Play
tummy time
Tummy Time Mini-Sessions
Best Age
Best Age
wk 0–26
Category
Play
Audio Track & Sing-Along Available in BabyNook
Listen to the full song, vocal melody, and soothing instrumental tracks directly in the BabyNook app.
About this play
Tummy time is the single most important daily activity for a newborn's physical development. Lying on the stomach forces your baby to lift and turn their head, which strengthens the neck, shoulder, and back muscles that every later skill — rolling, sitting, crawling — is built upon. It also relieves pressure on the back of the skull. Newborns often protest at first, so keep sessions short and frequent: a minute or two, several times a day, ideally after a nappy change when your baby is calm and alert.
How to do it (Step by step)
- Lay baby on a firm, flat surface or across your chest.
- Get down to their eye level and talk or sing to encourage lifting.
- Stop before they get upset — a little, often, is the goal.