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Tummy time is one of the most talked-about aspects of early infant care, and for good reason. This simple practice, placing your baby on their stomach while they are awake and supervised, has a profound impact on your baby’s physical development and is recommended by pediatricians and health organizations around the world.
Yet many parents struggle with tummy time, especially when their baby protests loudly. This guide covers everything you need to know about tummy time, including when to start, how to do it, how to make it more enjoyable for your baby, and why it matters so much in the first year of life.
Why Tummy Time Is So Important
Tummy time became especially important after the American Academy of Pediatrics launched its “Back to Sleep” campaign in the 1990s, recommending that babies sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of SIDS. This was an enormously successful campaign that dramatically reduced SIDS rates. However, it also meant that babies were spending less time on their stomachs overall, which led to delays in motor development and an increase in positional plagiocephaly (flat head syndrome).
Tummy time counteracts these effects by giving babies the opportunity to develop the neck, shoulder, core, and arm strength they need to reach motor milestones including rolling, sitting, crawling, and eventually walking.
Benefits of Regular Tummy Time
- Builds neck and head control
- Strengthens shoulder, arm, and core muscles
- Supports the development of rolling, sitting, crawling, and walking
- Helps prevent flat spots on the back of the head (positional plagiocephaly)
- Provides a different sensory perspective on the world
- Encourages visual development and eye-hand coordination
When to Start Tummy Time
The AAP recommends starting tummy time from day one, as soon as you bring your baby home from the hospital. In the early days, you can do “chest-to-chest” tummy time, placing your baby tummy-down on your chest while you recline. This is a gentle introduction that many newborns tolerate better than floor-based tummy time.
Floor-based tummy time on a firm surface can begin from birth as well, starting with just one to two minutes per session, a few times per day. Over the first few months, gradually increase the duration until your baby is getting at least 30 minutes of total tummy time per day by the time they are three to four months old.
How to Do Tummy Time
The basics of tummy time are simple: place your awake, supervised baby face-down on a firm, flat surface. However, there are many variations that can make it more enjoyable and effective, especially for babies who resist it.
Tummy Time Positions
- Floor tummy time: Place a firm, padded mat or folded blanket on the floor. Lay your baby face-down, and position yourself at their eye level to interact with them.
- Chest-to-chest: Lie back on a sofa or reclined chair and place your baby tummy-down on your chest. Your face is right there for them to look at, making this a lovely bonding position.
- Tummy time on your lap: Sit in a chair and place your baby face-down across your thighs, supporting their head. This position also works well for burping.
- Tummy time with a rolled towel: Place a small rolled towel or a tummy time pillow under your baby’s chest and armpits to give them a little lift, making it easier for them to hold their head up.
How to Make Tummy Time More Enjoyable
Many babies dislike tummy time, especially in the early weeks when they have very little head control. The good news is that with patience, consistency, and a few strategies, most babies come to tolerate and even enjoy tummy time as they grow stronger.
Get down on the floor at your baby’s eye level and talk, sing, and make silly faces. Babies are motivated by faces and voices, so your presence can transform a frustrating experience into a fun one. Place a mirror or high-contrast black and white card in front of your baby to give them something visually interesting to focus on.
Timing matters too. Do tummy time when your baby is awake and alert, not immediately after a feeding (which can cause discomfort) or when they are tired or hungry. Short, frequent sessions are better than long, stressful ones.
Tummy Time Milestones to Watch For
- Birth to 1 month: Baby briefly lifts and turns their head to one side during tummy time.
- 2 to 3 months: Baby lifts head to 45 to 90 degrees and begins pushing up on forearms.
- 4 months: Baby pushes up onto extended arms, lifts head and chest off the surface, and may begin to rock or pivot.
- 5 to 6 months: Baby can push up onto hands with straight arms and may begin rocking back and forth on hands and knees as a precursor to crawling.
Recommended Tummy Time Products
When to Talk to Your Pediatrician
If your baby consistently holds their head to one side during tummy time, has a noticeable flat spot on their head, or is not meeting expected tummy time milestones, speak with your pediatrician. Some babies benefit from physical therapy or helmet therapy for plagiocephaly, and early intervention is always more effective.
Sources
- American Academy of Pediatrics. (2023). Back to Sleep, Tummy to Play. HealthyChildren.org.
- CDC. (2023). Important Milestones: Tummy Time. CDC.gov.
- NHS. (2023). Tummy time: Why it matters and how to do it safely. NHS.uk.
- Pediatric Physical Therapy. Moon, R.Y. et al. (2022). SIDS and Other Sleep-Related Infant Deaths. AAP Clinical Practice Guideline.
