Infants
22 November, 2025
For most babies, you can start tummy time as soon as they are born. Tummy time should always be when your baby is awake and supervised. This might be lying on your chest or across your lap. You might start with just one minute and initially your baby may or may not lift their head. As you practise more, you will find they can lift their head more easily.
Many parents ask ‘how much tummy time is enough?’. As your baby is awake more you should aim for around 30minutes total time, spread across the day. This might be in 5 or 10 minute intervals to start with. This can be difficult with babies who do not tolerate tummy time well and who can cry or fuss as soon as they are placed in this position.
Some good strategies for babies who don’t tolerate tummy time are:
-start with short periods in an easy position e.g. lying on your chest (you can be propped up on pillows so your baby is on an angle, not completely flat)
-provide lots of interesting things for your baby to look at e.g. your face, toys or my favourite- a mirror
-give your baby plenty of rests – roll them off their tummies when they are getting tired and their head is starting to bobble or drop. You can then roll them back onto their tummies a few minutes later. Importantly you should try to avoid keeping your baby in this position until they become upset and cry. It is better to do a short session with them finishing happy then a longer session which ends with them unsettled. For some babies you might start with just 30 seconds at a time to build up their tolerance.
Autism
Children
April is Autism Awareness Month, a time to increase understanding of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In Australia, over 205,000 people are affected by autism. Children with ASD often face challenges with movement and motor skills, and physiotherapists play a crucial role in providing support.
Children
Did you know that the Queensland Government is supporting families to access up to $200 in FairPlay Vouchers to help cover the cost of sports and recreation activities for kids? 🎉 This is a great opportunity to support your child’s physical development and encourage an active lifestyle!
Children
Toddlers
While most children are naturally more flexible than adults, some are particularly bendy. When a child’s joints move beyond the typical range, this is called hypermobility. People with hypermobility are often casually described as “double-jointed.”