As your baby gets older and spends more time in tummy time, they start to learn new skills. 

My name is Tanya and I'm a pediatric physiotherapist with Alberta Health Services. 

In this video, you'll learn about the skills that you can expect to see in tummy time when your baby is 3 to 4 months of age. 

By 3 months of age, your baby should be spending a total of 1 hour in tummy time each day. 

Remember, this can be broken up into shorter amounts of time through the day. 

Your goal at this age is still tummy time frequently through the day. 

Your baby is learning how to support themselves on their arms. 

To do this, they need to bring their elbows forward so that they're under or in front of their shoulders. 

You can help them learn to do this by helping them move their arms forward or by using a rolled-up blanket or towel under their chest with their arms in front of the roll. 

You can help them to hold their arms in place if they're having trouble doing this on their own. 

At this age, your baby can lift their head more easily. 

They can lift up higher and they should be able to tip and turn their head equally to both sides in tummy time. 

If you notice your baby is always tipping or turning their head to only one side, it's a good idea to see a pediatric physiotherapist for one-to-one help. 

Some babies have trouble tipping and turning their head in both directions, and early treatment is the most effective way to help them move to both sides. 

It's common for babies to develop a flat spot on their head at this age. 

Visit the pediatric rehabilitation website for more information about your baby's head shape and neck movement. 

Help your baby practice following a toy with their eyes, which is called tracking. 

Move the toy slowly so that they can see it and follow it easily. 

You can move the toy up and down or side to side. 

They may also be reaching for toys and exploring them with their hands. 

They may bring a toy to their mouth or bring a hand to their mouth. 

This also helps them learn to shift their weight to one side to get ready to learn how to roll and move. 

Help your baby increase the time they're spending in tummy time by using tummy time over your leg, carrying your baby, and tummy time on the floor. 

By this age, your baby is even more interested in playing with you. 

Remember to spend lots of face-to-face time with your baby. 

When your baby makes a noise, imitate them and make the noise back at them. 

Make funny faces or sounds for your baby to hear and see. 

Talk with your baby and wait for them to have a turn to make sounds back to you. 

Your baby might also like looking at themselves in a baby mirror. 

Think about using toys that make a noise, like a rattle, to get your baby to turn their head and look in different directions. 

Think about using interesting toys for your baby to feel with their hands, like a water mat or a book with different textures or tags. 

You can help your baby practice reaching for toys by placing them to one side so that your baby has to reach further to get them. 

This video series continues with new things you can expect to see in tummy time when your baby is 5 to 6 months of age. 

If you want to learn more about side-lying and learning to crawl, go ahead to the later videos in the series. 

Find information, support, and services for you and your child by clicking on the link in the description.​