How to Know When to Start Tummy Time With Your Baby

The concept of tummy time originally came about because of the American Academy of Pediatrics Back to Sleep campaign, which recommends that babies be put down to sleep on their backs in order to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). And while this has substantially reduced the incidence of SIDS, a side effect of all this time spent sleeping on their backs has led more and more babies to get flat spots on their heads (also known as positional plagiocephaly. The answer? Tummy time!

The benefits of tummy time extend beyond rounder heads, though. “Tummy time can also help your baby build the strength needed for sitting up, rolling over, crawling, and walking,” Dr. Jay L. Hoecker, an emeritus member of the Mayo Clinic's Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, wrote. Because it exercises upper-body muscles, tummy time helps motor development in babies. The time at which your baby reaches milestones like rolling over, sitting up, crawling, and walking can also be impacted by your little one’s tummy time experience (or lack thereof).

Sorry, babies — “I’m too tiny” is no excuse for skipping tummy time. It can start as soon as your newborn is home from the hospital. Just be careful of the umbilical stump until it falls off. In fact, the sooner you start, the more quickly your baby will adapt, even if he doesn’t seem to like it at first.

“It is good for all of us — babies, children, adults — to push ourselves out of our comfort zone a little bit and practice things that are hard for us,” Dr. Lee Beers, M.D., a pediatrician at Children's National Health System in Washington, D.C., told The New York Times.

You can start slow — think three to five minutes at a time, two or three times a day. As time goes by and your baby becomes more accustomed to tummy time, you can gradually increase the amount of time your baby spends doing it, up to a total of roughly 20 minutes per day. The best window for tummy time is after a nap or diaper change, and when your baby isn’t hungry. A better-rested and more alert baby is much more likely to cooperate.

As your baby grows, so will her tummy time experience. No matter what her age, though, the general goal is always the same: Tummy time should be fun.

Mom Kia Chambers shared with Mom.com that one of her favorite moments was tummy time with her son. "Some of my favorite moments were reading to him, playing him music… laying baby on my chest for tummy time, and of course, kisses from mommy!"

One way to start is by simply lying on your back, lifting up your baby with her tummy facing the ground, and meeting eyes with her as you make funny faces. This is an especially good option when your baby’s umbilical stump hasn’t fallen off yet. Snuggling her on your chest can also be considered tummy time. Do make sure that your upper body remains at a 45-degree angle.

Once she’s a few weeks old, she can start moving to the floor. If it seems as if she doesn’t like tummy time, try rolling up a little towel and putting it under her armpits and forearms. You can also use any soft little prop, like a nursing pillow or similarly sized stuffed animal (however, it is not safe to let your baby fall asleep with these items). This will help her push up and raise her head, as well as give her new things to look at while she does.

Getting down on her level and making faces, rolling a colorful ball, or doing whatever else engages your baby can also increase her tolerance. Remember, this is exercise, and not all babies are into it. Do whatever you can to make tummy time fun, but don’t push the issue too much if she starts having a meltdown. Just pick her up and try again later.