The benefits of tummy time for babies

Babies who have frequent tummy time tend to meet developmental milestones earlier than those who don’t. Spending time awake on their bellies helps babies strengthen their muscles and learn motor skills they will need to be able to roll over, crawl, stand and eventually walk.

Tummy time also helps prevent flat head syndrome (positional plagiocephaly), a common and usually temporary condition that can happen when babies spend too much time lying in one position on their backs.

What are the benefits of tummy time?

Whether in a crib, stroller, car seat or caregiver’s arms, young infants spend much of their lives on their backs. This position is passive, meaning it doesn’t require them to use and strengthen as many muscles.

Tummy time, or lying on their bellies, gives babies a chance to actively explore and see their world from a new perspective. Benefits include:

Strength and motor skills

Tummy time improves core strength, coordination and movement (motor) skills by encouraging babies to:

• Lift their heads and control their necks

• Move their arms and legs

• Practice moving both sides of their bodies and pushing up

Learning and exploration

When babies spend time on their bellies, they are free to move their limbs and look around. This active exploration helps them:

• Practice visual tracking and focus

• Experience different perspectives and spatial relationships

• Learn how to control movements and problem-solve (like reaching for a toy)

Flat head syndrome prevention or correction

A flat and/or bald spot on the back of your baby’s head suggests that they’re spending too much time on their back. Health care providers prescribe tummy time and repositioning to help reduce the constant pressure on the back of the skull. Positional plagiocephaly can start to improve within a few months of incorporating more tummy time.

When is a safe age to start tummy time?

As long as tummy time is practiced safely, it’s ideal to begin practicing as soon as you are home from the hospital – ideally within the first few days of life.

To ensure safety, only practice tummy time when your baby is:

1. Awake. Babies should be rested and alert for tummy time. Always place your baby on their back to sleep.

2. On a firm surface. Place your baby on a clean, safe surface (such as a thin blanket) on the floor. Do not place them on something soft like a couch or a bed.

3. Supervised. Always be present and engaged with your baby during tummy time. Do not fill their immediate space with objects or leave them alone.

How much tummy time does a baby need?

Babies tolerate different amounts of tummy time depending on how strong they are, their level of curiosity and how much they like to be active.

Newborn

• In the hospital: Holding your baby chest to chest (also called “kangaroo care”) is a good way to introduce your baby to new body positions. This is also good for bonding and encourages your baby to try lifting their head and moving their arms and legs.

• At home: Start with short sessions of just a couple minutes of tummy time, two or three times a day. Eventually your baby can work up to longer and more frequent stretches as they develop core strength and stamina.

1-3 months

By 2 months old, babies should work up to at least 15 to 30 total minutes of tummy time every day.

4-7 months

By 6 months old, babies benefit from at least 30 total minutes of tummy time per day, with research suggesting up to 2 hours may be linked to more advanced development.

Babies at this age are in various stages of learning to roll over and sit up. Once they’re able to roll over, babies will be able to reposition themselves on their own. They are usually eager to spend more time on their bellies, practicing moving their bodies in ways that will prepare them for their next milestones.

What if my baby hates tummy time?

Parents often think that if their baby cries, it’s because they don’t like tummy time. But it’s important to distinguish between fussing and distress.

Some resistance to tummy time is normal. After all, it takes great effort for babies to use their neck, chest and shoulder muscles to push themselves up and lift their heads off the ground.

But if tummy time is introduced early, often and for short periods at a time, your baby will get stronger and eventually enjoy the opportunity to move their limbs and actively look around.

Things you can do to make tummy time more enjoyable

• Engage with your baby. Get down at eye level with your baby and talk to them about what they’re seeing and doing.

• Introduce new things to look at. Your baby’s immediate space should be clear of clutter during tummy time. But introducing a toy, mirror or book can engage your baby and may also help distract them from the effort of tummy time.

• Listen to music or sing. Quiet background music can be soothing or may encourage your baby to move their arms and legs.

• Choose the right time and place. Be sure the room is warm enough and that the surface is comfortable – firm, but not too rough or cold. Pick times when your baby is awake and alert, ideally not right after a meal.

When to talk to your doctor about flat head syndrome

If you’re concerned about the shape of your baby’s head or think that they may have flat head syndrome, talk to your pediatrician.

“Everyone's head has lumps and bumps so a bit of asymmetry is perfectly normal,” says Kimly Nguyen, P.A.-C, Physician Assistant in Pediatric Plastic Surgery at Children’s Health. “But if your baby’s head has a flat or bald spot because of positioning, increasing tummy time and repositioning are the best ways to fix that – further treatment is usually unnecessary.”

Treatments for flat head syndrome

1. Increased tummy time and respositioning. Simply reducing the amount of time your baby spends on their back is often enough to reverse moderate plagiocephaly over time. Changing the position in which your baby usually sits, sleeps or is held can help.

2. Physical therapy. Sometimes torticollis, a condition that causes overly tight neck muscles, can contribute to plagiocephaly. Stretching exercises and massage can loosen these muscles so your baby can move their head more easily.

3. Helmet therapy. This treatment requires babies to wear a custom-fitted helmet 23 hours a day for several months to gently guide the skull growth. Some studies suggest that in many cases, similar results can be achieved with tummy time and patience.

Learn more

Children's Health Primary Care offers comprehensive health care for children from birth through young adulthood. Our pediatricians combine quality, compassionate care with evidence-based practice to meet your child's medical needs. Learn more and find a pediatrician.

You can also videoconference with a health care provider 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with Virtual Visit by Children's Health Virtual Care. Download the Virtual Visit app today.