Tummy Time is an important activity for infants’ development, it helps strengthen muscles, and fosters sensory exploration.
Ensure that tummy time is fun for the babies you are caring for with these activities:
Activity 1: Track The Toy
What you need: Colourful toys.
How to play:
- Show the baby a colourful toy.
- Move it slowly from side to side to catch their eye.
- Make fun noises to keep them engaged.
- Switch up toys to keep things interesting.
Activity 2: Gentle Rolling
What you need: Soft blankets or mats
How to play:
- Roll the baby gently onto their side.
- Let them explore for a bit.
- Guide them back onto their tummy.
- Repeat with care and encouragement.
- Rolling adds variety and helps with motor skills.
Activity 3: Height Variation
What you need: Soft blankets or mats
How to play:
- Stand tall over your baby.
- Slowly squat down to their level.
- Keep eye contact and talk soothingly.
- This change in height creates a cosy connection.
Tummy time is one of the earliest ways that babies will learn to play. It helps to develop neck and upper-body muscles for better head control, and helps prevent the back of their head from becoming flat.
Friendly reminder: avoid tummy time right after feeding, as it may cause spit ups, and most importantly, never leave a baby unsupervised during tummy time.