Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Exactly Is Tummy Time?
Developmental Benefits
Risks of Not Getting Enough
How Long and How Often
Positions to Try
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Flat Head Syndrome?
Tummy time has been proven to help with early movement skills like lifting the head off of the ground, moving the arms and legs, reaching while lying down, and sitting with arm support. Babies who practice tummy time also achieve more advanced skills earlier. These skills include rolling, sitting unsupported, and walking.
Newborn
1-3 Months
4 Months and Up
Risks of Not Getting Enough Tummy Time
Tummy time is an important tool for your little one’s development. Babies who do not regularly practice tummy time are slower to reach physical milestones like sitting and rolling than babies who do. They may also be slower to develop communication skills.
Summary
A Word from Verywell
Doctors have not always recommended tummy time. In 1992, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended placing infants on their backs to sleep. This was an important recommendation because it decreased the number of infant deaths due to SIDS. However, the downside was that infants seemed slower to reach milestones. To help babies develop strength and motor skills, pediatricians recommended trying tummy time while infants are awake.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institutes of Health.Babies need tummy time.
Hewitt L, Kerr E, Stanley RM, Okely AD.Tummy time and infant health outcomes: A systematic review.Pediatrics. 2020 Jun;145(6):e20192168. doi:10.1542/peds.2019-2168
American Academy of Pediatrics.Back to sleep, tummy to play.
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