Further Reading

Research shows that putting your baby on their back to sleep, for every sleep or nap during the day and at night, reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.^[1] However, spending supervised time on their tummy when they are awake and alert supports the development of your baby’s upper body strength, as well as giving them a different view of things, which might help them to explore and develop their understanding of the world.

The asymmetrical tonic neck reflex which emerges before your baby is born ensures that when lying on their tummy their head is turned to one side so that their airway is free.^[2] You might notice this when you lie your baby on their tummy on the floor or your chest.