Babies need time on their stomachs to help strengthen their head, neck, and shoulder muscles. Tummy time is an important way to help them build this strength.
Healthy babies should be placed on their backs to sleep for naps and at night to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). But babies who are always on their backs can sometimes get flat spots on their heads. Providing Tummy Time when your baby is awake and someone is watching can help prevent these flat spots.