Awake Time on the Tummy

Safety

Only while awake and with an adult watching the whole time; an infant who falls asleep on the tummy is turned onto their back and moved to a crib.
Use a firm, flat surface, never a bed, sofa cushion, or pillow, so the face cannot sink into a soft surface.
Keep blankets, soft toys, and loose cloths away from the infant's face.

Where US guidance differs

The AAP ('Back to Sleep, Tummy to Play', HealthyChildren.org) calls for supervised tummy time from the first day home, 2–3 times a day for 3–5 minutes, working up to 15–30 minutes a day by about 7 weeks. Pikler practice does not place an infant on the tummy: the infant lies on their back until they roll over alone, and adults do not put them in a position they cannot reach by themselves; Montessori home sources describe short times on the tummy on the movement mat. This work follows the AAP amounts as an offer the adult ends when the infant objects, stops placing the infant on the tummy once they roll there by themselves, and asks schools to tell families which practice they follow.

Presentation

1
Choose a time when the infant is awake and alert.
2
In the first weeks, recline on a sofa or the floor and lay the infant on their tummy on your chest, face turned to one side, so they can lift their head to see your face.
3
On the mat, tell the infant, 'I am going to turn you onto your tummy.' Roll them slowly from the back, to the side, to the tummy, supporting the head, so they feel each part of the turn.
4
Bring the arms forward so the forearms are under the shoulders.
5
Lie on the floor facing the infant, with your face 20–30 cm from theirs, or place them facing the mirror. Talk or sing. Lifting the head to see a face is the point of interest.
6
Watch for the head lifting, turning from side to side, and pushing up on the forearms. When the infant fusses, rests the face on the mat, or tires, roll them back onto their back the same way.
7
Offer this 2–3 times a day for 3–5 minutes at first, and increase as the infant accepts it, toward 15–30 minutes in total each day by about 7 weeks.
8
Once the infant rolls onto the tummy by themselves, stop placing them there. Lay them on their back and let them choose.

Extensions, easiest to hardest

Place one grasping toy just in front of the hands
Place a toy to one side so the infant turns the head and shifts weight to reach it
Leave the infant on the back and let them roll to the tummy on their own

Control of error

None in the material. The adult observes head control and stops at the first signs of distress or tiredness.

Ready to move on when the child…

Lifts the head and holds it up while on the tummy
Pushes up on forearms, then on straight arms
Rolls from tummy to back and from back to tummy without help
Stays on the tummy by choice and reaches for a toy from there