What is tummy time?
Your baby should always sleep on their back. This has been shown to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). But if a baby spends too much time on their back, it can lead to a condition called positional plagiocephaly or baby flat-head. This is when a baby's skull becomes deformed by spending too much time in the same position. Ensure your baby is turning their head to the left and the right while sleeping on their back. Also make sure they are spending time in a variety of positions when they are awake.
To help prevent head deformities and promote healthy development, you can position your baby on their stomach while they are awake and supervised. Babies should spend a total of about 1.5 hours (90 minutes) every day on their tummies. Remember, "Back to sleep — tummy to play!"
Benefits of tummy time for your baby
Placing your baby on their tummy has many benefits:
- prevents baby flathead, or deformed skull (positional plagiocephaly)
- helps your baby develop head control
- strengthens the upper body, including back, neck, shoulders, arms and hands
- promotes development of gross motor skills like crawling, sitting and rolling
- promotes development of fine motor skills and play skills
- promotes sensory development by changing the environment and how your baby sees the world around them
Activities for tummy time
To make sure your baby spends time in a variety of positions, try these activities:
- Position toys on both sides of your baby's head within their field of view. This will help your child learn to turn their head in both directions and give them something fun to look at.
- Place your baby's chest on a rolled towel, cushion or over your knees. This may be more comfortable for your baby. It can also improve upper body strength and head control.
- Lay your baby on your chest while you are lying back. This will help your baby develop head control and upper body strength in a safe and enjoyable position.
Once your baby can lift their head and push up onto their forearms, try these ideas:
- Use mirrors and toys around your baby to encourage weight shifting and reaching. This strengthens the arms, hands and back muscles to prepare your baby for sitting, rolling and crawling.
- Play Peek-A-Boo while you and your baby are both on your tummies. Hold a blanket between you, and encourage your baby to pull down the blanket. This game helps strengthen the muscles your baby uses for crawling, sitting and fine motor skills. It also helps with language and with social and mental skills.
Once your baby has good control of their head and is able to sit, try playing "airplane." Lift your baby at the hips and/or waist, or rest your baby on your bent legs and move them up and down. This will help strengthen neck and back muscles to allow your baby to lift their head up.
We live in an era where children are consistently placed on their backs: in car seats, in bed and in strollers. Try holding your baby in a variety of positions, including over your knees or chest, to increase tummy time.
Encouraging tummy time with your baby
If your baby dislikes being on their stomach, here are some ways to encourage tummy time:
- Give your baby something fun and interesting to look at, like a toy, a mirror or your face.
- Slowly increase tummy time. Short and frequent tummy time experiences allow your baby to become familiar and feel safe in this position.
- Include short tummy time experiences whenever you change, dress or hold your baby.
- Slowly roll your baby from their back to their tummy. This can be less startling for babies compared to simply placing them on their tummies.
- Firm, flat surfaces can be easier for babies as they learn to use their upper body muscles while playing on their tummies.
If your child is in hospital
If your child has to spend time in hospital, it may not be possible to place them on their stomach. Talk to your occupational therapist and/or physiotherapist for ideas on how to encourage your child's development during this time.
Virtual care services for children
Boomerang Health was opened by SickKids to provide communities in Ontario with greater access to community-based services for children and adolescents. For more information on virtual care services in Ontario to support tummy time, visit Boomerang Health powered by SickKids.