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Is tummy time necessary? why? and how much?

Yes, supervised tummy time is recommended for babies. It helps build neck, shoulder and core strength for motor milestones and lowers the chance of a flat spot on the head from back sleeping.

Canadian guidance suggests working up to 10-15 minutes at a time, at least 3 times a day, building toward about 30 minutes total daily.

Strength of evidence

Good

A Canadian Paediatric Society guideline and a systematic review support benefits for motor development and plagiocephaly, but much of the underlying evidence is observational rather than randomized trials.

What the evidence says

Tummy time means placing your awake baby on their belly while you watch closely. It is recommended because babies now sleep on their backs to prevent SIDS, which is very important, but this means they get less natural practice pushing up and turning their head. Tummy time gives them that practice, building the neck, shoulder, and core strength needed for rolling, sitting, and crawling, and it also relieves pressure on the back of the head, lowering the risk of a flattened spot.

The Canadian Paediatric Society's position statement on plagiocephaly notes that prone awake time of 10 to 15 minutes, done at least three times a day, reduces the development of a flat head shape. Canada's national safe sleep guidance gives similar advice: start with a few minutes a few times a day and work up to 10-15 minute sessions. The Canadian and Australian 24-hour movement guidelines for infants go further, recommending a total of about 30 minutes of tummy time spread across the day by a few months of age.

A large systematic review published in the American Academy of Pediatrics journal Pediatrics found that more tummy time was consistently linked to more advanced motor development and earlier milestone achievement, though it also noted the studies had design limitations, so this is good but not the highest-tier evidence. Start tummy time from the first days home, in short bursts after diaper changes or naps, and build up gradually as your baby gets stronger. Always stay with your baby while they're on their tummy and only do it while they're awake.

Sources

✓Reviewed by CH, MD, FRCPC

Reviewed by a specialist physician certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, who has read this answer against the sources listed above and confirmed it reflects them. That is not medical advice about your child. How we review

Answer checked August 3, 2026

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