Positions for Play
Children’s Occupational
Therapy Service
Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust: delivering excellence
in children and young people’s health services
Preterm babies are born before 37 weeks and miss out on the final stages of
pregnancy. During this time they would have been tightly curled up in the
womb, which is an important time for the baby’s future development.
From birth, gravity begins to have an effect and may cause your premature
baby’s arms and legs to flop out to the sides. Positioning your baby correctly
can help them feel secure, develop muscle strength and help them develop
sensory and movement skills.
When thinking about your baby’s motor skills, remember to always correct their
age from their due date!
Sleep time
Parents are advised to place their babies on their backs to sleep to reduce the
risk of cot death.
Try to place your baby down to sleep with their head to a different side each
time. This may help to prevent head flattening on one side.
Playtime
All babies need a variety of positions for playtime, so they can develop muscle
strength and control of movement. Play allows babies to explore their
environment and learn how their bodies work.
Tummy Time
Laying your baby on their tummy is very important for their development. In
this position a baby develops strength in the neck, arms, and back muscles.
Strengthening the shoulders is important for fine motor development.
It is recommended that babies be placed on their tummies to play
play, from birth.
The earlier your baby experiences this position, the less likely they are to
object to it, and the more likely they will realise that it is a great place to play!
Guidelines for Tummy Time
• Only place a young baby on their tummy when they are supervised and
awake.
• It is best not to put your baby on their tummy just after they have had a
feed.
• Start with several short periods of tummy time every day and build up the
length of time gradually.
• Tuck baby’s elbows under their shoulders.
• Try placing a rolled up blanket under baby’s chest to make it easier to lift
their head.
This counts as ‘tummy time’ too!
If you lie back with me on your chest I will get even stronger!
Remember, ‘back to sleep, tummy to play!’
Other positions for play
Side lying
This is a great position for babies to bring their hands together to explore their
fingers and toys. Place a soft toy in front of your baby to reach out for, hold
and explore.
Placing a rolled up blanket behind baby’s back & another in front of their
tummy to support them on their side.
Lying on their back
Make sure that your baby’s:
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•
•
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shoulders are rounded and supported off the mattress
legs are bent and together
head is in line with the body
encourage your baby’s hands to his/her mouth.
An example of this is to build a nest of rolled up blankets. As they start to
reach out for toys, place the toys all around them to encourage them to reach
in every direction and kick toys too!
Sitting
Sitting is for times when your baby is awake. It is not good for your baby’s
posture to sleep in a seat as they may slide down.
As your baby develops head control they can sit with their pelvis supported, by
you or cushions to encourage development of muscles to sit independently.
Start by placing toys in baby’s lap.
When baby can sit on their own, move toys slightly out of reach so they will
stretch out and try to move.
(Your baby should sit around 8 months corrected age.)
Positioning of toys
It is important that your baby is able to look at objects in a good position. Place
a toy so baby will look down and centrally. This will make it easier for them to
reach out for it.
When baby first comes home, their vision will be slow to bring a toy into focus.
Remember to give them time to focus before you move toy across their field of
vision. Their visual focus point may be further away than you expect too!
(Your baby may not start reaching out purposefully for toys until they are 4
months corrected age.)
Equipment
Your baby will need to go in a car seat, baby seat, or other type of baby
equipment at some time during the day. However…
• We recommend that you avoid leaving your baby in a baby seat for longer
than 30 minutes, unless you are travelling. This is because they restrict
your baby from moving freely.
• We also recommend that the use of baby walkers and door bouncers is
limited to no more than 15 min at a time.
Equipment that supports a baby in a standing position does not help your baby
learn to walk. It can give an unnatural experience of standing and has been
shown to be unsafe.
These devices may also contribute to developmental delay and toe walking
Most babies will develop normally without any help, but keeping these ideas in
mind will give your baby the best possible foundation for motor skill
development.
If you have any concerns about the advice in this leaflet, contact your child’s
therapist or health visitor.
Special thanks to the families who consented to their preterm babies being
photographed for this booklet!
Developed by: Jennifer Penston and Jo Czwartos
For further information about this service contact:
The Administrator
Children's Therapy Services
Block 13
Ida Darwin
Fulbourn
Cambridge CB21 5EE
Tel: 01223 884104
If you require this information in a different format such as in large print or on audio
tape, or in a different language please contact the service on the details above.
If you have any concerns about this service or suggestions for improvements,
contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service on Freephone 0800 013 2511 or
email: [email protected].
For free, confidential health advice and information 24 hours a day, 365 days a
year please contact NHS 111.
©Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust
Website: www.cambscommunityservices.nhs.uk
0049 - April 2015 (V1)
Code No:
Date of Production: April 2015
Date of Review:
April 2018