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Tummy time essentials ended up being more important than I expected during the newborn stage.
Before having my son, I mostly thought about feeding, diapers, sleep, and baby gear. But once he started becoming more alert, tummy time quickly became part of our daily routine.
Some babies love tummy time right away.
Others absolutely do not.
Having a few simple tummy time essentials made it much easier to keep him comfortable, entertained, and engaged during those early months.
These are the tummy time products we actually used during the newborn stage and early baby months — including play gyms, mirrors, soft mats, and simple developmental toys that made tummy time feel less stressful.
If you’re still building your registry, I also shared my full list of newborn essentials and baby registry must haves that we actually used daily.
Lovevery Play Gym
One of the biggest things that helped tummy time feel less repetitive was having a dedicated play space.
The Lovevery Play Gym includes different textures, sensory toys, and developmental activities that grow with your baby over time.
When my son started becoming more alert, this gave him more to look at and interact with during tummy time sessions.
I also liked that it didn’t feel overly bright or overstimulating compared to some baby toys.
The neutral design fits really nicely into a calm home environment while still keeping babies engaged.
👉 Check out the play gym that made tummy time way more interesting
Tummy Time Pillow
Tummy time can feel frustrating for some newborns at first.
A small tummy time pillow helped prop my son up slightly so he was more comfortable during those early attempts.
Even a few extra minutes of tummy time throughout the day starts to add up.
The Infantino Tummy Time Prop Pillow is simple but really helpful during the newborn stage.
It also comes with a few small sensory toys attached, which helps hold their attention a little longer.
👉 This made tummy time much more comfortable early on
Black and White Contrast Cards
One thing I didn’t realize before becoming a mom is how much newborns love high-contrast images.
During the first few months, babies are naturally drawn to bold black-and-white patterns because their eyesight is still developing.
We used black-and-white contrast cards constantly during tummy time.
They were one of the easiest ways to keep my son engaged for a few extra minutes.
These are also incredibly easy to throw into a diaper bag for tummy time while visiting family or traveling.
These became one of my favorite simple newborn activities during wake windows.
👉 Newborns are surprisingly obsessed with these
Baby-Safe Mirror
Babies are fascinated by faces — including their own.
A baby-safe tummy time mirror helped keep my son interested during tummy time much longer.
He loved staring at the reflection and watching movement while laying on his tummy.
This is one of those inexpensive baby items that ends up getting used constantly during the newborn stage.
👉 This helped hold his attention during tummy time
Soft Play Mat
A comfortable play surface makes a huge difference.
We ended up doing tummy time in multiple rooms throughout the day, so having a soft foldable play mat made things much easier.
I liked having somewhere clean, padded, and comfortable where I could quickly set him down for playtime.
also liked that a neutral mat blended nicely into our home and worked well for everyday baby photos.
I also ended up using this same setup constantly during diaper changes and everyday floor play.
👉 We used this setup every single day
Crinkle Books and Sensory Toys
Simple sensory toys became some of my son’s first favorite toys.
Crinkle books, textured fabrics, rattles, and soft sensory toys helped keep tummy time from feeling frustrating or boring.
You definitely don’t need a huge amount of toys during the newborn stage.
But having a few engaging sensory items nearby really helps.
We rotated through a small basket of toys during tummy time and it kept things feeling fresh without creating clutter.
👉 These became some of his first favorite toys
Muslin Blankets
Muslin blankets ended up being one of the most versatile things we owned.
We used them during tummy time, stroller walks, naps, diaper changes, and everyday lounging around the house.
They’re lightweight, soft, easy to wash, and perfect for layering underneath babies during floor play.
I always kept a few nearby because we used them constantly.
👉 We used muslin blankets for absolutely everything
Fisher-Price Kick & Play Piano Gym
This ended up becoming one of our most-used baby products.
The Fisher-Price Kick & Play Piano Gym works well for both tummy time and independent floor play.
As babies get older, they can kick the piano keys, reach for toys, and interact more with movement and sound.
It’s one of those baby items parents constantly recommend for a reason.
My son stayed entertained with this much longer than I expected.
👉 This became one of our most-used baby items
If you’re looking for more baby products that actually get used daily, I also shared my full list of best baby products for newborns.
Soft Burp Cloths Nearby
One thing about tummy time?
Spit-up happens constantly.
I quickly learned to keep burp cloths nearby during every tummy time session.
KeaBabies Organic Burp Cloths became some of our favorites because they’re thick, soft, and absorbent.
We kept stacks of them throughout the house during the newborn stage.
👉 We went through these constantly during the newborn months
Tummy Time Looked Different Every Day
Some babies tolerate tummy time better than others.
And honestly, some days are harder than others.
One thing that helped me stress less was remembering that baby wearing and carrying babies upright still supports development too.
Baby wearing also helped me a lot during the postpartum recovery stage because it kept my hands free while still keeping my baby close.
On days when my son was extra fussy, we spent more time in the baby carrier and tried tummy time again later.
The Ergobaby Embrace Carrier was one of my favorite newborn carriers because it was soft, lightweight, and easy to put on quickly.
👉 This was our favorite carrier during the first few months
Tummy Time Essentials for Newborns (Final Thoughts)
Tummy time can feel awkward at first — especially during those early newborn weeks when everything already feels overwhelming.
But having a few simple tummy time essentials nearby made the process feel much easier and less stressful for us.
A comfortable setup, a few sensory toys, soft blankets, and some realistic expectations go a long way.
Some days tummy time lasted ten minutes.
Other days it lasted thirty seconds.
That’s normal too.
The newborn stage is less about perfection and more about creating small everyday routines that gradually become part of life with your baby.
Related Articles for New Moms
If you’re building your baby registry or preparing for the newborn stage, these guides may also help:
- Baby Registry Must Haves: Real Essentials You’ll Actually Use
- Best Baby Products for Newborns (That Actually Make Life Easier)
- Newborn Sleep Essentials for Better Nights (What Actually Helps)
- 10 Baby Registry Items No One Tells You About (But You’ll Use Every Day)
- Breastfeeding Essentials for New Moms (What Actually Helps