Every parent hears about tummy time — and almost every parent discovers the same thing in week one: the baby hates it. Crying after twenty seconds, arching, protesting. So you stop, and then you wonder whether you're doing something wrong.

You're not. Here is what tummy time actually is, how much your baby really needs, and how to make it a moment you both enjoy.

What is tummy time and why does it matter?

Tummy time simply means time your baby spends lying on their stomach while awake and supervised. It is the first workout of their life. Lifting the head against gravity strengthens the neck, shoulders, arms, back and core — the muscles later needed to roll over, sit, crawl and walk.

It also helps prevent flattening of the back of the head, which is more common now that babies sleep on their backs (and rightly so — back sleeping remains the safest sleeping position).

When to start and how much?

You can start in the first days after birth. The rule is short and often, not long and once.

• Newborn: 1–2 minutes, a few times a day. Even a minute on your chest counts.
• 1–2 months: 3–5 minutes, three to four times a day.
• 3–4 months: aim for around 20–30 minutes a day in total, split into several sessions.
• 5–6 months: most babies are happy on their tummies and stay there by choice — by now it's play, not an exercise.

Choose a moment when the baby is fed but not full (wait 20–30 minutes after a feed), rested and in a good mood. Right after a nappy change is often perfect.

Five ways to make tummy time easier

1. Start on your chest. Lie back and place the baby on your chest, tummy down. Your face is the most interesting thing in the world to them — they will lift their head to look at you without noticing they are working.

2. Get down to their level. Lie on the floor facing your baby. Talk, sing, make faces. Tummy time is much less lonely with company.

3. Give them something worth looking at. In the first months a baby sees mainly strong contrasts, so black-and-white contrast cards placed in front of them work far better than colourful toys. Lean a card against a cushion at eye level and watch how much longer they hold their head up.

4. Use a water play mat. This is the trick that changes tummy time for most families. Floating sea creatures move at every touch, so the baby stays engaged — and keeps pressing, reaching and lifting. Minutes pass instead of seconds.

5. Roll a towel under the chest. If your baby struggles to lift their head, place a small rolled towel under their chest with arms forward over it. This slightly raised position makes lifting easier and less frustrating.

What if the baby cries anyway?

Crying is not a sign that tummy time is bad for them — it's a sign the session was too long or came at the wrong moment. Pick them up, comfort them, and try again later. Ten sessions of thirty seconds are worth more than one five-minute battle.

Two more things that help: change the location (bed, playmat, your lap, across your knees) and change the time of day. Many babies have one part of the day when they will happily stay on their tummy.

When to talk to your paediatrician

Every baby develops at their own pace, but mention it at your next check-up if your baby always turns their head to the same side, cannot lift their head at all by around three to four months, seems very stiff or very floppy, or if you notice a persistent flat spot on the head. These are common things that are usually easy to address early.

The short version

Little and often, from day one. Get down on the floor with them. Give them something worth looking at. And remember that the goal is not the number of minutes — it's that your baby gradually comes to enjoy being on their tummy.