Laying the Foundation: Why Tummy Time Matters For Babies and How to Do It

Tummy time may seem simple and at times tedious, but it is a powerful opportunity to help your baby grow. When your baby spends time awake and supervised on their stomach, they build strength for rolling, sitting, crawling, and even walking. Tummy time is also a great opportunity for you and your baby to connect and cultivate curiosity. Don’t over think it. Your baby doesn’t need fancy gear or flashy toys. With intentional time and space on their stomach, a few minutes throughout the day, your baby will gain body awareness, motor control, and confidence.

Is Your Child Ready?

You can start this in your baby’s first week for just a couple minutes at a time, multiple times throughout the day. As your baby gets stronger, they’ll get more comfortable and be able to play and explore for longer on their tummy. Tummy time usually lasts from 0-6 months or until your child starts rolling/crawling.

Some of Our Favorite Toys:

• Floor mat / blanket

• Play gym

• Mirror

• Picture cards LINK

• Optional mobile / hanging toy (or toy you can hang)

• Grasping toy / rolling toy / mouthing toy (rattle)

What Should You Do?

• Lay your baby on your chest while you recline. Look at each other and sing songs. 

• Use a playmat or blanket and lay your baby on the floor while you lay down next to them, read a book together

• Use a mirror so your baby can watch their reflection. Talk about what you see your baby doing.

• Place picture cards (simple black and white at first–then more complex and high-contrast) for your baby to look at–talk about the picture / sing songs.

• Place an engaging and beloved toy out of reach to encourage lifting and reaching. 

• Roll a rattle across the ground in front of your child for them to watch

• Use a baking sheet and put water or ice cubes in it and let your child explore.

WHEN YOUR CHILD NEEDS A BREAK:

• Put your baby on their back by a window so they can see outside or on a blanket outside

• Use mobiles or hanging toys to help engage your child on their back.

• Hand your baby a rattle, or mouthing toy and let them explore it (soft rattles help with not hitting themselves in the head)

Typically Babies Can:

• Lift head up during tummy time by 0-2 months

• Look at pictures for several seconds and tracks objects with their eyes by 0-2 months

• Reach for / swings at toys with arms by 2-5 months

• Push up onto elbows/forearms during tummy time by 3-5 months

• Reach and grabs a toy by 4-6 months

• Push up using straight arms when on tummy by 5-6 months

• Roll from tummy to back by 5-6 months

• Transfer objects from hand to hand by 6-9 months

• Belly crawl by 7 months

Life moves pretty quickly, it can be easy to not carve out intentional, supervised space for tummy time, but it’s so important. It’s a great way to connect and support your baby’s growth. As your watch your baby lift their head, reach for a toy, track objects, remember that these small movements are shaping strong bodies, growing curious minds, and deepening connection. A few minutes can really make a lasting difference.