BABY LEARNS FLEXIBILITY OF THE HIPS
Zizu demonstrates how tummy time opens the hip joints. Zizu learned to enjoy tummy time during her first stellar caterpillar lesson, so it was easy to work with her in this belly-down position. While she was enjoying holding a rattle, we put our fingers underneath her knee joint and then lifted the knee joint and thigh up toward the ceiling just a little bit. The elongates the muscles in the front of the hip joints. Remember our discussion of baby’s in utero position which keeps the hips in a flexed position? This position shortens the muscles of the hip joint. We lift the thigh a little bit and then bring it back down, a few times. After the muscles of the hip joint elongate, the bones can move in greater and more efficient range of motion. This is important for the locomotive skills of crawling, walking, and standing. You can see in the photo that she is quite content to remain in the tummy time position for a while as we work with her.