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(Unit 8) Topic 1: The Whole Child 

4 Clock Hours of Early Childhood Education

Tummy Time Q and A​

​Topic 1 Page 15

When can baby begin tummy time? 

Believe it or not, newborns can begin tummy time the first day home from the hospital! Parents do not need to wait for the umbilical stump to fall off.  By the time a child is ready to begin child care, they should begin a tummy time routine if they have not done so already. ​

How much tummy time should baby get? 

​​Babies should start out getting 1-2 minutes of tummy time 2 to 3 times per day. As the infant gets stronger, their tummy time tolerance will increase. By about 4 months, infants should be getting about 20 minutes of tummy time per day.

When is a good time for tummy time during the day? 

​Tummy time should be avoided right after meals, as this can cause an upset stomach.  Make sure baby isn’t hungry or tired either. Many parents and child care providers find it useful to have tummy time after a diaper change as a way to make it routine and predictable for the child. 

What if baby does not like tummy time? 

Children who do not like tummy time still need it. Infant teachers will need to come up with creative ways to make this time more enjoyable for these babies. Strategies for doing so will be presented a little later on in this training. 

When do babies stop needing tummy time? 

​Tummy time is crucial during the first six months of a child’s life. Generally, parents and caretakers find that when a child is able to move into a variety of positions on their own (back to front, front to back, and beginning crawling or scooting) that scheduled tummy time is no longer needed.   

(Unit 8) Topic 1: The Whole Child ​ * Navigation Menu