Safe Sleep, Tummy Time & Sensory Play: Supporting Baby’s First Year
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The first year of a baby’s life is filled with extraordinary little moments — the first smile, the first time they reach for something, the first roll and the growing curiosity about everything around them.
For parents and carers, it can also be a time filled with questions.
How should my baby sleep? When should we start tummy time? How can I encourage development safely?
As Red Nose Day approaches, it’s a timely opportunity to refresh some of the simple, evidence-based ways families can help keep babies safe while also giving them opportunities to move, explore and connect while awake.
Safe sleep starts with the basics
When it comes to sleep, a baby's sleep space should be just that — a safe place for sleeping.
Red Nose Australia recommends six key safe-sleep practices for babies aged 0–12 months:
- Always place baby on their back to sleep.
- Keep baby's face and head uncovered.
- Keep baby smoke-free before and after birth.
- Provide a safe sleeping environment for every sleep, day and night.
- Sleep baby in their own safe sleep space in the parent or caregiver's room for the first six months.
- Breastfeed baby where possible.
A safe sleep surface should be firm and flat, with the baby's sleep space kept clear of loose or soft items.
That means toys, sensory products, pillows, cot bumpers and other soft objects don't belong in a baby's sleep space.
A simple way to remember it: sleep is for safe sleeping; sensory exploration is for awake and supervised play.
Tummy time is playtime
Tummy time gives babies an opportunity to experience their world from an entirely different position.
Red Nose advises that supervised tummy time can begin from birth and should take place when baby is awake and supervised.
It helps babies strengthen their neck, shoulder and back muscles, supports movement development and can help protect their head shape.
Some babies enjoy tummy time straight away. Others need a little encouragement — and that's perfectly okay.
Try short periods throughout the day when baby is awake, comfortable and not overly tired or hungry.
You might make tummy time part of an everyday routine after a nappy change, after a bath or during floor play.
Most importantly, stay close.
Getting down onto baby's level, smiling, talking and singing gives them something wonderful to focus on — you.
Turning tummy time into gentle sensory play
Sensory play for babies doesn't need to be complicated.
During supervised awake time, everyday experiences can introduce babies to sights, sounds, textures and movement.
You could try:
- placing a baby-safe textured object within reaching distance
- slowly moving a colourful object from side to side for baby to follow with their eyes
- talking, singing or making gentle sounds
- allowing baby to explore safe textures with their hands
- using a baby-safe mirror during supervised floor play
- changing baby's position during awake play so they can experience the world from different perspectives.
These simple activities can encourage reaching, tracking, grasping, movement and interaction.
And sometimes the best sensory experience doesn't involve a toy at all.
Your face, voice and touch are incredibly interesting to a young baby.
Back to sleep. Tummy to play.
One of the most useful messages for parents is also one of the simplest:
Back to sleep. Tummy to play.
The distinction matters.
Tummy time should always happen while baby is awake and supervised. If baby becomes sleepy, they should be moved to their safe sleep space and placed on their back.
Red Nose also warns against following unsafe social-media “hacks” that suggest tummy time in unsuitable places such as prams. A comfortable, firm surface or floor is a safer choice for supervised tummy time.
Small moments build connection
It's easy to feel pressure to constantly provide babies with new activities and stimulation.
But development doesn't have to be complicated.
A few minutes lying together on the floor, singing a favourite song, watching baby reach for an object or simply responding to their expressions can create opportunities for movement, communication and connection.
Follow baby's cues. Some days they may be fascinated by an activity; other days they may have had enough after a minute or two.
That's okay.
Sensory play isn't about doing more. It's about giving babies safe opportunities to discover their world at their own pace.
This Red Nose Day, let's keep the conversation going
Red Nose has spent decades helping Australian families access evidence-based information about safe sleep and reducing the risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy.
Red Nose Day is a valuable reminder that simple, evidence-based practices matter.
For families with babies, it can also be an opportunity to check the sleep environment, refresh safe-sleep knowledge and share reliable information with grandparents, relatives and anyone else who cares for the baby.
At My Sensory Nest, we believe childhood development happens through the little everyday moments — reaching, touching, moving, listening, looking, playing and connecting.
For our youngest little explorers, those moments should always begin with safety.
Safe sleep when it's time to rest.
Supervised exploration when it's time to play.
This article provides general information only and is not a substitute for individual medical or health advice. For current Australian safe-sleep guidance, parents and carers should refer directly to Red Nose Australia or speak with an appropriate healthcare professional.
Helpful Resources
For trusted, evidence-based information about safe sleep and tummy time, visit:
Red Nose recommends placing babies on their back for sleep, while tummy time should take place when babies are awake and supervised.