Textured Ball Tummy Time Exploration

A bumpy sensory ball

A smooth rubber ball (large enough to not be a choking hazard)

A soft fabric ball

A crinkly ball or rattle ball

Set up a comfortable tummy time spot with a firm mat or blanket on the floor.

Choose three or four balls with different textures — bumpy, smooth, fabric, crinkly.

Place your baby on their tummy and position one ball just within their reach.

Tap the ball gently so it wobbles or makes a sound to catch your baby's attention.

Encourage reaching by talking excitedly: "Can you get the bumpy ball?"

Once your baby touches or grabs a ball, let them explore its texture freely.

After about a minute, swap in a new ball and watch how they react to the change.

Make sure all balls are too large to fit in your baby's mouth — safety first.

If your baby gets frustrated during tummy time, scoot the ball closer so success feels easier.

Rolling a ball slowly back and forth in front of your baby adds visual tracking practice to the mix.

This is a fantastic two-for-one activity — you're building neck and shoulder strength while flooding your baby with interesting textures.

Try this on different surfaces (carpet, foam mat, grass) for even more sensory variety.