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.
Turning head to both sides
Lifting head briefly to clear nose from the surface
Try These Positions:
Tummy-to-Tummy (on your chest), Tummy-Down Carry, Lap Soothe
Start easing into short sessions on a firm floor surface
💡 Parent Tip: Snuggle time doubles as tummy time! Let baby lie on your chest—your voice and warmth are their favorite motivators.
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.
Turns head side to side equally
Tries to lift head up – even if it’s only for a 1-2 seconds
💡 Parent Tip: Get down at baby’s eye level. Make funny faces, sing, or chat—your face is still baby’s favorite toy!
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.
Lifts and holds head up to 45 degrees
Does Tummy Time several times a day (5-10 sessions!) without becoming upset
Spends at least 15-30 minutes total of Tummy Time per day by 2 months of age
Majority of Tummy Time should be on the floor
Possibly tilting their head to one side*
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: Switch which end of the crib baby sleeps in. They’ll naturally turn their head to find you!
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 (elbows behind shoulders at a 45 degree angle)
Lifts head in the middle between 45 to 90 degrees, without tilting head to either side
Starts to visually follow toys or rattles you move around
💡 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.
Lifts head to 90° and keeps it centered
Pushes up on forearms with elbows directly under or in front of shoulders
Lifts head and moving neck while tracking toys, voices, and faces during Tummy Time
💡 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.
Pushes up on hands (arms straight!)
Begins reaching for nearby toys
💡 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.
Starting to prefer being on their stomach. Being on their tummy allows them to play, move, and explore more easily.
Pushes up on straight arms
Reaching and grabbing toys of different sizes while on tummy
Starting to pivot in a circle while on stomach (walking their hands in both directions)
Rolling from back to tummy and tummy to back
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.
