Tummy Time: What to Do When Your Baby Hates It

If your baby cries the moment you place them on their tummy, you’re not alone. Many babies find tummy time challenging—but it’s one of the most important baby development activities for building strength, coordination, and confidence.

Why Tummy Time Matters

Tummy time helps strengthen your baby’s neck, shoulder, back, and core muscles—essential for rolling, sitting, crawling, and later fine-motor skills like writing and posture. It also supports visual and sensory development, helping babies learn to lift and turn their heads to explore the world around them.

Because babies spend so much time sleeping on their backs, tummy time while awake helps prevent flat head syndrome (positional plagiocephaly), builds foundational muscle strength in their core, arms and legs which are essential for crawling (and walking later on), as well as integration of primitive and secondary reflexes to assist with coordination with high level gross motor skills.

When to Start and How to Do It Safely

Tummy time can begin within the first few days after birth. In the early weeks, start with just 1–2 minutes at a time, several times a day, and gradually increase to 10–15 minutes as your baby grows stronger. Choose a time when your baby is awake, calm, and content—after a feed or nappy change works best. By 4 months, your baby should be able to tolerate 30 minutes of tummy time (spread throughout the day).

Always keep tummy time supervised and on a safe, clean surface like a play mat or soft blanket.

Tummy Time Tips for Babies Who Dislike It

• Start on your chest: Lie back and place your baby tummy-to-tummy to encourage head lifting.

• Use a rolled towel: Support their chest with arms forward to make it more comfortable.

• Add sensory fun: Try mirrors, soft rattles, or textured toys for interest.

• Get down at eye level: Smile, talk, or sing—it keeps them engaged and reassured.

• Try different positions: Across your lap, over your arm, or gently on a therapy ball for variety.

• Keep it short and frequent: A few happy minutes, many times a day, build's strength faster than long, frustrating sessions.

  
  

At COMO Therapy, we love helping babies build strength and confidence while making tummy time fun for the whole family.

If your baby avoids tummy time, finds it difficult to lift their head, or feels stiff or floppy, it may be time to see a paediatric physiotherapist - contact us today!