When to Start Tummy Time?

As a parent of a newborn, you’ve probably heard the term “tummy time” and may have thought it was just a simple playtime activity with your baby. Well, yes, it is, but it’s also an opportunity to help your baby build strength and work on motor skill development.

Read on to find out when to start tummy time, learn more about its benefits, how to give your baby tummy time, and how you can make it fun for your little one.

What Is Tummy Time?

Tummy time for your baby involves placing your wide awake baby on her belly for short periods of time while you closely watch her. This activity is important for your baby’s development as it can help strengthen the neck and shoulder muscles as well as boost motor skills.

Just remember that your baby should always be supervised during her tummy time sessions.

Check out this video for a quick 101 on tummy time:

When Should You Start Giving Tummy Time?

You can start tummy time sessions while you and your newborn are still in the hospital, or as soon as your newborn is home from the hospital.

It’s a good idea to start early so your baby can get used to the activity. Keep in mind that you don’t have to worry about the umbilical cord stump when you start doing tummy time—the stump will be just fine.

To get started in this early stage, place your baby on your chest or stomach while you are in a reclined position in a chair, on a bed, or on the floor. Take this time to engage with your baby, make lots of eye contact, talk animatedly, and make exaggerated facial expressions. This is a great way to bond with your new baby!

What Are the Benefits of Tummy Time?

Offering tummy time to your baby every day offers a variety of benefits:

• Promotes physical development. Tummy time helps strengthen your baby’s neck, arms, back, and legs, and also helps her gain flexibility and muscle control. The motor skills and strength she develops will be needed for rolling over and sitting, and then crawling and walking.

• Provides a new perspective on the world. It gives your baby the chance to observe and explore her environment in a different way than she does when she’s on her back. On her stomach, she has to lift her head to look around. This not only helps strengthen her back and neck muscles but also gives her a new perspective on the world.

• Helps ease torticollis and avoid flat head syndrome. Tummy time can be beneficial for babies with torticollis, a condition resulting in tight muscles in the neck. Tummy time, along with exercises prescribed by a healthcare provider, can help a baby’s tight neck muscles relax. Spending time on her stomach while awake can also help avoid flat spots developing on the back of your baby's head, known as flat head syndrome.

• Introduces new textures. It exposes your baby to different textures as the skin on the different parts of her body come in contact with the surface she is on.

How to Do Tummy Time

Tummy time can be slightly different for newborns and older babies. Read on to find out more about the specific tummy time techniques.

Tummy Time for Newborns

As your little one is just beginning to develop head and neck control, follow these guidelines for doing tummy time for newborns from 0 to 3 months old:

1. Place your newborn belly-down on your chest or on your lap while she is wide awake.

2. To help her feel more comfortable, interact with her by looking into her eyes, giving her a big smile, and talking to her in a happy sing-song voice.

3. At this stage, keep tummy time short—about three to five minutes at a time. You can slowly increase the length as you see her enjoying the activity. Give your little one tummy time about two to three times per day. After a diaper change or a nap could be a great time for it.

Although your baby may have more control over her head and stronger neck muscles by the end of the first month, you still need to support her head when you hold her. She won’t be able to hold her head up on her own until she’s about 4 months old.

Tummy Time for Older Babies

Here's how to give your older baby tummy time when she’s about 4 to 7 months old:

1. Place your baby belly-down onto an area on the floor that’s covered with a blanket, towel, or play mat.

2. Play and interact with her by getting on the floor with her, and even dangling a toy in front of her.

3. Offer a tummy time session of about three to five minutes at a time, eventually increasing in duration once you see her enjoying the activity. You can do tummy time about two or three times a day—perhaps after a diaper change or a feeding.

Around this time, your baby most likely will be able to fully lift her head while she’s on her tummy, and she may also start to push up on her arms, arch her back, and lift her chest. This newly achieved upper body strength will aid her in eventually being able to sit up.

You may also notice her rocking on her stomach, or even kicking her legs or “swimming” with her arms when she's on her tummy. This often happens at around 5 months, and indicates she’s getting the strength and skills needed to be able to roll over and maybe even crawl.

How Often Should You Do Tummy Time?

It’s a good idea to do tummy time two to three times a day. As your baby starts to get used to this activity, you can do so more frequently or for longer sessions.

Where Is the Best Place to Do Tummy Time?

In the newborn stage (from 0 to 3 months), you can start doing tummy time with your baby placed on your own belly or your lap.

Later on, the best place to do tummy time is on a low, safe surface, such as a clean floor, or a floor spread with a play mat or a blanket. Just make sure the blanket doesn’t slide around as your baby moves.

You may be wondering if you can do tummy time on another surface. Avoid doing tummy time on a sofa or bed, or any other raised or soft surface. These locations can put your baby at risk of suffocation or of rolling off and falling unexpectedly. Also avoid doing tummy time on pillows and other soft surfaces.

Ways to Turn Tummy Time Into Play Time

Tummy time is a great opportunity to play with your baby. Here are four ideas:

1. Put a favorite toy just out of your baby’s reach and encourage him to reach for the toy. Or, instead of a toy, you could also sit down low and just out of reach of your baby, so he can lift his head up and try to reach toward your face.

2. Place toys in different spots around your baby. This will encourage him to reach toward the different points, and as a result help develop the muscles that he will need to roll over, scoot, and eventually crawl.

3. Instead of placing your baby on a surface for tummy time, you could place your baby on your lap or chest. This is especially recommended for newborns up to 3 months old. When on your lap, lift and lower your legs at the same time; then, for a variation, move your baby side to side. On your chest, your baby will try to lift his head and his arms to look at you. During these tummy time sessions, keep talking to your baby to comfort and encourage him.

4. If you have a toddler or young child in the house, have her play with your baby during tummy time. This can be a good bonding moment for siblings.

What If Your Baby Hates Tummy Time?

Your baby may not like being on his tummy in the beginning—after all, it’s a position that he’s trying for the first time.

Here are a few strategies you can try:

1. Have a colorful toy within his reach so he has something to occupy his attention.

2. Get on the floor yourself in his line of sight, and entertain him with a toy or by singing to him.

3. If he’s still not having fun, have someone else try to entertain him.

4. Try a side-lying position. In this style of tummy time, you place your baby on his side. If you need to, roll up a towel to support his back, and fold up a clean washcloth for under his head. Your baby’s arms should be out in front, with his legs forward at his hips, and his knees bent. Your baby may prefer tummy time this way.

Eventually, your baby will get the hang of this new activity, and may come to like it. If you’re concerned that your baby really isn’t enjoying tummy time, ask your baby’s healthcare provider for advice.

Tummy time can be a fun activity for both you and your baby as it’s a great opportunity to bond. It’s also a chance for your baby to develop the muscle control needed for all the progress to come, such as sitting up, crawling, and eventually walking. Practicing tummy time each day will bring lots of rewards in terms of your baby’s ongoing development.

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