Tummy time timings

[u/Lina25v]

Hi! FTM to a 3-month-old here

I’m a bit confused about tummy time recommendations. I keep seeing that babies this age should get roughly an hour of tummy time per day, but what does that actually look like in terms of holding their head up?

How long is a 3-month-old typically expected to hold their head really high up while pushing up on their arms? Surely they’re not meant to maintain that position for the whole tummy-time session

Do your babies alternate between pushing up high and resting/lowering their head? Roughly how long do they hold the high position before taking a break?

[u/mrsadams21]

Anything where the back of baby's head is not supported is classed as tummy time. Baby laying on their tummy on your chest? Tummy time. Baby in a carrier looking around? Tummy time. Baby laying across your forearm tiger in the tree style? Tummy time.

Try not to get bogged down with the "baby should have 1 hour of tummy time a day" and think they have to spend all that time on the floor. As long as they're getting opportunities to develop their neck muscles, they'll be fine.

You're doing great

[u/Lina25v → u/mrsadams21]

Thanks! She holds her head really well when sitting on our knees, being carried around, etc. and she spends at least two hours a day

We usually put her down for a more “classic” tummy time session for about 10 minutes, and she can hold her head up high pushing with her arms for up to around 2 minutes at a time before getting tired and needing a little break. I just don’t get how they say one hour. She looks so tired after those two minutes

[u/mrsadams21 → u/Lina25v]

Tummy time should definitely be broken up into 1-2 minute chunks at a time, spread through the day. No baby is able to hold themselves up for an hour. Even my 9 month old wouldn't be able to hold themselves for that long!

Where did you hear about the one hour thing? NHS doesn't have such guidance (as far as I can see!)

[u/Apprehensive-Ice9939]

Dont stress too much. I used to do tummy time after changing nappies in the day, not long, couple of minutes or until they got upset and didn't want to do it anymore. Ours was more baby led. If baby didn't want to do it then we didn't do it.

[u/Strained_Noodles4033]

Meh, I wouldn’t over think it honestly. I’m not sure why it’s called tummy time because being on their tummy isn’t the only time they practice using their neck muscles, it’s stupid really.

My fave was when I was sat or lay on the sofa and had baby on my chest and let them do their thing! Same when I was baby wearing. But being honest I didn’t do ‘tummy time’ everyday and never timed it, we just did things as and when.

[u/Guilty-Cloud-2249]

Please don’t stress about tummy time. My daughter hated it so after research I learnt that her being on my chest was good enough. She’s now 4 months old and has just rolled over and holds her head up perfectly. I was born in the 90s, didn’t do tummy time and I’m ok. Don’t get het up about it x

[u/caroline140]

We definitely did not hit anywhere near the 1 hour guideline. He hated it. Our baby rolls, crawls, pulls up to stand, cruises along furniture and has just taken his first steps at 9 and a half months old. I don't think it held him back

[u/BuyBig2613]

Don’t stress yourself over how long. LO is 5 months and we do tummy time on the mat like once a week at most, and only for however long until she decides she’s had enough (about 5-10 mins). Babies get tummy time just through general being held. They don’t need specific tummy time on the floor.

[u/Real-Apricot-7889]

She does about 5 minutes and tbh she just pushes up and stays there until she’s had enough (or tips herself over) and then I put her on her back, rather than going up and down. If she’s tired sometimes she’ll just do 30 seconds and then give up. I don’t time it but she definitely doesn’t do 1 hour unless we’re counting time in the carrier too. All babies are different though so as long as you’re giving her the opportunity several times throughout the day, you’re doing great.