Why Floor Time Is Important!

Let’s talk about the “extras”… and the power of floor time. 

Every home I visit has a beautiful play mat surrounded by toys — and right beside it are the swings, walkers, bouncers, baby chairs and jumpers. Let’s call them the extras.

Don’t get me wrong — the extras can absolutely have a place, and I’m not saying they’re “bad.” But clever marketing has led many parents to believe they’re essential for development. The reality? Many babies are now spending more time contained and less time freely moving on the floor.

When we think about it, our little ones are already spending time in prams, car seats, swaddles, sleeping bags and carriers. Add everything together and infants can end up being quite restricted throughout the day.

✨ Balance is key.

From birth to around 15 months, development is incredible — rolling, sitting, crawling, standing and exploring the world. Babies learn these skills through movement, repetition and space to practise.

When movement is limited, babies may try to “catch up” on practising new skills in the cot — something many parents recognise during those tricky sleep phases often called regressions.

🌿 Why floor time matters:


• Supports natural age-appropriate development
• Allows full range of movement in arms, legs and body
• Encourages sensory exploration and confidence
• Helps babies practise skills during awake time instead of sleep time
• Builds healthy sleep pressure through active play

Floor time really is a triple win:


✔️ Supports development
✔️ Reduces practising new skills during sleep
✔️ Burns energy through play and exploration

Sometimes the simplest setup — a safe space on the floor — is exactly what your little one needs

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