Tummy time means placing your baby on their stomach while they’re awake and you’re watching. You can start from the first day home from the hospital, beginning with just three to five minutes at a time, two or three times a day. It’s one of the simplest things you can do to help your baby build the strength they’ll need to roll over, sit up, crawl, and eventually walk.
Why Tummy Time Matters
When babies spend most of their time on their backs (which is the correct position for sleep), the muscles in their neck, shoulders, and arms don’t get much of a workout. Tummy time flips the script. It forces your baby to lift their head, push against a surface, and engage muscles across the upper body. These are the same muscles that power every major movement milestone in the first year of life.
The World Health Organization recommends tummy time for all infants specifically because of its connection to improved motor development and a reduced likelihood of developing a flat spot on the back of the head. Spending too many hours lying on their back can cause the soft bones of a baby’s skull to flatten in one area, a condition called positional plagiocephaly. Regular time on the stomach takes pressure off the back of the skull and gives it a chance to round out naturally.
How Much Time, and How Often
The amount of tummy time your baby needs grows steadily over the first six months:
- Newborn to 2 months: Two or three sessions a day, three to five minutes each. Your total daily goal is to work up to about 20 minutes spread throughout the day.
- By 3 months: Aim for around 30 total minutes per day, still broken into shorter sessions.
- By 4 to 6 months: Work up to 60 to 90 minutes of total tummy time each day. By this point your baby will likely tolerate longer stretches and may even prefer being on their stomach.
You don’t need to time it precisely. Short, frequent sessions throughout the day work better than one long stretch, especially in the early weeks when your baby may only tolerate a minute or two before fussing.
Three Positions to Try
Chest to Chest
This is the easiest starting position, especially for newborns. Lie on your back (on a bed, couch, or the floor) and place your baby tummy-down on your chest. Your baby gets the comfort of feeling your body and hearing your heartbeat, which makes this position far less intimidating than the floor. Place their arms forward so they can practice pushing up. This counts as tummy time.
Lap Time
Sit in a chair and lay your baby face-down across your lap. One of your thighs supports their chest, the other supports their hips. You can gently rub their back or pat their bottom while they practice lifting their head. This position works well right after a diaper change when you’re already seated.
Floor Time
Lay a clean blanket, mat, or towel on a flat, firm surface. Avoid rugs, which tend to collect dust and allergens. Place your baby on their stomach with their arms forward, elbows positioned directly under their shoulders. This alignment helps them bear weight through their arms and makes it easier to lift their head. Once your baby is about a month old, any clean, safe floor surface works.
If your baby struggles to lift their head from the floor, try placing a small rolled towel under their chest from armpit to armpit. This slight boost makes it easier for them to get their head up and practice pushing with their arms.
What to Expect Month by Month
In the first few weeks, your baby will barely lift their head. They may just turn it to one side and rest. That’s completely normal. Their neck muscles are brand new, and even a few seconds of effort counts as progress.
By around two months, most babies can briefly lift their head at a 45-degree angle. You’ll notice their arms starting to bear some weight, though they’ll still tire quickly. By three months, many babies can hold their head up more steadily and prop themselves on their forearms for short periods.
Between four and six months, you’ll see a dramatic shift. Babies begin pushing up with straight arms, giving them a much better view of the world around them. Rolling from tummy to back typically happens in this window too. By six months, many babies can lean on their hands while sitting, a skill built directly on the upper body strength they developed during tummy time. Once your baby is crawling on their own, structured tummy time becomes less critical because they’re getting that workout naturally.
What to Do When Your Baby Hates It
Most babies protest tummy time at some point, especially in the first couple of months. A baby who screams the moment you put them down isn’t being difficult. They’re working harder than they’ve ever worked, and they’re letting you know about it. Here are specific things that help.
Timing matters more than technique. Try tummy time right after a nap, when your baby is rested and alert, with a clean diaper and a full stomach (but not immediately after a feeding, which can cause spit-up). A baby who is hungry, tired, or uncomfortable will fuss regardless of what you do.
Get on the floor with them. Lie face-to-face at their eye level and talk, sing, or make silly noises. Babies are far more motivated to lift their head when there’s a familiar face to look at. Rubbing their back gently while they’re on their stomach can also provide enough comfort to buy you another minute or two.
Start with your body instead of the floor. The chest-to-chest position is almost always better tolerated than a cold blanket on the ground. If your baby screams on the floor but settles on your chest, that’s a perfectly fine place to do all of your tummy time until they’re ready for more independence.
If your baby cries after just a minute, pick them up, soothe them, and try again later. Three one-minute sessions are better than one miserable three-minute session. As your baby gets stronger, the crying usually decreases because the position becomes less effortful.
Safety Rules
Tummy time has one non-negotiable rule: your baby must be awake, and you must be actively supervising. A baby who falls asleep on their stomach is at increased risk of suffocation. If your baby dozes off during tummy time, roll them onto their back right away.
Always use a flat, firm surface. A soft mattress, pillow, or couch cushion can conform around your baby’s face and block their airway. The floor with a thin blanket or mat is ideal. If you’re using the chest-to-chest position, make sure you stay awake and alert the entire time. Falling asleep with your baby on your chest puts them in an unsafe position.
Keep small objects, loose blankets, and pillows away from your baby’s face during floor time. The area should be clear enough that even if your baby faceplants (which they will), there’s nothing soft enough to block their nose and mouth.