You’ve probably heard that tummy time is a must for your baby’s development but may not be sure exactly how to make it happen. When do you start tummy time? How do you do it? What are the right tummy time positions for newborns?
Tummy time just means laying your baby down on their belly so they can play and develop their muscles. But this seemingly simple act is vital to your baby’s development: it helps your baby gain the strength to support their own head, encourages the skills they need to crawl, and primes them for other important developmental milestones.
But tummy time has many other important benefits. Because newborn babies spend so much time on their back, they’re prone to developing flat spots on the back of their head. Tummy time can help avoid these spots from forming by changing your baby’s position and taking pressure off the back of their head. It can also encourage healthy sleeping habits and can even help with the four-month sleep regression that many new parents struggle with.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends you start doing tummy time as soon as you bring your baby home. If you’re not sure how to do tummy time, read on for tips on how to master tummy time for newborns.
Babies need tummy time to prevent flat spots on the back of their head, strengthen their neck and shoulder muscles so they can eventually sit up, crawl, and walk, and improve their motor skills.
So, when do you start tummy time? And at what age? According to the AAP it’s never too early to start tummy time for newborns: beginning on your baby’s first day home from the hospital, you should play and interact with your baby while they are awake and on their tummy two to three times each day for about 3-5 minutes.
As your baby grows older, they’ll need more time on their tummies to build strength. Eventually, you should aim for 30 minutes of tummy time spread throughout the day.
Want to get ready for newborn tummy time? All you need is a cushioned surface, such as a soft blanket on a rug or the mattress from their Breeze® Playard, and a few high-contrast toys.
Getting started with newborn tummy time might seem intimidating, but if you break it down into manageable steps it’s much less overwhelming. We’ve got a few tips on how to do tummy time:
If you’re not ready to place your newborn on the floor or if you’ve had a C-section that makes getting up and down off the floor challenging, there are a few good tummy time positions for newborns that don’t require floor time:
Tummy time helps your baby develop the muscles they'll need to eventually roll over, sit up, crawl, and walk, so it’s important to make time for tummy time every day