GM.A.28 ON TUMMY, PROPS ON EXTENDED ARMS, RAISING TRUNK AND TUMMY

The baby’s increasing control over her shoulder girdle allows her to push up on straight arms with her hands opened out and her arms tucked closer to her body than previously.

Her tummy muscles are now also coming into play in this position. When she pushes up, her back forms a relatively straight line down to her hips. She can now lift her tummy very slightly on the floor.

How to Assess

Method: Place your child on her tummy, with interesting toys in front of her. Score plus if she pushes up on straight arms, raising her chest and tummy off the surface, and taking her weight through open hands.

How to Teach

If your child has difficulty with this position, start by placing her over a wedge and encourage her to push up on her hands. You could also use a rolled towel. You may need to brace her elbows, as discussed in GM.A.20.

If your child’s problem is one of sagging tummy muscles, continue doing the pull to sit exercises (GM.A.I6, GM.A.17) but hold her only by pulling her up diagonally, first leading her with 1 hand, then the other. This is important because the abdominal muscles consist not only of straight ones, up and down, but also of diagonal ones in each direction. The baby must use these diagonal muscles to balance against gravity.

Positioning, Carrying and Playing

You can help your child to prop on straight arms as she lies across your lap, with her hands on the floor beside you. Remember to ensure that her hands are open.

When she is sitting on your lap, you can help her to lean to the side, propping her weight through a straight arm. Practise to both sides. Remember to use the ‘crossed ankles, knee to the sky’ position, again expecting her to prop on both arms. This position is also very valuable because it exercises her tummy muscles at the same time (GM.A.I7).

‘Row, row, row your boat’ is a good game for strengthening tummy muscles. Sit your child between your legs on the floor and lean her alternately forward and back as you sing the song.Don’t just ‘pull her up’ to sit, she must assist you by using her tummy muscles to come up.          ‘

If this is too extreme, start from the position described in GM.A.4 – coming up from 45°.