Tummy time: how much, when, and how to make it fun

Why tummy time matters

Babies sleep on their backs, as every safe-sleep body recommends. Tummy time balances that: awake, supervised time on the front. The NICHD Safe to Sleep campaign explains that it does not directly lower the risk of SIDS, but it helps your baby:

• strengthen neck, shoulder and arm muscles, the base for sitting up, crawling and walking;
• improve control of their movements;
• avoid flat spots on the back of the head.

A 2020 systematic review in Pediatrics (16 studies, 4,237 babies in 8 countries) found tummy time linked with better gross motor and overall development, less brachycephaly (a flattened head shape) and better movement skills on the front, back, rolling and crawling. Most of those studies were observational, so the evidence is encouraging rather than definitive.

How much tummy time, by age

Increase the time gradually as your baby enjoys it. Several short sessions count just as much as one long one.

When to fit it into the day

• After a nappy change or when your baby wakes from a nap: the AAP suggests these moments because your baby is alert and comfortable.
• Never when your baby is drowsy: sleepy babies go on their back, in their own sleep space.

Five positions to try

1. Chest to chest. Lie back, baby on your chest. Your face is the reward for lifting their head.
2. On a blanket on the floor. Clear area, firm surface. The NICHD suggests a rolled-up towel under the arms to prop your baby up slightly.
3. Across your lap. Baby lies across your thighs while you stroke their back and talk to them.
4. Face to face on the floor. Lie down at your baby's eye level. Someone your baby trusts sitting in front of them encourages interaction, says the NICHD.
5. With a big sibling. The AAP suggests letting a young child play with the baby on the floor, while you keep watch.

Games that build strength

• Place yourself or a toy just out of reach so your baby stretches toward it (AAP).
• Put toys in a circle around your baby: reaching in different directions builds the muscles for rolling, scooting and crawling (AAP).
• A baby-safe mirror at eye level keeps many babies interested longer.
• Talk and sing the whole time. Tummy time is also social time.

If your baby hates tummy time

It is common. Some babies protest for the first few weeks. What helps:

• shorter sessions, more often, even 1 or 2 minutes;
• starting on your chest, where your baby feels safe;
• getting down to their level and making it a game;
• stopping before the crying peaks and trying again later.

Preventing a flat head

The AAP says a flat spot can form from back sleeping but usually rounds out as babies grow and sit up. To lower the risk, the AAP and NICHD suggest:

• regular tummy time;
• alternating which end of the crib your baby's feet point to (for example, week by week);
• holding your baby upright ("cuddle time") when awake;
• limiting time in car seats, bouncers, swings and carriers where the head rests against a surface;
• switching the side you hold your baby on during bottle feeds.

If you notice a flat area that is not improving, or your baby always turns their head the same way, mention it to your pediatrician or health visitor.

Safety rules

The full sleep rules are in our guide to safe sleep. To see how tummy time connects to rolling and sitting, read baby development month by month.

Questions parents ask

Sources

1. AAP HealthyChildren.org — Back to Sleep, Tummy to Play checked October 13, 2026
2. NICHD Safe to Sleep — Tummy Time for a Healthy Baby checked October 13, 2026
3. WHO — To grow up healthy, children need to sit less and play more (2019 guidelines for children under 5) checked October 13, 2026
4. Hewitt L, Kerr E, Stanley RM, Okely AD. Tummy Time and Infant Health Outcomes, a systematic review. Pediatrics, 2020 checked October 13, 2026

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