Tummy Time
Tummy time is any time your baby is supervised and positioned on its tummy for play. In 1994 the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) launched the Back to Sleep campaign, now known as the Safe to Sleep campaign. This campaign significantly reduced the incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) or ‘cot death’
- Tummy time helps to build and develop muscles that are required for rolling, sitting and crawling
- Tummy time enables your baby to be able to move freely by not being restricted in a car seat or buggy and learn about movement
- Babies also develop their vision by seeing things at eye level rather than staring at the ceiling
- It also helps to prevent your baby developing a flattened head shape
You should carry out the activities on the ‘Tummy Time’ sheet in the toolkits below if your baby:
- Has a flattened head on one side or back of baby’s head up to 3 months
- Is turning head to one side only up to 3 months
- Doesn’t like being on their tummy
- Can’t lift their head and prop themselves with their arm when on their tummy at 6 months
We recommend that babies always:
- Sleep on their back to reduce the incidence of cot death
- Are supervised when they are placed on their tummies
- Are placed in car seats only when travelling
