How much for babies? (0 – 1 year)

Physical activity	Sedentary behaviour
Physically active several times daily — particularly through interactive floor-based play.	Minimize sedentary time (e.g., prolonged sitting >1 hour at a time). Children < 2 years: Screen time is not recommended.

Physically active several times daily — particularly through interactive floor-based play.

Minimize sedentary time (e.g., prolonged sitting >1 hour at a time).

Children < 2 years: Screen time is not recommended.

Our experts talk about the role physicians play in helping children and teens maintain healthy, active lives.
Watch more videos

Do: Strategies for your practice

Calculate and plot BMI once a year using the World Health Organization (WHO) growth charts.
Download or order a poster promoting physical activity for babies and display it in your health care or community setting.

What being active means	How to increase physical activity	How to reduce sedentary behaviour
Tummy time Reaching for or grasping balls or other toys Playing or rolling on the floor Crawling around the home	Create safe spaces for play Play music, learn action songs together Play/explore indoors and outdoors Play with other children Walk or bike instead of driving Crawl, take a brisk walk, hop, skip, run, dance	Limit use of playpens and infant seats when baby is awake Stop for playtime during long car trips Set rules to limit screen time Keep TVs and computers out of bedrooms

Parent-friendly fact sheets and videos about healthy active living are available from Caring for Kids.
Early Years (0-4 years) lists examples of activities that parents can do with their infant, toddler, or preschooler. They are organized by age and have handy checkboxes for tracking each day of the week.
Help connect families with local recreation and community resources.

Last updated: Jul 6, 2022