Tummy Time
“My child just hates tummy time!”
“Tummy time makes my baby so mad!”
“My baby spits up so much during tummy time that it’s just not working for him/her.”
Do you or your baby resonate with any of these situations?
We hear you! Playing on the tummy can be tricky for infants. But did you know that tummy time does not have to be stressful for both baby and parents?
Tummy time, or having your baby lie down and/or play while they are lying on their tummy and arms, is one of your baby’s first opportunities to move! It can be as simple as laying them on their tummy for short periods of time throughout the day when they are infants
or can be more advanced where they are completely playing on their belly and reaching for toys if they are an older baby
Of note, it is always recommended that tummy time occurs while baby is awake and supervised.
Tummy time can and should be started right away, on day 1 if possible! It might sound crazy, but tummy time is extra important to start implementing into your baby’s routine as soon as they are home from the hospital, for a few different reasons.
Babies - especially newborns - spend a lot of time on their backs. Flipping them over to lie and play on their stomach changes their whole perspective of their environment and is crucial to both motor and sensory development.
2. Regular, supervised tummy time spread throughout the day helps prevent the development of flatness on your baby’s skull, and helps reduce the risk of Torticollis, or excessive tightness in their neck.
For more information of torticollis or flat head syndrome, check out this blog post: Turning the Tides of Torticollis: Easing the Early Weeks of Mom Life — All Together Wellness
Of note- We still recommend sleeping on their backs for safety. If your baby happens to fall asleep during tummy time, gently roll them over to their backs to continue sleeping.
3. Tummy time helps your baby develop strength in their neck, back, arms, and core- which will eventually turn into them achieving motor milestones, like rolling over, sitting, and crawling. The foundation for these skills starts with regular tummy time.
4. Tummy time promotes sensory development by giving baby an opportunity to explore moving their limbs in a different position, eventually reaching for toys. It also shows them a different view of their environment and promotes visual exploration.
5. Regular tummy play helps prevent delays in motor milestones in typically developing children, and it helps babies who are born with delays to reach their motor milestones sooner.
6. Tummy time can be a great bonding experience- it is one of the first opportunities to just be and play with your baby, even if they are a newborn!
We ideally want to see infants doing 20-30 minutes of tummy time spread into 3-5 minute increments throughout the day, and then working up to 60+ minutes throughout the day as they become bigger and stronger.
However, we understand that knowing the benefits of tummy time doesn’t always mean that tummy time is or will be easy. Tummy time can be hard for babies for a few reasons:
Baby’s age/size
Upset tummy or struggles with reflux and/or gas
Tightness in their neck, shoulders, or trunk
Developmental delays and/or low muscle tone
So, what do we do when a baby struggles with tummy time and/or is very upset and emotional? Here are a few tips and tricks from our pediatric physical therapist to try at home:
Try placing a rolled up dish towel or blanket underneath their chest/armpits to make it a little easier for them to lift their heads.
Present toys that are engaging and help promote sensory and visual development, such as:
Black and white picture books (newborns)
Toys that light up or sing
Non-breakable mirror for them to learn their reflection
Try lying on your tummy in front of your baby. This increases facial interaction and expressions as well as the opportunity to bond with baby. You can also present a toy, such as a rattle, closer to their face and move it side to side for them to follow with their eyes and head.
Check out some of our favorite infant toys to make tummy time more fun here
We know that tummy time can be challenging to fit in regularly, especially if your baby isn’t enjoying it, so what if we take some of the work out of tummy time for you? In January of 2025, All Together Wellness is launching a fun and engaging Tummy Time Fun Class for babies and their caregivers! Led by a pediatric physical therapist, this class will provide you with tools to keep your baby calmer and engaged in tummy time. This group class will take place in a fun environment with other babies and parents so you can work on these play skills together each week. It will allow you to support your baby as they progress through different stages of tummy time skills as their strength improves, thus eliminating tears for them and guess work for you! Early research has shown that a group style tummy time class with babies and parents can improve carryover of tummy time skills and tolerance to home setting, thereby allowing baby to reap all these benefits of tummy time. Ready to enroll? Learn more here!
Lastly, if your baby does have a diagnosed delay or is developing either a flat spot on their head and/or tightness in their neck, our pediatric physical therapists are here to help you! If your baby is having persistent difficulty with tummy time, such as significant reflux or tightness, they may benefit from physical therapy. If you have questions about if pediatric physical therapy is needed or right for your child, you can book a call with us here. We look forward to meeting you and helping your child flourish.
