How do I set up floor time and what should the baby lie on?

The community recommends a play mat or water mat for floor time, with cushioning advised until the baby has full head control because a baby can drop its head hard; once head control is established, a clean floor with a simple cotton mat is fine.

Community Answers from Moms(5)

Here's what moms in our community shared based on their own experience.

1. 1

   Use a play mat and lay the baby on it; a water mat is great and the baby can go directly on it.

2. 2

   Direct floor placement isn't safe until full head control is attained, since babies can drop their head with force and hurt themselves; a play mat or cushion gives cushioning until then. Cotton mats like a dohar work before head control.

3. 3

   Once a baby has head control (around 6 months), leaving the baby on a plain clean floor for about 30 minutes on a simple cotton mat, lying next to them, works well.

4. 4

   For a baby who rolls straight off her tummy, it helps to have two people - keep the baby on her tummy and roll a pull-back toy car or ball back and forth from her side so she enjoys watching while you talk to her.

5. 5

   If the baby has learned tummy-to-back and refuses tummy time, keep practicing rolling with her instead.