# Tummy time over a roll

You rest their chest on a rolled-up towel, and from a little higher than the floor, they try lifting their head to look around.

To do with your baby in the first 4 months. It works on: balance, upper body strengthening and tummy Time. You'll need: blanket and bath towel.

## What do I need?

- Blanket
- Bath towel

## How do I do it?

1. **Make the roll.** Roll up a large bath towel or a blanket into a firm cylinder about 10–12 cm (4–5 in) across.
2. **Rest their chest on it.** Lay your baby tummy-down over the roll, with their chest and upper tummy resting on it. Their arms go out in front and their legs stretch out behind.
3. **Keep their face clear.** Stay close the whole time. When they get tired and rest their head, gently turn it to one side so their nose stays clear, or leave it for today.
4. **Watch them try.** Notice how, from up there, they try lifting their head to look around. At first they'll hold it up for 5 to 10 seconds, then a little longer each time.
5. **Repeat through the day.** Play like this for 2 or 3 minutes, a few times a day. If they get frustrated or start to fuss, leave it for today.

### Take care

Stay right beside them the whole time they're on the roll, with their nose and mouth clear. For sleep, always lay them on their back.

## What are they learning?

From the roll they can see what's around them, which makes them want to lift their head and look. That works their neck, shoulders and upper back. Time on their tummy also helps keep the back of their head from getting flat.

- **Balance**: Adjusts their body on the roll to keep from tipping to one side
- **Upper body strengthening**: Works their neck, shoulders and back as they lift their head
- **Tummy Time**: Spends some time on their tummy, a little higher than on the floor

## What the research says

- Dusing SC. Postural variability and sensorimotor development in infancy. Developmental medicine and child neurology. 2016;58 Suppl 4:17-21. doi:10.1111/dmcn.13045 (https://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.13045)
- Harbourne RT, Stergiou N. Nonlinear analysis of the development of sitting postural control. Developmental Psychobiology. 2003;42(4):368-377. doi:10.1002/dev.10110 (https://doi.org/10.1002/dev.10110)
- Dudek-Shriber L, Zelazny S. The effects of prone positioning on the quality and acquisition of developmental milestones in four-month-old infants. Pediatric Physical Therapy. 2007;19(1):48-55. doi:10.1097/01.pep.0000234963.72945.b1 (https://doi.org/10.1097/01.pep.0000234963.72945.b1)
- Bertenthal, B. I., & Von Hofsten, C. (1998). Eye, head, and trunk control: The foundation for manual development. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 22, 515–520.
- Hewitt L, Kerr E, Stanley RM, Okely AD. Tummy Time and Infant Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review. Pediatrics. 2020;145(6):1-27. doi:10.1542/peds.2019-2168 (https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2019-2168)
- Russell DC, Kriel H, Joubert G, Goosen Y. Prone positioning and motor development in the first 6 weeks of life. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy. 2009;39(1):11-14.

Reviewed by Javier Atance Ibar, PhD in Education.

https://papakoala.com/en/activities/tummy-time-over-a-roll/