Development & Milestones

Tummy Time: Why It Matters and How to Make Baby Love It

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Since the Back to Sleep campaign, babies spend far less time on their stomachs — making deliberate tummy time more important than ever.

Why it matters

It develops neck, shoulder, arm and core strength — the foundations for rolling, sitting, crawling and walking. It also prevents flat spots on the head.

When to start

From day one, supervised, on a firm surface. Start with 2-3 minutes a few times a day, building to 30 minutes daily by 3 months.

Making baby tolerate it

Get down to their eye level, use a rolled towel under the chest, use a mirror, or lie baby on your reclined chest. Short and frequent beats long and infrequent.

💬 Parents also asked

Not necessarily. Some babies skip crawling entirely and go straight to cruising or walking -- this is completely normal. What matters more is that they're developing strength and curiosity. If they're not pulling to stand or showing interest in moving by 12 months, mention it to your health visitor.

Most babies say their first recognisable word between 10-14 months, but babbling (ma-ma, da-da) should be happening well before that. By 12 months, they should be responding to their name and simple words. Every child's timeline differs -- range is wide.

Build up gradually from birth: start with 1-2 minutes a few times a day, working up to 30 minutes total per day by 3 months. It doesn't have to be in one session -- short, frequent bursts work brilliantly.

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