Which is the best tummy time pillow for newborns? Read on to find out.
Tummy time usually play a significant role in a child’s development. Most babies love it while others don’t. Here are some things you need to be conversant with pertaining tummy time, products to use, and when to do it.
In this Guide
How and When to Start Tummy Time
You can start right after the baby is born according to AAP – American Academy of Pediatrics. In a nutshell, place the little one on its stomach three times in a day for about five minutes. You can increase the tummy time as the baby grows. This activity is quite significant in their development.
Tummy time typically allows for different fine motor skills and essential developmental benefits that ensures the baby is healthy. It helps in strengthening the neck muscles, enhances motor flexibility and strength plus meeting milestones such as rolling over then crawling eventually.
Benefits of Tummy Time
Tummy time usually give the little ones a different view of the world to learn and explore. For new borns, slight abdominal pressure helps with stooling and digestion. Putting the babies on their stomach also allows them to take advantage of primitive reflexes that they normally can’t when lying on their backs. It additionally helps prevent flattening shape of the skull or deformational plagiocephaly which usually occurs when the baby spends a lot of time on its back. You’ll need a helmet to rectify this issue. A baby’s skull is still delicate up to around six months.
Although tummy time has many developmental benefits, the little ones detest it. Tummy time usually feels like some sort of exercise for the first time. Babies hate it as they have to put in effort to comfortably hold their necks and head upright. This is the adult version of holding a push-up. In the uterus, babies are normally in a fetal position curled up so spreading them out is new and uncomfortable to them. Get the best tummy time pillow for newborns in the market to keep them comfortable and watch them naturally and effortlessly try to adjust to the new position.
The baby will easily adjust to the new position naturally if you start tummy time early enough. You can even begin before leaving the hospital. Besides, trying to hold up a stare during the exercise helps a great deal in making the baby feel super comfortable.
No toy can make tummy time fun but there are some that usually encourage the little ones to try pushing up with their tiny arms. The toys come in different colors, designs and shapes that will encourage the baby to move.
Best Tummy Time Pillow for Newborns
Here are some of our picks for productive, happy and successful tummy time.
#1. Bright Starts Tummy Time Prop and Play Mat
This play mat is ideal for toddlers up to 3 years. The mat lies three feet horizontally ad is quite soft. You can prop it up for the baby to reach out for the toys on both sides plus it comes with a mirror. The mat additionally features a tiny pillow for support and a plush pillow. Bright Starts Prop and Play Mat is the best pick for children who dislike being propped too high. It weighs about 1.25 pounds and measures 32.5 × 36 inches.
#2. Sassy Developmental Bumpy Ball
Sassy Bumpy Ball is ideal for children of all ages. It comes in different fun colors, materials and textures to keep the baby entertained for longer without getting bored. The baby can easily grab the ball and pass it from one hand to the other repeatedly. It’s bold, bright and rattles gently thereby providing an attainable stimulus for perfect tummy time. The ball weighs 3.52 ounces and measures 8.88 × 7.5 ×5.5 inches.
#3. Fisher Prince Grow with Me Tummy Time Plush Llama
The toy is ideal for all children. Your little one will enjoy snuggling this stuffed animal. Besides, you can also place it right under the baby’s stomach as it helps develop neck and other core muscles especially during tummy time. This plush llama stuffed animal comes with a rattle, mirror, and teether to that ensure the baby is pretty busy.
They toy additionally comes with a double-sided blanket that features a small pouch for easy storage of the toys when not in use. Besides, you can machine wash both the blanket and the Llama. It measures 15 × 15 × 17 inches and weigh about 1.72 pounds.
#4. Fisher Prince Deluxe Kick and Play Piano Gym
Fisher Prince Deluxe Play Piano Gym is ideal for all children. This mat typically delivers entertainment for babies from all angles. The baby can reach out for the teether, mirror or crinkle toys when looking up and also kick back the piano toy that tends to sing or light up when touched. You can remove the piano part and make it an independent play toy when the baby grows older. The toy measures 27 × 36 × 17 inches and weighs 4.6 pounds.
#5. Baby Einstein Rhythm of the Reef Prop Pillow
This tummy pillow for new borns is super comfortable and works well for children three months and above. You can prop up the baby with this toy to encourage it to push up on its hands to reach out for the teether, rattle or crinkle leaves. Place the prop pillow in front of the baby if he doesn’t like it when you put something under the tummy. This will encourage the baby to move and also gives them something they can try grabbing on which makes it the best tummy time pillow for newborns. The prop pillow measures 17 × 7 × 7 inches and weighs about 1.06 pounds.
#6. Manhattan Toy Winkel Rattle and Sensory Teether Toy
Manhattan Sensory Teether Toy offers everything a baby needs making it ideal for newborns and beyond. It comes in different fun colors, features several tubes and produces a rattling sound guaranteed to capture the baby’s attention for an extended period.
The toy additionally features a thin plastic that can double up as a teether and also has several spots for the little one to grasp. It’s quite small for ease of storage and transportation especially for moms on the move. Manhattan Winkel Rattle and Sensory Teether Toy is an ideal tummy-time toy for newborns weighing about 3.87 ounces.
#7. Baby Einstein Glow and Discover Light Bar Activity Station
Baby Einstein Glow and Discover Activity Station is an interactive toy for babies and has three different modes – a xylophone, animals and colors. Plus, it’s quite easy to plop on a play mat and is ideal for three-month-old babies and above. The toy tends to light up effortlessly when you touch it and you can either use it ling flat or with the tiny kickstand. Besides, it comes with a language switch that changes the prompts in English, French and Spanish. The toy weighs about 15.8 ounces and is the most interactive tummy time toy.
#8. Fisher Prince Pizza Slice Teether
Fisher Prince Pizza Slice Teether is for those moms who are looking for a budget-friendly tummy time toy for their children. It’s perfect for babies 3 months old and above. This might as well become your baby’s favorite teether since it’s relatively cheap. It’s an excellent mix of several chewable materials to soothe the baby’s gums. Plus, the toy also makes a crinkle sound that will catch the baby’s attention and also encourages them to grab things using both hands.
Place the toy in front of the baby on the mat during tummy time or allow them to roll around and grab it on their own. The Pizza Slice Teether weighs about 1.44 ounces.
#9. B. Toys Wooden Baby Play Gym
Toys Wooden Play Gym is ideal for newborns up to 2 years. A tummy time play mat for babies and activity gym can stimulate the little one in different ways. However, they can be an eyesore in the living room. This particular one is rustic, chic, minimalistic and complements most spaces. One of the most significant features of this toy is that it can be easily disassembled for easy storage when not in use. It additionally comes with a soft-colored charm in different textures and colors which is fun for the toddler to play with or just look at. The toy weighs 2.2 pounds.
#10. Boppy Tummy Time Prop Pillow
Boppy Tummy is the best tummy time pillow for newborns up to about 6 months. This prop pillow is super soft and usually support the toddler’s stomach and is not as high to make them feel uncomfortable. It’s quite simple which is a bonus especially when it comes to ideal toys for babies during tummy time. The pillow additionally comes with a crinkle toy and teether making it a perfect travel toy for moms on the move. It weighs 1.15 pounds.
#11. Baby Einstein Flip for Art Floor Mirror with Take-Along Cards
This is the best mirror for tummy time perfect toy for newborns and children up to 3 years since the baby prefers to look at few things save for the parent and itself. It’s an excellent toy for newborns because even those tiny foggy eyes can clearly see the contrast in white and black images. Flip-through flashcards come in handy when the baby is old enough. Besides, bold designs always encourage the little ones to look up which in turn helps develop the neck muscles. The mirror weighs 5.3 ounces.
#12. Infantino Pat and Play Water Mat
This play mat is ideal for toddlers three months and above. The fun is usually limitless with different water characters moving around anytime the little one presses the play mat. Excellent for tummy time and when the baby grows a little older, he can play with it in the high chair. You only need to fill up the play mat with water then plop it on the floor. It’s that easy! The mat weighs 3.2 ounces.
#13. Skip Hop Bandana Buddies Baby Activity Chime and Teether
The Skip Hop Bandana Buddies Activity Chime and Teether is ideal for newborns and babies of all ages. It’s a versatile toy as it can produce a chiming sound and also provides the little one with something to play with. It helps keep the baby distracted during tummy time. What’s more, you can comfortably hand the toy on any stroller or activity play mat. The elephant chime is super playful and bright enough to attract the baby’s attention for longer regardless of where you go. The best tummy time toy for moms on the move as you can easily strap them on the car seat. The toy weighs 2.08 ounces.
#14. Manhattan Toy Llama Themed Soft Baby Activity Book
Manhattan Llama Themed Baby Activity Book is ideal for newborns up to three years. Books are perfect for reading but will not work well for toddlers that only want to explore using their tiny little hands and chew on anything they can grab. This book is a great addition to different kinds of activities since it’s versatile. It will keep the baby occupied during tummy time, playing and trying to reach out for the mirror, Llama toy or crinkling shapes. It weighs 2.24 ounces.
Choose the best tummy time toys for newborns from the above recommendations that will keep your baby comfortable and offer different developmental benefits. Ensure the toys you choose are child-friendly and safe.
