The importance of baby tummy time

What is tummy time? It means placing baby on their belly for a little while every day. Supervised tummy time should always happen while your baby is wide awake and alert. How much depends on their age and development, but you can start tummy time from birth by lying your baby on your chest. As your baby grows, you can gradually introduce tummy time on the floor.

Why is tummy time important?

Tummy time helps strengthen their shoulders, back, and neck muscles, supports their movement and motor skills, and gives them a different view of the world. As they get older, they’ll be able to reach for things and look up more, giving them a sense of accomplishment. Some babies find tummy time hard at first, and that can be difficult to watch. But it’s an important part of their physical development because it prepares them for rolling over and crawling.

How do you do tummy time with a newborn?

Start with short sessions of a minute or two, a few times a day, and build up gradually — little and often is best to begin with. For newborns, a good tummy time position is to lie on your back and have your baby on your chest. That face-to-face contact may encourage them to lift their head (just be careful not to nod off yourself!). As they get more comfortable, aim to build up to around 20 to 30 minutes a day by the time your baby is 3 to 4 months of age.

Between 3 and 4 months, many babies can lift their head off the floor and may start leaning on their elbows or forearms. Over time, they may start pushing up with their hands, and it’s common for them to fall to one side or roll over. This is completely normal, but it’s especially important that they’re not left alone during this time, so always keep them under close watch.

From 5 to 6 months old, they will learn to move around on their stomach, pivoting, stretching and reaching to the sides and in front of them. Your baby is learning how to move their own body, improving their coordination and giving them the confidence to try new things as they get older.

At around 7 to 10 months old, they may start to crawl, but not all babies crawl; some shuffle or move straight towards walking.

Tummy time guidelines

It’s best to make tummy time activities part of their daily routine and playtime. The floor is always the safest place for them to play, so find a clear, firm play mat or blanket and a few age-appropriate toys. A baby-safe mirror can be useful as they may enjoy looking at their own reflection, and you can try different positions to encourage them to move around.

Place toys nearby or slightly to the side so your baby can look, reach and practise moving. They might need a lot of encouragement at the start, so get down with them to play and enjoy tummy time together.

If your baby gets tired or falls asleep during tummy time, gently move them onto their back for sleep. Tummy time is for awake, supervised play only.

When to seek further support

Tummy time gets easier with practice, and every baby builds strength at their own pace, so try not to worry if yours takes time to enjoy it. But if your baby seems very stiff or floppy, strongly resists any time on their front, is not showing signs of moving by around 12 months, or you have concerns about their movement or development, speak to your health visitor, GP or a healthcare professional.

For more guidance and tips, explore the Capricare® Parent Support Hub.