One of the most important developmental activities for infants is tummy time. Tummy time helps babies develop strong neck, shoulder, and back muscles, which are essential for achieving important milestones like crawling and sitting up. It also helps prevent flat spots on the back of the head and promotes sensory and motor development. To ensure your baby is getting the right amount of tummy time, it’s important to follow a tummy time chart by age.
For newborns, tummy time should be done for short periods throughout the day, starting with just a few minutes at a time. By the time your baby is three months old, they should be doing tummy time for a total of 30-60 minutes per day. You can break this up into smaller sessions throughout the day to make it more manageable for your baby.
Baby Tummy Time Chart (4-6 months)
As your baby grows, you can gradually increase the amount of tummy time they do. By the time your baby is four to six months old, they should be doing tummy time for a total of 1-2 hours per day. This can still be broken up into smaller sessions, but your baby should be able to tolerate longer periods on their tummy at this age.
Toddler Tummy Time Chart (7-12 months)
Once your baby becomes a toddler, tummy time becomes less important as they start to become more mobile. However, you can still incorporate tummy time into their playtime to help maintain their muscle strength. Aim for at least 15-30 minutes of tummy time per day for toddlers aged 7-12 months.