Movement recommendations for babies (0-12 months)

Recommendations for babies 0-12 months

For babies who are very young or not moving yet, it's recommended that they spend around 30 minutes each day doing tummy time and supervised floor-based play.

This should include activities that involve reaching and grasping, pushing and pulling.

Babies who are rolling, crawling, and cruising may not need much encouragement to be active as they explore their new skills. Encourage them to stay active by providing plenty of opportunities for exploration and outside play throughout the day.

Regular physical activity is essential to support a child's:

physical growth
emotional resilience
learning and problem-solving skills
social development.

While very young babies can't crawl or walk just yet, there are other ways they can get moving.

Activities like tummy time and supervised floor-based play are an excellent way for your baby to develop and strengthen their:

bones, muscles and joints
immune system
balance
flexibility
posture
coordination.

Early physical activity helps to set children up with healthy, long-term habits.

Daily movement will help babies reach key developmental milestones for their growth and development.

See 'Physical activity' for more information.

Tummy time

Tummy time is an activity where a baby is laid on their stomach while they are awake and supervised.

Although babies may struggle at first, tummy time helps them to:

strengthen their neck, shoulder, and back muscles
lift their head and take weight through their arms
reach out, roll, and move around
track objects that move with their eyes
develop balance and stability.

Tummy time can also help prevent the back of the head from flattening while it is still soft.

Parents and carers should supervise their baby and provide stimuli like toys to help them during tummy time.

Tummy time helps babies prepare for future milestones like rolling, sitting, crawling, standing, and walking.

Many babies find tummy time uncomfortable and may cry during the activity. Although this is normal, it can be stressful for parents and carers.

Babies will usually resist tummy time in the beginning as they need to work hard to strengthen their muscles.
To make the activity more interesting, try using different pictures, toys and sounds during tummy time for distraction.
Tummy time should start in the first couple of weeks after birth.
Since sleeping and eating take priority, it is okay to start slowly with 1-2 minutes at a time, a few times a day.

As they grow older, babies should have at least 10-15 minutes of tummy time, 2-3 times per day. This will add up to around 30 minutes spread throughout the day.

Keep increasing the duration of tummy time and provide lots of toys, noise and encouragement.
Before long, babies will realise they can get out of tummy time by working on rolling from front to back.

Tips for tummy time

Here are some tips for tummy time:

ask your doctor or nurse whether you can start as soon as possible after birth
follow a loose "eat, play, sleep" schedule in the first few months to help get into a pattern
help younger babies lift their heads by placing their shoulders and arms over a rolled-up towel or blanket
do short, frequent periods of tummy time instead of one longer session
if possible, join your baby by lying on your tummy and facing them
use age-appropriate toys, pictures, and noises to encourage your baby to look, play, and reach
if your baby is getting upset on the floor, try laying them over your lap or chest or draping them over your forearm while supporting them with your other hand.

Always supervise your baby during tummy time.

Remember: Back to sleep, tummy to play.

You should always place your baby to sleep on their back as it helps keep their airways clear and their protective reflexes working.

This reduces the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

See Newborn sleep for more information on safe sleeping practices.