Apr 10, 2025

When to Start Tummy Time & What It Is

Tummy time is a simple but essential activity that helps your baby develop the strength needed for key milestones like lifting their head, rolling over, and eventually crawling. By placing your baby on their stomach while they’re awake and supervised, you’re encouraging important muscle growth while also preventing flat head syndrome. But when should you start tummy time, and how do you make it an enjoyable experience for your little one? Let’s break it down.

What Is Tummy Time & Why Is It Important?

Tummy time is a developmental exercise where babies spend time on their stomachs while awake. It helps strengthen [1] their neck, shoulder, and core muscles, setting the foundation for motor skills like rolling and sitting. Pediatricians [2] recommend tummy time for newborns as early as the first few days of life.

What are the benefits of tummy time for my baby?

Strengthens Muscles [3]: Helps build neck, back, and shoulder strength.
Prevents Flat Head Syndrome [4]: Reduces the risk of positional plagiocephaly (flat spots on the head).
Supports Motor Skill Development [3]: Encourages balance and coordination, which are essential for crawling and sitting.
Enhances Sensory Exploration [5]: Provides babies with a different perspective of the world, stimulating cognitive growth.

When to Start Tummy Time & How to Introduce It

Parents often wonder, when to start tummy time? The answer is—right away. You can begin from birth with short, gentle sessions and gradually increase the duration as your baby gets stronger.

Newborn Stage (0-3 months): Start with 1-2 minutes a few times a day.
3-6 Months: Increase to 10-15 minutes per session, aiming for a total of 30-60 minutes daily.
6+ Months: As babies develop more control, tummy time can be incorporated into playtime.

How long should each tummy time session last?

Experts recommend [3] starting with short bursts of 1-2 minutes and gradually increasing to 10-15 minutes at a time as your baby becomes more comfortable. By 3-4 months, they should be getting at least 30 minutes of tummy time per day, broken into multiple sessions.

How to Make Tummy Time Enjoyable for Your Baby

While some babies take to tummy time easily, others may fuss. If your little one resists, try these tips:

Use a soft, cushioned surface like the House of Noa Play Mat for added comfort.
Engage with toys or a mirror to keep your baby entertained.
Try chest-to-chest tummy time—lie back and place your baby on your chest for a more comforting experience.
Incorporate tummy time into daily routines, like after diaper changes or naps.

What if my baby doesn't enjoy tummy time and becomes fussy?

It’s normal for babies to resist tummy time at first. Start with short sessions and gradually build up their tolerance. If your baby becomes fussy, try placing them on their tummy while propped up on a Tumbling Mat for added support, or use a small rolled-up blanket under their chest.

When Can You Stop Tummy Time?

As your baby grows and becomes more mobile, dedicated tummy time will naturally phase out. Have you begun wondering, “When can I stop doing tummy time with my baby?” Most babies no longer need structured tummy time [6] once they start rolling over consistently (around 5-6 months) and begin to spend time on their tummies naturally during play.

Tummy Time Essentials: Must-Have Products for Comfort & Support

A comfortable, safe surface makes a world of difference for tummy time success. House of Noa’s Play Mats provide a soft, non-toxic, and stylish foundation for tummy time and beyond.

Explore House of Noa’s Play Mats for a stylish, baby-friendly tummy time space.

Play Mats: Designed to look like chic rugs, these mats provide a cushioned, wipeable surface perfect for tummy time.
Tumbling Mats: A great option for older infants who are beginning to roll and explore movement.
Best Sellers Collection: Featuring customer favorites that blend function and design seamlessly into any home.

Tummy Time Setups to Avoid

While options like a baby gym seem like a fun, engaging option for your baby, it’s important to consider how they can limit your little one. Babies can roll into and get stuck on the support poles of the baby gym. Having an open area and a flat play mat provides a safer, larger zone for your little one to start learning in and moving around.

Tummy time is an important developmental activity you can do with your baby. By starting early and making it an engaging, comfortable experience, you’re setting the stage for strong, confident movement. Explore House of Noa’s Play Mats, Tumbling Mats, and Best Sellers to create a safe, stylish tummy time space today.

Citations:

[1] PubMed,Tummy Time and Infant Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32371428/

[2] American Academy of Pediatrics, Back to Sleep, Tummy to Play - https://publications.aap.org/p a tiented/article-abstract/doi/10.1542/peo_document285/80192/Back-to-Sleep-Tummy-to-Play?redirectedFrom=fulltext

[3] Benefits of Tummy Time -
https://safetosleep.nichd.nih.gov/reduce-risk/tummy-time

[4] Preventing and Managing Skull Flatness -
https://www.choa.org/parent-resources/orthopedics/how-to-prevent-a-flat-head

[5] Tummy Time and Infant Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32371428/

[6] Tummy Time (for Parents) -
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/tummy-time.html