14/10/2025
Tummy time = brain time!
Let your baby explore the world from the floor.
Tummy time helps your baby:
✔ Strengthen neck, shoulder, and back muscles
✔ Build motor skills for rolling, crawling, and sitting
✔ Prevent flat spots on their head
✔ Explore with their hands and eyes
Start with a few minutes a few times a day, even from birth!
Lay baby on their tummy when they’re awake and you’re watching. Place a toy, a mirror with a plastic/ safe frame or your face in front of them to encourage lifting their head.
You don’t need anything fancy. A clean blanket on the floor and your smile is enough. For children with physical disabilities, tummy time can be quite a challenge, and you can check in with your occupational therapist or physiotherapist at the clinic on how to adapt this to support your child better.
National Department of Health (South Africa)