Tummy time is a fundamental way for your baby to gain motor skills and promote muscle development to help build the strength they need to sit up, roll over, and crawl. However, not all babies do well with tummy time as they start out. If you’re one of those mommas struggling with a baby who seems to absolutely hate tummy time, you’ll want to keep reading.

In this blog, we’ll review how to use a nursing pillow to prop up your baby’s chest during tummy time, and how babywearing can be another excellent addition for promoting muscular development. With your Tushbaby Hip Seat Carrier, you can do all these things and more—and we’re about to tell you how. 

Using a Nursing Pillow for Tummy Time

Table of Contents

• Can you use a nursing pillow for tummy time?
• When should I use my nursing pillow for tummy time?
• When do I start tummy time with my baby?
• How to use Tushbaby for a tummy time nursing pillow
• Safety tips for tummy time with a nursing pillow
• What to look for in a nursing pillow for tummy time

Can you use a nursing pillow for tummy time?

If you’re wondering, ‘can I use a nursing pillow for tummy time,’ the answer is YES. As we’ve mentioned, your nursing pillow can be used to prop up your baby’s chest during tummy time. For many babies who can’t yet muster the strength to lift their heads, tummy time can be zero fun. If you think about it, staring at a boring floor really doesn’t sound all that appealing (and it can be pretty scary for your newborn too). 

Prop up your baby’s chest with a nursing pillow, with their arms and shoulders up top to allow them to get a bird's eye view of about a few inches off the floor (hey, it’s better than nothing!). You can put some toys in front of them for some entertainment and encouragement to keep up with tummy time. 

When should I use my nursing pillow for tummy time?

At about 3 months, your baby should start exploring tummy time that isn’t inclusive of them laying on mom and dad’s chests. However, this transition to the ground can be a bit scary and disorienting. Using your nursing pillow for tummy time can help make this transition easier for your baby, especially if they’re upset when you try tummy time without it. 

When do I start tummy time with my baby?

While you may not think of this as traditional tummy time, your baby can be introduced to tummy time right from birth by lying on your chest. As we mentioned, it’s typically safe to transition your baby to tummy time on the floor at about three months now that they’re getting a bit stronger.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, tummy time should start early and in short increments. When your baby is a newborn, start with 2 to 3 times a day for a short duration, about 3-5 minutes. As your baby grows more comfortable, increase the frequency and duration—by 7 weeks, you should work up to 15 to 30 minutes daily. 

How to use Tushbaby for a tummy time nursing pillow

At Tushbaby, we’ve designed our products with the versatility to serve parents with an array of needs. So to no surprise, our Tushbaby Hip Seat Carrier can absolutely be used as a nursing pillow. In fact, the feeding position is just one of four carrying positions you can take advantage of with your adjustable waistband carrier. And even better, it’s perfect for tummy time training.

To use your Tushbaby for tummy time, simply lay your hip seat carrier flat on the floor with the seat’s non-slip patch facing up. Your baby’s chest can be propped up on the seat, with their arms and shoulders also lying on the padded seat. Our premium quality anti-slip patch will help prevent your baby from sliding from their safe propped-up position.

When using a nursing pillow for tummy time, it’s important you watch that your baby doesn’t slip, especially if using a nursing pillow without an anti-slip patch. 

Pro tip: The Tushbaby Carrier even has loops designed for clipping on your baby’s favorite toys. Latch your baby’s favorite toys and rattles to the carrier during tummy time so they have some entertainment! You can also hook on your Paci Pod when using your Tushbaby carrier to keep a clean pacifier handy for when you need it most. 

Safety tips for tummy time with a nursing pillow

When using a nursing pillow for tummy time, safety is a must. Here are a few tips from Tushbaby for safe tummy time with a nursing pillow: 

• Do tummy time when the baby is awake. If your baby is sleepy, it’s safest to lay them down on their back.
• Always supervise to ensure the baby is awake and propped up safely. 
• Use a firm, flat surface. Do not do tummy time in a soft bed where there is a risk of suffocation or falling from a high surface from wiggles. Although you should always be supervising, it’s best to be risk-averse here. 

What to look for in a nursing pillow for tummy time

When searching for a nursing pillow that you can use for tummy time, there are a few key things to look out for. 

• Comfort: You’ll want a comfortable place for your baby to lay for them to enjoy their tummy time, and it doesn’t get better than Tushbaby’s memory foam-lined seat. Talk about a plush spot for your baby to enjoy tummy time, nurse, or be carried.
  
• Safety: Like we mentioned earlier, Tushbaby’s anti-slip fabric patch can help keep your baby safe and prevent them from slipping off a nursing pillow during tummy time.
  
• Versatility: Tummy time isn’t the only way your baby can gain motor skills and muscle development. Babywearing is also great for muscular and motor skill development. Tushbaby allows you to substitute babywearing for tummy time with the ability to be used as both a nursing pillow and a carrier. Your Tushbaby can be used in the feeding position from birth, and enjoyed in other carry positions once your baby can hold their head up on their own. 

As a parent, you’ll accumulate a lot of stuff for your baby. When trying to maximize space and funds, find products that can serve multiple purposes, like the Tushbaby hip seat carrier. With Tushbaby, you can get a hip seat baby carrier that doubles as a breastfeeding pillow, plus extra storage space right on your hip. And when you’re not using it, it folds up for easy storage.

Whether you choose the Tushbaby or a traditional nursing pillow, be sure to understand the nursing pillow positions to maximize comfort for you and your baby.