Put baby on back to sleep and on stomach to play

A pediatrician has said that if infants don't spend time on their stomach, it will be much harder for them to push on their arms, which will not only delay rolling over but may also flatten the back portion of their skull.

Hannah Chow-Johnson, MD, pediatrician at Loyola University Health System and assistant professor in the department of pediatrics at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, suggests parents to place their child on their tummy whenever he or she is awake, even if it's only for a minute each time. Floor tummy time is preferred but lying on a parent's stomach will help build head and neck muscle strength as well.

She said that even newborns can lift their heads up briefly, so they should have some tummy time right from the start, as it helps them to be at maximum strength and sets the foundation for rolling and crawling, and also gives them a different view of the world, which is great for mental development.

Strong head and neck muscles also help cut down the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), she added that it is important for the baby's safety to have some tummy time when awake and always placed on the back when asleep.