Babies: why and how - tummy time

You have been blessed with a baby, you’ve heard about tummy time, you’ve heard it’s important but why and how young do you start tummy time with your little one?

How long does she need to stay on her tummy, how often does she need to do it and what do you do if she doesn’t like it?

Firstly, let’s dispel a common myth. Tummy time does NOT involve leaving babies screaming or unhappy on their tummies on the floor.

Very little development happens under stress and none of us learn well when we are unhappy.

Tummy time, while your baby is awake, is very important for development. It is not only a wonderful brain and body building activity, tummy time can also be beautiful for bonding as well.

Here are just some ways tummy time helps your baby’s development.

You can start tummy time from the minute your little one is born.

In many cultures newborn infants are placed on their tummies, directly onto their mother’s stomach. This is not only a first exceptional skin to skin bonding experience, it also immediately stimulates an early infant reflex that results in the baby moving up mum’s stomach, encouraging neural connections from the very start! The earlier you start tummy time with your baby the better.

How long do babies need to remain on their tummies?

When babies are very little, start with short periods of tummy time often, while they are building up their strength. They will eventually choose to spend most of their waking day on their tummies. Always change their position when you see signs of tiring or discomfort. Remember, that head is very heavy!

There are lots ways to do tummy time and many of them do not involve the floor. Take a look here:

If your baby doesn’t like tummy time yet, don’t worry. With all that muscle strengthening going on, tummy time can be hard work! It’s never too late to start and every bit of tummy time makes a difference.

Does your baby like tummy time? Please SHARE in the comments below.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.com

Enjoy more from GymbaROO’s free online video series for parents and babies here.

26 Comments

- - ChiWren said
  - 20 Feb 2024
    8:49 pm
It took my boy a minute to not absolutely hate tummy time, but it’s paying off wonderfully. He’s been rolling on his left side back to tummy, and today for the first time did a perfect roll on his left side to a tummy time position. Very proud mumma. Trying to get those neck muscles strong so we can incline the pram.

- - ella12 said
  - 17 May 2017
    4:41 pm
A great helpful and informative article.

- - mom70876 said
  - 13 Jul 2016
    3:36 pm
My first born hated tummy time, the second loved it… you really need to adjust for the child.

- - lizgh said
  - 02 Apr 2016
    4:49 am
My 10 weeks old baby girl hates tummy time. I try lots of time but not very successful until now.

- - meedee said
  - 01 Apr 2016
    9:38 pm
My eldest 2 hated being on their tummies where as my youngest seemed to enjoy it and find it relaxing….so much so that she would exhaust herself and fall asleep. thankfully once she was asleep she would stay asleep while i transferred her to her cot.

- - mom81879 said
  - 20 Sep 2015
    7:57 am
My bubs had lots of floor time, tummy and back. They need floor time to learn and move. I put them down and leave them til they’re sick of it

- - mom113055 said
  - 10 Sep 2015
    12:15 am
he looks suprised

- - linaianna said
  - 05 Sep 2015
    8:08 pm
Thanks for sharing this article

- - levismumma said
  - 02 Sep 2015
    10:50 am
love these, my daughter isnt a fan of tummy time if she is placed on the floor. she does enjoy it uf we pop a towel rolled under her so she is more upright, and loves tummy time on mummy.
My son was the same, never relly enjoyed it until he was roughly 5 months old and had more strength

- - mom152736 said
  - 25 Aug 2015
    7:52 pm
He never used to like it that much…but now when he’s 5 mnths old…. he’s started to enjoy his tummy time…

- - mom150983 said
  - 18 Aug 2015
    1:39 pm
I like the suggestions for tummy time on Mom’s tummy I think we will try that

- - mom67623 said
  - 07 Aug 2015
    6:51 am
Loved watching the happy baby on tummy it is true, my kids loved it when they were little too.. Also if they had tummy pains or wind, laid them on tummy across my knee and massaged there back , worked for me, and them so sharing for young mums to see
- mom94125 replied
  
  17 Oct 2015 , 5:32 pm
  yes encourage them to lift their head by looking at things that make noise etc.
- - mom94125 said
  - 03 Aug 2015
    10:25 pm
tummy time is essential! i noticed that my kids could hold their heads up pretty much from birth (a little)

- - mom113055 said
  - 02 Aug 2015
    2:13 pm
this is is just a cute looking baby it s just very cute looking

- - mom66977 said
  - 31 Jul 2015
    9:03 am
Tummy time is so important my twins loved it

- - mom125080 said
  - 27 Jul 2015
    1:55 pm
Both my babies loved tummy time, very important

- - cherz said
  - 25 Jul 2015
    3:34 pm
Believe it or not when my daughter was born the nurses back then put babies on their tummies to sleep.
Oh how things change.

- - Missey Grace said
  - 25 Jul 2015
    2:38 pm
Start with short and sweet session and then add a little more time progressively, it helps to incorporate fun things with baby first.

- - june11 said
  - 23 Jul 2015
    8:13 pm
Our little one hated tummy time. He was only about 7 weeks old when he was put on his tummy while his back was being dried and he rolled himself over onto his back. Every time he was put on his tummy he screamed unless he was where he was able to roll himself over quickly.

- - pakeko said
  - 22 Jul 2015
    2:44 pm
My baby hates tummy time and it always ends up in screaming match. We keep trying but she just cant stand it