Tummy time without the rattle solo
You know what tummy time usually looks like. You, flat on the living room floor, waving a rattle. Then making the rattle talk. Then giving it a name and a backstory. There’s a whole cinematic universe happening at baby height.
The baby looks at the wall.
If that’s your house right now, you’re in good company. Plenty of babies protest about tummy time at first, and plenty of parents end up performing for an audience of one. Here’s what made it calmer for us.
Short and often beats long and heroic
A few minutes at a time, a few times a day, was far easier than one long session that ended in tears (theirs and ours). Your pediatrician or health visitor can tell you how much is right for your baby’s age — follow their advice rather than any number you read online.
Pick a good moment
Awake, fed but not just fed, and not overtired. Right after a nap tended to work best for us. A baby who is already grumpy won’t be convinced by any toy, however good its backstory.
Get down to their level
Your face is still the most interesting thing in the room. Lie down facing them, talk, sing, make faces. Tummy time is always something you do together, with you right there.
Give them something worth looking at
Young babies are drawn to bold, high-contrast shapes and slow movement. A black-and-white picture card, a mirror, or a toy moved slowly across their view all work. So does a caterpillar.
Where the caterpillar comes in
We built Tummy Time for exactly this moment. A slow, high-contrast caterpillar crawls up the screen, and your baby has something to follow while you sit right beside them — no jingle, no flashing colours, no ads. You place the phone or tablet on the mat, start the caterpillar, and stay close.
It’s free to download on iPhone and Android, with optional Premium extras (a one-time purchase, no subscription) such as session reports and a caterpillar that moves around the screen.
What it isn’t
It’s not a medical device, and it doesn’t replace your pediatrician. If you’re worried about how your baby is moving or developing, ask your doctor — that’s what they’re there for. The caterpillar is just a calm way to make a few minutes on the floor a little easier for both of you.
The rattle gets a day off.
