Best Tummy Time Toys for Babies
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What is “Tummy Time”?
It’s exactly what it sounds like! Tummy time is placing your baby on their stomach while they are AWAKE and supervised.
Tummy time is an active play position and should be utilized during baby’s wake windows. It’s actually one of the most important play positions for baby.
Tummy time is essential for newborns and babies!
The Benefits of Tummy Time
Tummy time helps to strengthen baby’s head, neck, shoulders, arms, and core muscles. Building strength is essential because it helps baby prepare for future milestones like rolling, sitting, and crawling.
When baby does tummy time, they are building gross motor skills. Tummy time encourages reaching and grasping. It also encourages sensory exploration as baby explores their environment from a new perspective.
While it seems like a simple position for baby, it’s actually incredibly dynamic. Tummy time causes baby to use multiple muscle groups together. They are engaging their back, stomach and core muscles, neck, shoulder, and arm muscles!
Tummy Time Milestones:
Tummy time for 1-2 months old: At 1-2 months of age, we want to see baby’s head lift up to look at a 45 degree angle.
Tummy time for 3-4 months old: By the time baby is 3-4 months old, we want to see their head lift up and form a 90 degree angle.
The Best Books for Babies & Tummy Time
High-Contrast Book
A soft cloth book is a must-have for baby. High-contrast images are excellent to keep attention as baby’s eyesight increases.
You can spread this book out accordion style so it sits up and gives baby lots to look at during tummy time! This also encourages baby to scan the toy and look left to right, and right to left.
Hold it up a little above baby’s head so they try to lift their head up. Move it left to right to help baby track. Tracking an object during tummy time is expected around 2-3 months of age.
Bonus: it’s machine washable!
Tummy Time Cloth Book
This book folds into a three-sided tummy time toy! It’s a great toy to use for tummy time with your newborn and beyond.
It has a mirror, soft pages to turn, and 2-sided cloth pages. One side has high-contrast black and white images, and the other side has bright colors.
There are sensory elements on the pages to engage baby’s hands. The animal tails encourage your baby to reach and grasp, too.
Books that double as toys are a great way to expose baby to even more reading in fun ways!
High-Contrast Crinkle Book
We know that babies can’t see well early on. The higher contrast the toys, the better! It keeps baby’s attention and helps them scan the pages.
Soft books are also easier for baby to hold and explore. Put out in front of baby once they can get their head up during tummy time. Show them the crinkle sounds the book makes. See if baby will try to reach for it to imitate you!
Never Touch a Koala! Touch & Feel Book
You can never go wrong with books during tummy time! I love this series because of the fun colors and the way the books integrate sensory play while reading.
While doing tummy time with your 5-6 month old, prompt them to reach out and try to touch the textures on each page! Model turning the pages and see if they imitate you.
Don’t Tickle the Bear!
Sound books are so much fun to introduce early. They keep baby’s attention and give them something to look forward to on each page!
Use this book during tummy time with your 4-5 month old. Encourage baby to push up on their palms and shift their weight from one palm to another as they tickle the bear!
Play Gyms & Mats for Tummy Time
Lalo Play Gym
This play gym is very lightweight and is easy to travel with.
The black and white links motivate baby to reach and grab them! Sit the 3-way mirror in front of baby and encourage them to push themselves up onto their forearms to lift their chest off the ground.
.You can hang other favorite toys from the bar for variety. Encourage baby to reach out and grasp or bat the toys around!
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Kick and Play Gym
This is a great tummy time mat that also functions as an activity gym.
When used for tummy time, place baby on their belly with their head near the piano. Make sure baby’s forearms are under their shoulders and watch to see them lift their chest and head up to watch the piano keys light up.
Encourage your little one to reach for toys when they push up during tummy time. Lay baby on their back to get them kicking those feet in the play gym.
There are so many ways to use this toy! It’s a registry staple and great for babies 0-6 months.
Tummy Time Water Mat
This tummy time mat really does keep baby’s attention! It’s an affordable toy, too.
As baby lays on it and moves around, the pieces inside move around. This keeps their attention! As the pieces move in the water, your baby will work on hand-eye coordination as they track the floating objects and reach.
Small Mirrors & Toys to Promote Tummy Time
See Me Floor Mirror
This is my favorite floor time mirror! The mirror is large, so baby can see themselves well.
It has a rolling ball at the bottom so when baby reaches for it, the ball spins! It also has crinkle components to engage baby when they start reaching.
This is a great tummy time toy to use for newborns and beyond.
High-Contrast Tummy Time Mirror
A tummy time mirror that includes high-contrast images. This can be set up on the floor or tied to the crib.
If you use it in the crib, make sure baby is awake and supervised during tummy time. Never leave it tied to the crib when baby is sleeping.
Melissa & Doug Crinkle Fish
This doubles as a book AND a toy! It’s great for tummy time and beyond.
Put it out in front of baby as they lay on their tummy and watch them reach! Hold it up above their head to encourage baby to lift their head. By the time your baby is ~2 months old, we expect their head to lift up 45 degrees or higher for short periods of time!
The little flaps encourage reaching and grasping. It also has a teether, a squeaker, AND a mirror.
It’s colorful, soft, and perfect for baby. You can use this toy for months!
Little Einstein Musical Toy
One of the best toys for tummy time for 3 months old and up. This musical toy plays different beats and motivates baby to keep hitting that big button to hear more!
It’s a great toy for incorporating into tummy time when your baby can keep their head up for longer periods. This toy can help motivate them to start pushing up on their palms. This is expected around 4-5 months.
Rolly Poly Owl
We love this toy to engage baby in sensory play during tummy time! It has bouncing balls, glowing lights, fun songs and sounds.
Put it out in front of baby and see their head lift high. As they get older, they may push up on palms and try to reach out and smack it!
Montessori Spin Drum
This toy prompts baby to reach out and touch or spin the drum. It’s great for keeping baby’s attention and giving them something to watch.
This Montessori toy can grow with your baby, too. Use it in tummy time first to get baby lifting their head and trying to reach.
Later, use it as your baby is learning to balance in a seated position. Use it to model words like, “more, go, stop, spin.”
Looking for more?
Read my blog “What if my baby hates tummy time?” and see my best tummy time tips and tricks.