Tummy Time: essential tips for your baby's development

The benefits of tummy time

New parents are advised to plan short bursts of tummy time into their baby's day. This is to help your baby develop neck control and strengthen their back and shoulder muscles, which they'll need when they're old enough to start rolling and crawling.

Babies generally spend a lot of time on their backs so not only is tummy time a nice change of scenery for them but it also helps develop those vital motor skills. Babies that don't enjoy regular tummy time can be slower to develop core strength, as well as coordination and balance and therefore may struggle to crawl and be delayed with other key motor skills.¹

“A baby's skull is very soft and some can get a slightly flat head if they're always on their back with their head in the same position. Time spent on their tummy can help counteract this kind of head moulding by taking pressure off the head," says Donna Nicol, a specialist paediatric physiotherapist and director of Kids Physio London.

When to start tummy time?

You can start tummy time in your baby's first few days or at 2 weeks old. The official NHS advice is to start tummy time from birth – but only in very short bursts to begin with. You can place your newborn on your chest or across your lap for their tummy time session.

A newborn's neck muscles aren't very strong at all but your baby should be able to lift their head enough to turn it and place the opposite cheek down – that's about it.

How long should I do tummy time for?

With a very young baby tummy time can be super short: 10 seconds is fine. And always stop if your baby's not happy. But by 3 months old, your baby should be having the recommended tummy time of 1 hour per day (in increments).

Expect the progress from a few minutes a day to 1 hour to be very gradual. The important thing is just to try to do a little every day. As your baby gets older, tummy time sessions should last longer and be more regular throughout the day.

You might find it works to incorporate tummy time into daily routines such as nappy-change time – gently roll your baby over after each change for a few minutes on their tummy. It's also fine to do tummy time after a feed if you're placing baby on your chest, but if you're planning on putting baby down on their front on the floor, wait for around an hour to allow food or milk to digest first.

What can I do if my baby does not like tummy time?

It’s common for babies to dislike tummy time to begin with. It can take a lot of attempts before your baby is happy spending more than a few minutes on their tummies.

But don't give up. It's all about perseverance – doing just a little tummy time every day and discovering ways to do it that your baby feels more comfortable with. Try some of the following ideas to help you and your baby enjoy tummy time:

• With newborns, stick with tummy time on your chest
• Pick the right time – never start tummy time if your baby's hungry, has a wet nappy or is tired
• Switch to a session on your lap with slightly older babies who aren't happy doing tummy time on the floor
• Put a small rolled-up towel or tummy wedge under your baby's chest to help your baby feel a bit more supported
• Get on the floor and sit with your baby to entertain and interact with them
• Place a toy in front of your baby to encourage them to reach and shuffle forward
• Talk, sing and bond with your baby during tummy time sessions

Pic: Getty Images

References:

^{1 Are you doing tummy time correctly with your baby, connecticutchildrens.org}

Read more:

• When do babies sit up?
• The best tummy-time toys
• When will my baby be able to hold their head up?
• Your 3-month old baby's development milestones