The Importance of Tummy Time—and How to Do It

To keep them safe, it's important your baby sleeps on their back." But to build strength, it's important they get plenty of time on their belly when they're awake. Enter “tummy time.” This is the time infants spend belly down on the floor or mat or other safe and comfortable place. It helps to strengthen their shoulders and abdominal muscles, creating the building blocks for crawling, scooting, and, eventually, for walking.

But how do you make sure tummy time is safe as well as useful? This video from Sunnybrook Hospital Women’s and Babies Program offers some strategies.