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Tummy time is brilliant, but I don’t want parents to stress!
I often have parents in my rooms incredibly stressed because their baby hates tummy time and I always reassure them not to worry too much. In this blog we’ll talk through why tummy time is important – all my tips and tricks to help babies who don’t like it and importantly – why there’s no need to panic as a parent when tummy time is resisted.
Why is tummy time important?
Babies aren’t born with impressive head control – it’s why we need to always support the necks of newborns when we hold them, and why we need to help them build this independent strength with tummy time exercises, over time. Getting babies on their tummies regularly also helps minimise certain paediatric conditions:
- Torticollis (tor-ti-KOLL-iss): some babies are born with a preference to look in one direction, likely reflecting the way they were squashed in the womb. Tight neck muscles can keep your baby from turning their head in both directions – unlike in adults with a wry neck, it usually doesn’t cause pain but can lead to problems like flat spots on one side of the head (see below), trouble feeding on one side and turning their head as they grow up.
- Flat head syndrome or positional plagiocephaly (play-jee-oh-KEF-uh-lee): This happens when your baby spends too much time on their backs in the first few months of life, or preferences looking in one direction. This can cause a flat spot on the back of the head and in the cases of torticollis, a flat spot on one side of the head.
Regular tummy time sessions increase neck and upper body strength, encourage babies to look around and can help your baby’s neck muscles relax and equalise.
In addition to all of this, tummy time is also wonderful for promoting general development, interacting with your baby and enjoying some time without a focus on feeding, winding or sleeping.
When can I start tummy time?
You can start from the moment your baby is born!
Having your baby on your chest is beautiful for the skin-to-skin connection, as well as an opportunity to practise building these neck and shoulder muscles in your child. While you can start from day 1, don’t feel pressured to start immediately – there’s so much to learn in those first few days as parents, don’t add more stress if you’re already overwhelmed.
Your baby will always let you know when they’ve had enough!
What are the different ways to do tummy time?
There are lots of different ways to do tummy time.
1. Get down on the ground and face them
- Lie on the floor face-to-face with your baby.
- Your presence is reassuring and can make the experience more enjoyable for both of you.
- Distract them with nursery rhymes and tickles to encourage a little bit longer on their tummies.
2. Get them on your chest
- Pop a couple of pillows under your head
- Place your baby on their tummy so they’re lifting their head and looking at you.
- If it’s warm, you can do this skin to skin which is fantastic for bonding and connection
3. Once they are a bit stronger, you can get them up on your shins
- Lie on your baby with your legs up
- Place your baby in “flying mode” on your shins looking at you (they LOVE this)
4. Regular old tummy time
- Place them on a clean mat on their tummies
- There are lots of babies who don’t need to do anything fancy – they’ll do this on their own and will let you know when they have had enough
5. Sitting on a chair
- You can also sit in a chair and lay your baby on their tummy across your legs
- You can gently rub their back and they will love the impromptu massage!
6. On an exercise ball
- Hold your baby in place the entire time, with their belly on an exercise ball, facing you
- …don’t do this one if you’re uncomfortable balancing them on a ball, safety is paramount
7. Football hold
- This is where you lay baby across your forearms on their tummy as if you’re about to run down the wing with a football tucked close to your chest
- They’ll love the gentle movement this position allows and you can sing and gently dance while you do it
Many babies dislike tummy time, here are my top tips to work through it:
TIP 1: Start Slow
- Begin with short, frequent sessions.
- Even just a minute or two can make a difference.
- Gradually increase the time as your baby becomes more accustomed to the position.
TIP 2: Use a rolled up towel under their arms
- This can help them raise their chest and get their head up
TIP 3: Timing is Everything
- Try tummy time after a nap or a nappy change when your baby is well-rested and more likely to be in a good mood.
- Avoid tummy time immediately after feeding to prevent any uncomfortable spit-ups.
TIP 4: Incorporate Toys
- This is a great way to encourage tummy time. Place toys in a semi-circle around your baby. Choose bright, noisy toys that will capture their attention and encourage them to reach out, pivot, and eventually move towards the toys.
- Use a small mirror in front of your baby to encourage them to lift their head and explore their image.
TIP 5: Make it Routine
- Incorporate tummy time into your daily routine, so that it becomes a familiar part of your baby’s day. Consistency helps your baby adjust and eventually, even look forward to it!
TIP 6: Celebrate the Small Wins
- Any progress is good progress. Celebrate when your baby manages to lift their head a little higher or shows curiosity about the toys around them. Positive reinforcement goes a long way.
TIP 7: Any time on your baby’s chest counts
- As you’ve seen above, any time on their chest counts as tummy time. Often parents get fixated that their baby cries when they are on the ground by themselves, just try any of the above tummy time techniques and they will grow to love it.
It’s a Journey, Not a Race
Remember, every baby develops at their own pace, and what works for one may not work for another. Start practising tummy time when it feels right for you. You can work your way up to longer sessions as your baby becomes more ready.
The key is patience and persistence.
If your baby is particularly resistant to tummy time, or if you notice any signs of discomfort beyond the usual fussing, it might be worth discussing with your child’s paediatrician. There could be an underlying reason, such as torticollis, that makes tummy time uncomfortable for your baby.
To ensure safety and comfort as you begin tummy time, always place your baby on their tummy on a firm, flat surface, such as a mat on the floor.
Does your baby hate tummy time?
Some babies hate tummy time – they may protest any time they have to lie on their stomachs and if this is the case with your baby, don’t feel the need to force it.
Plenty of babies have very minimal time spent on their stomachs and they go on to develop perfectly normally.
Tummy time is fantastic and beneficial, but not if it creates significant distress in the baby or parents.
For babies who dislike tummy time, it’s worthwhile revisiting it every few weeks, because they tolerate it better as they get older. Don’t stress, give it a break and then keep persisting.
Tummy time practice can be incremental. Keep in mind that just a minute or two — even just 30 seconds of tummy time – will add up, if you do it regularly.
Why did our parents not have to do tummy time?
Historically, SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) rates were disturbingly high.
When the American Academy of Pediatrics launched their Back-to-Sleep campaign in 1994, we saw a phenomenal 50% reduction in SIDS episodes.
While this is undoubtedly successful and should never be challenged, placing children on their backs did result in some less desirable effects too including:
- Flat-head-syndrome;
- Increased amounts of colic (discussed in here)
- The other unwanted side effect is delayed gross motor development.
This is because babies spend less time on their stomachs, pushing up to strengthen back, shoulder and neck muscles, delaying the strength and coordination required for sitting, standing, etc.
If I don’t do tummy time regularly, will my baby still develop OK?
The answer is, absolutely yes.
Researchers who conducted the 1998 study (1) found that the back-sleepers eventually developed their motor skills just fine: ‘All infants achieved all milestones within the accepted normal age range.’
Another study published that same year came to a similar conclusion — that although babies who spent less time on their tummies developed motor skills more slowly, the discrepancies didn’t persist (2).
How much will regular tummy time help my baby?
In a 2008 (3), researchers reported that babies who were given more awake tummy time rolled and crawled earlier than babies who were given less, but that they didn’t learn to sit or walk or develop other motor skills any sooner.
Interestingly, researchers have also found ties between when babies develop gross motor skills and when they develop certain cognitive skills — which raises questions over whether tummy time might also make kids ‘smarter’?!?
Studies have found that infants who are able to sit up have a more advanced understanding of the three-dimensional nature of objects (3), perhaps in part because when they can more easily sit, they can more easily explore and inspect their toys.
Babies who have spent more time crawling and walking, regardless of their age, also have better spatial memory skills (4).
And a 2014 study (5) found that babies often learn to walk right before they learn language skills — so if they learn to walk later, they might talk later too.
So, yes: tummy time is good, but do not view it as a chore and do not persist for too long if your baby – or you – do not enjoy it.
Keep in mind that just a minute or two — even just 30 seconds of tummy time – will add up if you do it regularly.
