Putting babies on the floor used to be a taboo, but now its recognised widely as being the best way to give baby unrestricted movement thus supporting physical skills, and installing a sense of confidence in the child.
Babies who spend time on open, clean, safe, flat surfaces, free of infant seats or other restrictive carriers, have the opportunity to learn about their bodies in space.
They can learn freely what positions they can get into, and out of.

Many parents neglect to place their children on their tummies, on the floor, as often as they should.
This very basic play concept has unfortunately, been overlooked during the past decade.
In fact, researchers have found that this lack of tummy time has lead to an increase in gross motor delays.
Tummy time should be introduced at 2-3 months of age, when baby can lift head against gravity for the most part.
And at least once a day supervised tummy time should be allowed.

When children are positioned on their tummies at a young age it helps promote the development of their neck, shoulder and upper trunk muscles.
Head control vastly improves when these muscles are strengthened, as does the infant’s ability to use their arms and hands for activities.

They develop the muscles they need for their next developmental challenge.
Babies who are playing on the floor are strengthening all of the muscles they will later need to roll over, sit up and crawl.

Limiting the amount of time babies spend in car seats, baby carriers, chairs and other restrictive containers allows babies to have lots of time to develop their muscles, skills and body awareness.

It's amazing to note that babies develop beautifully without ever being in a baby carrier and that certain carriers,
which hold an infant's body in a position it isn't yet ready to be in, may actually impair an infant's physical development.
Just as important as physical development is the development of a baby's sense of confidence.
Being able to learn how to do things independantly gives an infant the idea, I can do it! and the confidence to keep trying new things.

Just as important is that you get down to the floor with baby, watch how he moves, see what he watches, what he does.
See the world as baby sees it.

singing or softly talking to him encourages him to verbally and non verbally communicate back on his own level.

All new mums and dads wish to do the best they can supporting babys growth, but instead of going and buying lots of expensive things, what babies really need is our attention, observation and our responsiveness.

In the first year of life, babies are learning trust.
They are figuring out that the world is a place where they will have their needs met,how to move, and learn how things work,
Our job is not to "teach" them these things so much as to get to know them, to provide safe and interesting places to learn and play,  to learn their unique communication systems and to be responsive to them.