What does Tummy Time look like by age?
How much Tummy Time month by month
See how strong Baby gets month by month. If your baby is a little behind, it’s okay — below are some tips to help baby like tummy time.
At 2 Weeks
Right now, it’s all about helping your baby get used to the feeling of being on their tummy—just a little at a time! Think of it as easing into floor time, building comfort and confidence step by step.
Spends time in Tummy to Tummy, Tummy Down Carry, and Lap Soothe positions
Lifts head briefly to clear nose from the surface
Attempts Tummy Time on the floor
💡 Parent Tip: Snuggle time doubles as Tummy Time! Let Baby lie on your chest—your voice and warmth are their favorite motivators. Start with short sessions on a firm floor surface to ease Baby into Tummy Time.
At 1 Month
At 1 month, baby is building strength and control—early head lifting and side-to-side movements are important signs of development.
Attempts to lift head up – even if only for a second
Turns head to both sides equally
💡 Parent Tip: Get down at Baby’s eye level. Make funny faces, sing, or chat—your face is still Baby’s favorite toy! High contrast toys (black, red, and white) or toys that light up and make noise are also helpful to encourage Baby to lift their head.
At 2 Months
By 2 months, baby should be lifting their head higher and tolerating more frequent floor-based Tummy Time to build strength and prevent flat spots.
Spends at least one minute in Tummy Time several times a day (5-10 sessions) without becoming upset
Spends at least 15-30 minutes of Tummy Time on the floor per day by 2 months of age
Lifts and holds head up
Possibly tilts head to one side*
Does the majority of Tummy Time on the floor
Do you notice a consistent head tilt on one side or the other? Favoring one side may be a possible sign of positional torticollis.
💡 Parent Tip: Do the Baby 180°! Switch which direction of the crib Baby sleeps in. They’ll naturally turn their head to find you! Encourage head turning to both sides during Tummy Time by changing the placement of a toy or moving the toy from side to side.
At 3 Months
At this stage, baby should be lifting their head steadily and beginning to push up on their forearms—early signs of upper body strength and visual tracking.
Begins to put weight on forearms, with elbows behind shoulders at a 45 degree angle
Gains head control and is able to lift head between 45 to 90 degrees, without tilting head to either side
Starts to visually track toys or rattles you move around
Spending a total of 1 hour each day in Tummy Time
💡 Parent Tip: Place baby tummy down on an exercise ball, holding their sides for support. Slowly move the ball toward and away from you, allowing Baby to lift and hold their head more easily
At 4 Months
By 4 months, baby is gaining head control, pushing up with more strength, and actively tracking movement during Tummy Time.
Pushes up on forearms and brings chest off floor. Elbows will be under shoulders at a 90 degree angle or in front of shoulders.
Lifts head up 90 degrees and keeps head centered
Lifts head and moves neck to track toys, voices, and faces
💡 Parent Tip: Try a baby-safe mirror during Tummy Time. Babies love seeing their reflection—and it encourages longer sessions!
At 5 Months
At 5 months, baby starts pushing up on straight arms and reaching for toys—key steps toward crawling and upper body coordination.
Begins to push up on hands with straight elbows
Starts to move hands forward to reach for toys that are placed nearby
💡 Parent Tip: Do baby push-ups. Place hands under Baby’s chest and tummy, and use gentle lifting nudges to get Baby to push up on hands for brief periods.
At 6 Months
By 6 months, baby is becoming more mobile—using tummy time to play, pivot, roll, and reach as they explore their surroundings.
Starts to prefer being on their stomach. Being on their tummy allows them to play, move, and explore more easily.
Pushes up on straight arms
Reaches and grabs toys of different sizes
Able to pivot in a circle while on stomach
Rolls from back to tummy and tummy to back
Self-directs Tummy Time
💡 Parent Tip: Encourage Baby to practice rolling and moving while on their tummy by placing toys slightly out of reach to encourage them to shift their weight to reach them!
Every baby develops at their own pace, but it’s helpful to keep an eye on how things are going. If you have any concerns about your baby’s development - Early support can make a big difference.
