Tummy Time Ideas your Baby Won't Hate

Your baby, like many others, might protest a little when placed on his belly for tummy time, but rest assured, there are great alternatives to *tummy* tummy time.

But before you get started, make sure your environment is set up to ensure maximum playtime and minimum stress.

In photo: Standing Card Holder & Tummy Time Pillow in the Look With Me Play Box

Here’s your tummy time checklist before your baby touches down:

✔️ Baby is awake and alert, ready for playtime

✔️ Baby was upright for at least 10-20 minutes after feeding

✔️ You have a soft but firm, safe space to lay baby down

✔️ Your area is prepared with some high contrast cards, books, toys or a mirror (switch it up each time to keep it exciting)

✔️ Your baby will be supervised

In photo: Standing Card Holder & Tummy Time Pillow in the Look With Me Play Box

Putting your baby belly-down on the floor isn’t the only way to do tummy time. Try these alternatives, but make sure most tummy time is done belly-down on the floor.

Side-lying

Place your baby on their side, supported by rolled-up blankets or towels.

In photo: Standing Card Holder & Tummy Time Pillow in the Look With Me Play Box

Lap laying

Place your baby on their tummy across your lap or along your legs. Placing your hand on their lower back will help them keep their legs down and lift their (very heavy) little head.

Tummy-to-tummy

Lie on your back and place your baby on your chest. If your head is rested on a pillow, you can look up at your baby and encourage him to look at you.

In photo: Black & White Mittens in the Look With Me Play Box

Tummy-down carry

You don’t always have to carry your baby in an upright position. A great way to sneak in some tummy time is to carry your baby face down, using your arms and hands to support their chest and belly. This also works for babies who suffer from tummy aches or discomfort.

Start the development journey with MonkiBox. Montessori-inspired toys designed to give your child the best start. 

Tags: 0-12 weeks Activity Gross motor skills Learning Through Play Motor Skills & Movement Newborn Essentials Playtime Tummy time

June 26, 2025

Why Hand-to-Hand Transfer Is an Underrated but Important Milestone

By around 20 weeks, your baby may be showing off some big moves like rolling over and even sitting up. But there’s another quiet milestone that deserves just as much celebration: hand-to-hand transfer. Around the 5-month mark, your baby starts to realize their hands are not just for waving in the air, they’re tools for action! One of the most telling signs is when they start passing a toy from one hand to the other. This simple act is a huge leap in motor development. Why Do Babies Start Transferring Objects Between Their Hands? This skill signals that your baby is developing coordination across the body’s midline. Crossing the midline is essential for tasks like self-feeding, dressing, and later, writing. Transferring objects helps both sides of the brain and body work together, a foundational step in physical and cognitive development. In photo: Hand to Hand Transfer Disc in the Bond With Me Play Box Early Signs of Hand-to-Hand Transfer in Infants: Bringing both hands together at the center of the body Reaching for toys using both hands Bringing objects to the mouth to explore them These movements typically emerge between 4 and 6 months as your baby’s hand-eye coordination and bilateral motor control improve. When Do Babies Begin Transferring Objects Between Hands? Most babies start experimenting with this skill around 5 months and refine it by 7 months. Girls often reach this milestone slightly earlier than boys.So, don’t worry if your baby is taking their time; every child progresses at their own pace. How This Milestone Supports Motor Development: Encourages coordination between both sides of the body Boosts spatial awareness and hand-eye coordination Builds the foundation for everyday actions like using utensils or getting dressed Promotes planning and purposeful movement Helpful Tools: Try Montessori-inspired toys like interlocking discs. Their shape and motion encourage wrist rotation and midline crossing. Plus, they double as teethers, making playtime both fun and functional. In photo: Hand to Hand Transfer Disc in the Bond With Me Play Box Hand-to-hand transfer may look small, but it plays a big role in preparing your baby for life’s next stages. Start the development journey with MonkiBox. Our Montessori-inspired toys are designed to give your child the best start.

Learn more

June 26, 2025

Week 47: How to Help Your Child Learn to Walk

Ready? Set! Go! Your baby's first steps are one of the most anticipated milestones. Walking, first with support, then independently, is typically achieved between 9 and 18 months. While some babies walk earlier, others take a bit more time. That’s perfectly normal. If your child hasn’t started walking yet, here are ways to gently and effectively support their journey. In photo: Tissue Box in the Discover With Me Play Box Fun and Effective Ways to Encourage Walking: Cruising Practice: Arrange sturdy furniture in a line and encourage your baby to walk while holding onto it. Balance Activities: Tape colorful strips to the wall and invite your child to peel them off while standing. This encourages longer unsupported standing. Strength Training: Try games like squatting to pick up toys and tossing them into a basket. These motions build strong leg muscles. Push Play: Fill a basket with heavy toys or use a sturdy stroller that they can push around the house. Important Note on Baby Walkers: According to Harvard Medical School, baby walkers can delay the development of essential balance muscles and increase the risk of injury. Pediatricians recommend supervised floor time or stationary activity centers instead. Interactive Play Ideas: Sit opposite a family member and encourage your baby to walk back and forth between you. Make walking fun! Chase your baby on all fours, making playful sounds to build excitement and motivation. In photo: Soft Ball in the Think With Me Play Box Is Your Baby 1 Year Old and Still Not Walking? Don’t worry, just yet. While many babies walk around 12 months, it's completely normal to start as late as 15–18 months. Genetics, personality, premature birth, or physical conditions like low muscle tone can all play a role. When to Consult a Pediatrician: Not pulling up to stand by 12 months Not cruising by 15 months No attempt at independent steps by 18 months Natural Remedies and Supportive Strategies: Barefoot Time: Letting your baby walk barefoot strengthens foot muscles and enhances balance through better sensory feedback. Squat Games: Picking up objects from the floor builds leg strength. Push Toys: Weighted carts offer safe support for early walkers. Massage & Nutrition: Gentle leg and foot massages promote circulation. Ensure a diet rich in calcium, vitamin D, and protein to naturally support muscle and bone development. In photo: Flexible Stacker in the Think With Me Play Box Helping Your Baby Find Their Own Pace: Every baby develops differently. Learning to walk requires strength, coordination, and confidence. Avoid pressure, provide encouragement, and celebrate every small step. Before you know it, your little one will be running around! Start the development journey with MonkiBox. Our Montessori-inspired toys are thoughtfully designed to support every step of your baby’s growth.

Learn more

June 26, 2025

Week 14: Reaching & Grasping — Why It’s Important and How to Encourage It

Your baby’s small movements lay the groundwork for bigger milestones. Motor development happens step by step, and two of the earliest and most essential skills are reaching and grasping, also known as prehension. Though babies are born with a palmar reflex (automatically closing their hand around anything that touches the palm), true voluntary reaching and grasping typically begin around 4 to 5 months. In photo: Rolling Bell in the Bond With Me Play Box Signs Your Baby Is Ready to Start Reaching and Grasping: Improved hand-eye coordination: Your baby starts visually tracking objects more intently. Hands coming together in front of their body. Batting at toys or hanging objects during play. These signals mean your baby is gearing up for purposeful interaction with the world. Encourage this vital stage with a variety of textures, shapes, and object placements. In photo: Rattle in the Bond With Me Play Box Tips to Encourage Reaching and Grasping: Place toys in a semi-circle around your baby—within view, but slightly out of reach. Offer both one-handed and two-handed toys. Include stationary objects and ones that roll or move, like balls. Provide toys with varying textures (e.g., soft balls, rattles, silicone teethers). Use treasure baskets filled with interesting, safe household items (wooden spoons, sponges, scarves, cotton wool, etc.). Hang toys from a play gym for visual engagement and batting practice. Allow mouthing—it's how babies explore and learn to hold. In photo: Floor Mirror in the Bond With Me Play Box Encouraging Voluntary Release (Before 12–18 Months): Begin by placing your hand under theirs when holding an object. Offer lightweight, easy-to-release toys. Model release by gently guiding their hand to drop the toy onto a soft surface. Praise your baby’s effort every step of the way. Helping Babies with Poor Grip or Grasping Challenges: Use textured toys to stimulate tactile engagement. Introduce toys that can be squeezed or have ridges. Physically guide their hands to grip and release objects. Encourage activities like splashing water or baby-led feeding to strengthen hand muscles. In photo: Montessori Knot Ball in the Sense With Me Play Box If Your Baby Isn’t Reaching or Grasping by 5 Months: Don’t panic! Increase tummy time to build core and upper body strength. Offer toys just beyond reach to encourage stretching and effort. If you’re concerned, consult your pediatrician to ensure development is on track. Reaching and grasping are the building blocks of independence and discovery. Start strong with MonkiBox. Our Montessori-inspired toys are thoughtfully designed to nurture every stage of your baby’s development.

Learn more

Tummy Time Ideas your Baby Won't Hate