Tummy time isn’t just about preventing flat spots on your baby’s head (though it certainly helps with that). It’s actually building the foundation for nearly every major milestone to come.

One mom in our practice shared: “After learning about crawling’s importance, I watched my daughter with new appreciation. She wasn’t just moving—she was solving spatial puzzles with every movement, figuring out how to get around furniture and reach her toys.”

As an occupational therapist specializing in infant development, I’ve heard countless myths that not only create unnecessary worry for parents but sometimes lead to practices that aren’t ideal for babies. Today, I’m setting the record straight on some of the most common misconceptions about baby development during that crucial first year.