Tummy Time for Your Newborn What is tummy time and why is it
important to your infant's development? Our experts weigh in.
During tummy time, your baby lays on her belly to play while you
supervise. Since your baby sleeps on her back to help prevent
sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), she needs to spend some of
her awake time on her stomach to develop physically and
mentally. On her tummy, your baby lifts her head, which
strengthens her neck and upper back muscles. Being able to move
her head reduces your baby’s risk of SIDS because she can move
away from anything smothering her. Strong muscles let your baby
roll over, sit, and crawl. Tummy time also gives your little one
a different view of the world. Babies need to learn how to
support their heads when they are still, says Tanya Altmann, MD,
a pediatrician in California. “They also need to be able to turn
their head in response to what's happening around them and hold
their heads steady when they're moved." Spending time on her
stomach also helps your baby