Joyful Tummy Time Toys Worth Your Money
Tummy time can be fun—really!
Once you’ve mastered our tips for a good tummy time experience and you’ve found the best play mat for your baby, you can move on to the objects that will bring a little extra joy to these sessions.
While your smiling face is often enough for your baby during tummy time, sometimes other toys are helpful and can provide extra stimulation! Plus, strong contrasting colors, such as those in black and white pictures, help to develop visual acuity and overall concentration. And watching babies discover themselves in mirrors is just plain fun!
Here are some of my suggestions:
Skip Hop cloth book: This cloth book props up nicely for babies, has bold lines and contrasting colors, and contains lots of little tags and objects to interest a growing mind.
Taf Toys soft activity book: This activity book is a soft, safe options for babies. The contrasting colors and fun images will draw a baby in and keep her attention.
Sassy Tummy Time Floor Mirror: Any mirror will work during tummy time, but this one sits up on its own, has safe soft corners, and has a cute little bumblebee that spins.
Splashin’Kids Inflatable Tummy Time Water Mat: This water mat is seriously SO FUN! The moving water is great for sensory integration and the unstable surface also promotes dynamic balance and shoulder strengthening.
Sassy Developmental Bumpy Ball: This bumpy ball has large soft ends that are easy for little ones to grab and hold.
Infantino Go-Gaga Prop-a-pillar: This is a great alternative to the Boppy pillow, and this one comes with multiple pieces. The portion that can be used during tummy time is slightly more adaptable than the Boppy, and its lower-profile is often easier for babies to play over-top.
You should always supervise your baby when she’s playing on blankets, sheets, or mats, since any loose fabric can be a suffocation hazard. Follow all guidelines for the play mats and play gyms, and be sure to be near your child and pay close attention to her when she’s playing on any fabric. Tummy time should always be a closely monitored and interactive activity.
Jessica is an experienced physical therapist passionate about early development, gross motor play, and improving daily function for those with neurological diagnoses. She earned her undergraduate degree in kinesiology from Michigan State University and her doctorate in physical therapy from Daemen College. Practicing for nearly seven years, Jessica has worked with children and families in hospital, outpatient, early intervention, school-based, and private clinical settings.
Jessica lives in northern Michigan, where she spends as much time as possible outside. She’s mom to five-month-old Declan and aunt to two energetic toddlers, two-year-old Tallulah and three-year-old Grayson.
