Outdoor Tummy Time

• Nothing except yourselves, maybe an umbrella or sunhat weather-depending.

This may seem like a no-brainer, but sometimes when you're in the thick of it, the world around you blurs. I rarely got outside when Lincoln was an infant (September baby problems), but with Layla, I find that she really enjoys grounding herself. Instead of immediately grabbing a blanket to lay out, put your little one on their tummy and let them explore the grass. Spoiler: grass and dirt don't hurt a baby! Myself or Lincoln like to lay in front of her so she has someone to look at and talk to. 

• For non-mobile babies, focus on their bare hands and feet and letting them explore the grass. Let them grab it and rip it and pull it. Pick some yourself and blow it in the wind. Listen for sounds and say what you hear for baby to understand. Sing songs to keep baby happy related to the outdoors. Our personal favorite is Mr. Sun, Rain Rain Go Away, and Itsy Bitsy Spider for outside fun.
• For babies who can sit up, have them sit in the tripod position and reach for you and let them flop on their tummy. Or bring a rattle and let them look all around for it by shaking it out of their sight. Place a pillow behind them if you're worried they may topple backwards. Gather flowers or leaves for baby to reach for. The goal with this is to have them used to and learn to go from sitting to laying and back again.
• For crawling babies and ,beyond this skill, just let them wander under your supervision! There's nothing more magical than a little baby crawling in the grass/sand/dirt and trying to understand the world around them. You can deepen this by asking them to be different animals. Have them slither like a snake, wiggle like a worm, hop like a bunny, leap like a frog, walk like a crab, etc.

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1. Full five senses of sensory experiences.
2. Tummy time is so valuable to a baby.
3. Daytime practice of new skills which is proven to help sleep.
4. Gross motor skills.
5. One-on-one prime time with your baby in an environment you aren't always in.