1. It builds muscle strength.
Tummy time encourages your little one to lift their head and look around, building the neck and upper body muscles they need to support their big, adorable noggin. Tummy time also strengthens your baby’s arms and the core muscles in their trunk, which are critical to mastering all sorts of motor skills like crawling, climbing, and running.
2. It expands sensory development.
Whether they’re on a carpet or a soft blanket (or you!), tummy time gives your baby a chance to feel all sorts of different textures on their hands, arms, and cheeks. This expands their sense of touch — and their understanding of the world around them. Once your baby is used to tummy time, play mats with various textures, shapes, and colors can help keep them engaged and build their body’s sensory vocabulary.
3. It encourages curiosity.
When they’re on their belly, your baby has the chance to make their move in a way they can’t when they’re being held. This makes tummy time a great time to stretch their muscles and their curiosity. Grab their interest with black-and-white patterned cards to encourage them to lift their head and look. When they’re a little older, scatter enticing toys just out of reach so they have to move toward them, reach out, and grab. (Tip: A nonbreakable mirror is a tummy-time favorite!) And remember to sometimes get down on the ground, make eye contact, and encourage your baby with words and smiles. Your comforting presence will let them know that it’s okay to try new things.
4. It strengthens their bond with you.
Whether you're both on your bellies, face-to-face and “chatting,” or they’re near you on the floor exploring their surroundings, tummy time allows you and your baby to spend some quality time together. For some skin-to-skin closeness, you can place them belly down on your thighs and give them a back massage by very gently pressing in small circles with the pads of your fingers (making sure to avoid pressing on the spine). Plus, tummy-time bonding isn’t just for parents and babies — any family member can get it on the fun!
5. It develops motor skills.
Research shows that consistent tummy time is key to mastering the gross motor skills needed for their next stages of development. The more time they spend on their belly, the more practice your baby gets in moving their legs, pushing up with their arms (baby’s first push-up!), and even rolling over. These motor skills build on each other, paving the way for sitting, crawling, and pulling up to a stand. And then comes the day when your little kid takes that first big step. Congratulations! Your one-time tummy timer has graduated . . . to toddler time!
Ready, set… tummy time!
You can kick off tummy time when your baby is just a week old (so long as their umbilical cord has already fallen off). Lay your baby on your chest, belly down. Prop their head to one side, with their arms tucked beside them. Before no time, your infant should be wiggling and, cheek-down, looking around.
Start out with just two or three 2-minute sessions a day and slowly work up to 20 minutes daily, aiming for up to 80 minutes daily. If your infant complains at first, take it slowly — even just 30 seconds of tummy time to start helps get them acclimated. Lying them on your lap is an excellent place to begin so they feel safe and comfortable. Choose a time when they’re not too tired or hungry. Just avoid doing tummy time right after a feed (for babies with reflux, wait at least 30 minutes), and make sure your baby is always awake and carefully supervised during their workouts.
