“Tummy time” is the amount of time babies spend lying on their stomachs while they are awake. Since the early 1990s, pediatricians have strongly recommended that babies sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). But they also stress that babies need to spend time on their stomachs while they are awake and supervised.

One reason for “back to sleep, tummy to play” is to develop a baby’s motor skills. These include lifting their heads, rolling over, sitting up, balancing, crawling, and walking. Increasing the amount of time your baby lies on his or her tummy promotes muscle development in the neck and shoulders; helps prevent tight neck muscles and the development of flat areas on the back of the baby’s head.

While babies are awake, they should be placed in a variety of positions as soon as they return home from the hospital. Yet lately, parents are using car seats that serve as infant carriers. Many of these fasten directly into strollers and swings so parents don’t have to remove their baby from the seat.

Tummy time also helps shape a baby’s skull, as the back of babies’ skulls can flatten if they spend too much time spent on their backs. The combination of babies sleeping on their backs and spending time in infant carriers puts pressure on the head, which can flatten their skulls.

Tummy time can be a great playtime to bond with your baby. Just remember that it should always be supervised so that you never leave your baby alone on his tummy. Check this link for an APTA brochure that provides activities to help ensure that babies get enough tummy time throughout the day.