Tummy Time Tips & Tricks

Tummy time can be such a fun time, but it can also be an equally stressful time. Tummy time is important for development because it helps to strengthen a baby’s neck, arm, and shoulder muscles. Building muscles will help your baby as they grow and learn to roll over, sit, crawl, and eventually walk. Tummy time can also help babies build their motor skills.

Despite all of the benefits of tummy time, many babies don’t like it. Especially when they are young. All three of my kids hated doing tummy time in the early days. They would scream and get frustrated when they couldn’t move or lift their head yet. I had to find ways to get creative and make it fun instead of a chore.

I wanted to share with you a few tips and tricks that were helpful for my kids during our tummy time journeys. I hope that by sharing, they help someone else struggling with this phase.

1. Take Turns Between Tummy & Back

A big thing that helped for us was to switch back and forth between tummy time and back time. We would have tummy time for a while, and when baby got too upset, we would switch and do some back time. Then we’d take turns going back and forth for a little bit.

2. Lay Out Toys

Probably the biggest thing I’ve done for tummy time is to lay out toys within arm's reach or in front of baby’s face. Having something to look at helps with distracting baby during tummy time so they aren’t lying there bored.

3. Interact with Baby

Talk, sing, and play with baby. Anything to help with distracting the baby from their unhappiness while doing tummy time. Interact with them. Let them know they aren’t alone.

4. Use a Water Tummy Time Mat

Get a water mat. My third baby absolutely loved his water tummy time mat! You simply fill it with water, and it has toys that move inside so baby can play and move the items in the water. It was a lifesaver with my youngest, and I wish we’d had one with my older two.

5. Rotate Blankets & Mats

Use different blankets with colors and patterns underneath baby. And switch those blankets/mats out every so often to give baby something new to look at. Changing it up will help keep baby entertained with something new to look at.

6. Change the Location

And speaking of changing it up…try changing the location/room where you do tummy time. If you always do it in the same room and same spot, try mixing it up with a different room or location.

7. Go Outside

And last but not least, take tummy time outside. There is something about fresh air and being outside that babies just love (I know all of mine did). Try doing some tummy time outside to give your baby some new sights, smells, and sounds.

Bonus tip for encouraging crawling: Once baby is getting closer to crawling try putting toys, books, etc just outside of arms reach. This will help encourage movement for baby to reach for/try to get the toys.

 

I hope that these tips and tricks help make your tummy time journey a little bit smoother for you and baby! Do you have a tummy time tip that I didn’t mention? Let me know in the comments below!

DIY Bluey Birthday Party

For my daughter’s 6th birthday, she decided to go with a theme for one of her favorite TV shows, “Bluey”. As a family favorite show, I was excited to bring this theme to life! And since it is pretty popular, I was able to find quite a bit of stuff for it at local stores. It was also my daughter's golden birthday, so it was fun coming up with ways to incorporate gold pops of color throughout the theme. This is ultimately what I did to make the theme come to life.

Photo Backdrop

Supplies You’ll Need:

• Balloon arch kit
• Tape/rope
• Air pump (optional)

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. I got a balloon arch kit that came with everything at Target. It had blue and gold colors, so it was a perfect fit for our theme.
2. I blew up the balloons and attached them throughout the balloon arch. Having an air pump was a lifesaver because there were so many balloons!
3. Tape and/or use rope to secure the finished arch to the wall. I used both.

Birthday Outfit

Supplies You’ll Need:

• White t-shirt
• Blue, yellow, orange, black, red, white & gold Fabric paint
• Paintbrush

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Using a photo I found on Pinterest, I painted a black outline of both Bluey & Bingo.
2. Mix blue with white paint to create the different blue shades for Bluey and paint. Let dry.
3. Mix orange with white paint to create the different shades for Bingo and paint. Let dry.
4. Paint the yellow spots on Bluey. Let dry.
5. Paint the black spots on both characters. Let dry.
6. Paint the balloon red. Let dry.
7. Paint the number 6 in gold on top of the balloon.
8. Let the entire shirt dry overnight. Then wash or wear right away.

Cake

Supplies You’ll Need:

• Cake mix
• Candle
• Cake topper (optional)

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Mix and make the cake. We did an Oreo cake for ours.
2. Add a candle and any cake toppers you want.

Table Set

We used a Bluey tablecloth for eating and presents. We also used Bluey plates and napkins for our food.

Champagne Glasses

We used plastic champagne flutes with gold specks for our drinks to try in the gold colors.

Games

We had fun playing some of the very games they do in the show, like “pass the parcel” and “keepy uppy”. To help tie in the theme even more.

Bluey Ears

One of our favorites was these adorable Bluey ear headbands we got at Target. Both of my kids loved them! I only wish I could have also found a Bingo pair.

I hope these ideas help inspire you to create your own Bluey-themed party and have a great time with it. Happy creating!