• Parents try tummy time with baby but are frustrated with a crying/ unhappy baby.
• Parents place unhappy baby in equipment (swings, jumpers, bouncers, exersaucers and walkers, vibrating infant seats, and infant carriers) and baby misses valuable tummy time opportunities.
• Baby is in equipment and has less opportunity to be on it's tummy, held,and moved by parents.
• Baby misses blanket time and natural sequence of infant development is disrupted.
• If baby is always on back and in equipment, baby has too much pressure on one side of head and develops a flat head (positional plagiocephaly).
• Baby’s head tilts to same side when in equipment and muscles on one side become tight (positional torticolis).
• Baby’s arms and body are weak from minimal tummy movement practice.
• Missed tummy time positioning and movement experiences affect baby’s digestion (gastroesophageal reflux, constipation, and gassiness).
• Too much time in face up positioning and not enough time tummy down adversely affects the sensory system (babies are irritable).
• Baby is not using hands for support and movement and therefore is not developing natural sequence of fine motor skills.
• Too much time in equipment gives limited visual stimulation.
• Limited movement and sensory experiences slow brain development and do not lay the foundation for higher learning.
• Babies who do not problem solve movement and toy interaction in infancy have difficulty problem solving in school.
• Babies who are content to sit and observe, have toys brought to them or toys attached to equipment, become passive and complacent   Babies are easily frustrated and give up when faced with a situation that is too hard and they do not have the strength or skills to be successful.

The Importance of Tummy Time pamphlets gives detailed pictures and suggestions to make tummy time a successful experience for parent and baby.

Joyce Hidahl, OTR/L
Joyce is a Pediatric Occupational Therapist with 30 plus years experience including a hospital based NICU follow up clinic, pediatric rehabilitation center, pediatric home care and school based practice covering ages 0 to 21.

Cindy Carver Carlson M.Ed
is an Early Childhood Special Education Teacher working with children ranging in ages from birth to 6 years.

"My clients tell me all the time that their babies hate being on their tummies. These pamphlets are so easy to read and the parents are very happy with the ideas and suggestions. I have parents showing me the pamphlets now."
Libby Welsh, PNP, Saint Louis County
Public Health Department

"We have the poster in our hallway at the clinic and we find many parents stop to look at it and ask for more information."
Julie Shelton, RN
Coordinator NICU Follow Up Clinic