent them from rolling backwards. Give them a toy to look at or play with.

Ideas for play on their front:

Tummy time for the new born- hold them on your tummy when you are in a semi-reclined position. They will feel comforted being close to your body and your voice and they will try to lift and move their heads up to look at you.

 

Place them over your lap. Raise one of your legs higher so they are tilted up position their arms over your legs.

 

On their front on a harder surface ie on the floor or the bed - this harder surface enables them to prop or push up onto their arms. Babies may be frightened in this position if they feel they are left or if they are not used to this position so get down to their level so they can see you and use a toy or your voice for distraction. Be patient they will enjoy it with practice.

 

Please do not carry out any activities with your baby that you have been advised against.

 

If you suspect that your child may have any of these aforementioned side effects then please speak to your health visitor or doctor. They may well decide to refer you to a paediatric physiotherapist for advice on improving your baby’s movement skills.

Useful publications that have more activity ideas and information and are free to download:

“Tummy time for tots” fact sheet – www.csp.org.uk

 

“Sleep on the back lay on the front” leaflet – www.sids.org.uk