If your baby cries during tummy time, always looks to one side, or seems to be struggling with head control, there may be more to the story than simply “not liking tummy time.”
If there’s one topic that comes up almost every day in our practice, it’s tummy time.
“My baby just cries every time I put them on their tummy.”
“How much tummy time should they actually be doing?”
“Am I doing something wrong?”
“Should I just stop if they hate it?”
If you’ve ever asked yourself one of these questions, you’re certainly not alone.
As chiropractors who work with babies every single week, we see many parents who are worried because their little one simply refuses tummy time. Some babies will tolerate it happily from the very beginning. Others will become upset within seconds.
The good news?
There are usually reasons behind it.
And more importantly, there are often gentle ways to help.
Today, we’re going to explore why tummy time is so important, why some babies struggle with it, what the research tells us, how chiropractors assess babies who dislike tummy time, and practical strategies you can start using today.
What Exactly Is Tummy Time?
Tummy time simply means placing your baby on their tummy while they are awake and supervised.
It sounds incredibly simple…
But from a developmental perspective, it’s one of the most important activities your baby will do during the first year of life.
Every minute spent on their tummy helps strengthen the muscles that will eventually allow them to:
- Hold their head up
- Roll
- Sit independently
- Crawl
- Pull to stand
- Walk
Think of tummy time as your baby’s very first gym session.
Each little push-up is helping build the foundations for everything that follows.
Why Do Paediatricians And Paediatric Chiropractors Encourage Tummy Time?
For many years, babies were routinely placed on their stomachs to sleep.
Following the “Back to Sleep” campaign (now known as “Safe to Sleep”), placing babies on their backs to sleep dramatically reduced the incidence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
While sleeping on the back is one of the most important recommendations for reducing the risk of SIDS, it has also resulted in babies spending considerably more time on their backs throughout the day. For this reason, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends beginning supervised tummy time shortly after birth, gradually increasing the amount as your baby grows stronger. Regular tummy time helps promote motor development while also reducing prolonged pressure on the back of the head (Moon et al., 2022).
The Incredible Benefits Of Tummy Time
Tummy time isn’t just about strengthening the neck.
It supports almost every aspect of early development.
Stronger Neck Muscles
Every time your baby lifts their head, they strengthen the muscles along the front and back of the neck.
These muscles are essential for:
- Feeding
- Vision
- Head control
- Rolling
- Sitting
Without enough opportunities to strengthen these muscles, babies may reach developmental milestones later than expected.
Stronger Shoulders And Arms
Watch a baby during tummy time.
You’ll notice them gradually learning to push through their forearms…
Then their hands…
Eventually straightening their elbows.
These movements develop shoulder stability, arm strength and postural control that later become essential for crawling, climbing and even handwriting.
Better Core Strength
Before babies can sit…
They first need to develop the muscles through their tummy, back and pelvis.
Tummy time activates these muscles naturally.
It’s essentially your baby’s first core workout.
Improved Balance
As babies learn to shift their weight during tummy time, they’re also developing their balance systems.
This helps prepare them for rolling, crawling and eventually walking.
Healthy Head Shape
One of the biggest benefits of tummy time is reducing prolonged pressure on the back of the skull.
Since babies spend many hours sleeping on their backs (which they absolutely should), supervised tummy time gives the head a chance to rest in different positions.
Sensory Development
During tummy time babies experience:
- Different textures
- New visual perspectives
- Weight shifting
- Pressure through the arms
- Vestibular stimulation
- Body awareness (proprioception)
These sensory experiences are incredibly important for healthy neurological development.
What Happens If Babies Don't Get Enough Tummy Time?
Every baby develops differently.
Missing a day or two isn’t going to cause long-term problems.
However, consistently avoiding tummy time may contribute to delays in developing some important movement skills.
Research has associated limited tummy time with:
- Delayed gross motor development
- Reduced upper body strength
- Later rolling
- Later crawling
- Reduced postural control
- Increased risk of positional plagiocephaly
- Increased likelihood of positional preference
- Reduced opportunities for sensory exploration
A large systematic review involving more than 4,000 infants found that greater tummy time was consistently associated with improved gross motor development, reduced body mass index during infancy and a lower risk of positional plagiocephaly (Hewitt et al., 2020).
It’s important to remember that these are associations, not guarantees.
Many factors influence a baby’s development.
But tummy time is certainly one of the simplest ways parents can support healthy movement.
This is probably the most common conversation we have with parents.
And honestly…
It can be incredibly stressful.
You know tummy time is important.
Your baby cries.
You feel guilty.
You stop.
The next day you try again…
More tears.
Eventually many parents avoid it altogether.
But crying isn’t always because babies dislike tummy time.
Sometimes they’re telling us something else.
Why Might A Baby Dislike Tummy Time?
In our practice, we often look a little deeper.
Some common reasons include:
Tight Neck Muscles
Some babies have difficulty comfortably turning their head in one direction.
This may occur due to:
- Positioning in the womb
- Birth positioning
- Muscular tightness
- Congenital muscular torticollis
If lifting or rotating the head feels difficult, tummy time becomes much harder.
Shoulder Restriction
Supporting weight through the shoulders requires strength and mobility.
If movement feels restricted, babies may quickly become frustrated.
Upper Back Stiffness
Babies need gentle extension through the upper spine to comfortably lift their head.
If this movement feels limited, tummy time becomes much more demanding.
Discomfort Through The Neck Or Spine
Occasionally babies simply appear uncomfortable lying in certain positions.
They may arch, cry or avoid lifting their head.
This doesn’t necessarily mean something serious is wrong.
It simply tells us they may benefit from further assessment.
Reflux
Babies experiencing reflux often dislike being on their tummy because increased abdominal pressure may worsen their symptoms.
Wind Or Digestive Discomfort
Babies with excess gas or constipation sometimes become unsettled during tummy time.
Fatigue
Timing matters.
A tired baby rarely enjoys tummy time.
Trying after a nap instead of before one often makes a huge difference.
Sensory Sensitivity
Some babies simply take longer to adapt to different positions and textures.
Gentle, gradual exposure usually works much better than forcing longer sessions.
How Much Tummy Time Should Babies Be Doing?
Rather than aiming for one long session…
Think little and often.
Many paediatricians recommend starting with just one or two minutes several times each day, gradually increasing as your baby becomes stronger and more comfortable.
By around three months of age, many babies can comfortably accumulate around an hour of supervised tummy time across the entire day.
Remember…
It doesn’t need to happen all at once.
Every minute counts.
Practical Ways To Make Tummy Time Easier
If your baby dislikes tummy time, don’t give up.
Here are some strategies we regularly recommend.
Start On Your Chest
Lie back comfortably.
Place your baby on your chest.
They’ll naturally lift their head to look at you while feeling safe and connected.
Use A Rolled Up Towle
Place a small rolled towel underneath your baby’s chest.
This slightly reduces the effort required to lift their head.
Many babies tolerate this much better.
Try A Small Cushion
A small tummy-time pillow can gently support the chest while encouraging head lifting.
Just ensure your baby remains supervised at all times.
Use A Swiss Ball
One of our favourite techniques in practice involves a large therapy (Swiss) ball.
Holding your baby securely against the ball, gently roll forwards and backwards.
This changes the angle, often making head lifting much easier while providing gentle vestibular stimulation.
Many babies who dislike floor tummy time absolutely love this.
Get Down On Their Level
Your face is the greatest toy your baby owns.
Lie on the floor.
Smile.
Talk.
Sing.
Pull funny faces.
Your interaction is often more motivating than any expensive toy.
Use Mirrors
Babies love looking at faces.
Even their own.
A baby-safe mirror can be wonderfully engaging.
Keep Sessions Short
If your baby lasts 20 seconds…
Celebrate 20 seconds.
Success builds confidence.
Gradually increase from there.
Incorporate Tummy Time Into Everyday Life
Lay baby across your lap.
Across your forearm (“football hold”).
On your chest.
Every little opportunity contributes.
When Parents Visit Our Practice
Many parents first visit us because someone has mentioned:
“My baby doesn’t like tummy time.”
“My baby only looks one way.”
“They’re getting a flat spot.”
“They hate being on the floor.”
“They’re not meeting milestones.”
Sometimes tummy time is the concern.
Sometimes it’s simply one piece of a much bigger picture.
What Do We Assess?
Every baby is unique.
Our assessment always begins by listening carefully to parents.
We want to understand:
- Pregnancy history
- Birth history
- Feeding
- Sleeping
- Preferred head position
- Developmental milestones
- Daily routines
- Parent concerns
We then perform a gentle age-appropriate assessment.
Depending on the baby’s age, this may include observing:
- Head shape
- Head control
- Neck movement
- Ability to turn both directions
- Muscle tone
- Symmetry
- Shoulder movement
- Spinal movement
- Primitive reflexes
- Tummy time tolerance
- Rolling attempts
- Developmental movement patterns
We also watch how your baby naturally moves.
Babies tell us an enormous amount through movement.
Common Findings We Often See
While every baby is different, some common observations include:
- A preference for looking to one side
- Reduced neck rotation
- Asymmetrical movement
- Difficulty lifting the head
- Poor endurance during tummy time
- Reduced weight-bearing through one arm
- Mild flattening of one side of the head
- Tightness associated with congenital muscular torticollis
- Delayed development of anti-gravity extension
Research supports the relationship between positional preference, torticollis and positional plagiocephaly, highlighting the importance of early assessment and intervention where appropriate.
How Can We Help?
Parents often ask us this question.
Our goal is not to “force” babies into tummy time.
Nor is it simply about adjusting the spine.
Our role is to assess how your baby is moving, identify any areas of reduced mobility or asymmetry, and determine whether these may be contributing to their difficulties.
Where appropriate, care may include gentle manual techniques, movement-based strategies, positioning advice, and practical home exercises tailored to your baby’s needs.
We also work closely with your family’s GP, paediatrician, maternal child health nurse and other healthcare providers whenever appropriate.
Many parents tell us they notice their baby becoming more comfortable during tummy time following care. While individual experiences vary, improving comfort, movement and symmetry may help babies engage more confidently with tummy time and other developmental activities. Current evidence suggests that gentle manual therapy may have a role as part of a broader multidisciplinary approach for some infants with musculoskeletal dysfunction, although more high-quality research is still needed in this area.
Remember... Every Baby Is Different
One of the biggest mistakes parents make is comparing their baby to another.
Your friend’s baby might happily spend 30 minutes on their tummy.
Yours might only manage one minute.
That’s okay.
Development isn’t a race.
Progress is what matters.
If your baby is finding tummy time difficult, don’t assume they’re simply being stubborn.
Sometimes they’re communicating that something feels harder than it should.
Listening to those little cues is one of the greatest gifts we can give them.
We're Here To Help
If your baby consistently cries during tummy time…
If they always look to one side…
If you’ve noticed a flat spot developing…
If they’re struggling with head control…
Or if something simply doesn’t feel quite right…
Trust your instincts.
These are conversations worth having.
At our practice, we see babies with tummy time concerns every week.
Our assessments are gentle, thorough and tailored specifically to your baby’s age and stage of development. We’ll take the time to listen to your concerns, assess how your baby is moving, explain what we’re seeing in language that makes sense, and provide practical strategies you can confidently use at home.
Sometimes all parents need is reassurance.
Sometimes a few simple changes make a remarkable difference.
And sometimes early support can help babies become more comfortable, more confident and better equipped to enjoy the important developmental experiences that tummy time provides.
If you’re worried about your baby’s tummy time, we’d love to help. Book a paediatric chiropractic assessment with our team, and together we’ll help your little one build the strong foundations they need for healthy movement, confident development and an active start to life.
