Tummy Time: It’s About More Than Head Control

As a parent, you want to ensure your baby grows strong and healthy, and tummy time plays a vital role in that journey. While tummy time is often recommended to strengthen head and neck muscles and prevent flat head syndrome, it offers many other benefits. Why is this position so crucial, not just within a baby’s first year of life but within their first months of life?

In this post, we’ll explore why tummy time is such an essential position for infants and how it contributes to their overall development.

The Many Benefits of Tummy Time

1. Head Control

One of the most discussed benefits of tummy time is the development of head control. In utero, babies are curled up in the “fetal position,” known as “physiological flexion,” where their arms and legs are tucked in close to their body. As a result, babies are born without head control because they haven’t had the chance to activate their neck muscles in the womb.

Placing a baby on their tummy allows them to practice using their neck muscles, enabling them to lift and move their head. This helps them develop the ability to rotate and look in different directions, which also decreases the likelihood of developing plagiocephaly (flat head syndrome).

2. Upper Extremity Weight Bearing

Tummy time is the first opportunity for your baby to bear weight through their arms, a crucial step in developing arm and shoulder strength. This weight-bearing helps prepare your baby for important milestones like rolling and crawling. As they grow, they’ll gradually progress from bearing weight on their elbows to their palms, aiding in ribcage development and trunk rotation.

3. Core Strengthening

In addition to strengthening the back and neck, tummy time is essential for core muscle development. As babies shift their weight forward onto their arms and from side to side, they effectively engage their core muscles. This is one of the first core-strengthening exercises your baby can do!

4. Primitive Reflex Integration

Primitive reflexes are involuntary motor responses that become voluntary as babies grow and mature. These reflexes are integrated through typical movement patterns, also known as gross motor skills. One important reflex related to tummy time is the asymmetrical tonic neck reflex (ATNR). This reflex helps your baby turn their head while on their stomach, and as it matures, it assists with reaching.

Over time, this reflex should integrate, meaning it becomes a voluntary movement rather than an automatic one. Providing your baby with opportunities to move in various positions, especially on their tummy, helps this process. If primitive reflexes like ATNR persist, they can lead to delays in gross motor skills and coordination.

How Much Tummy Time Is Recommended?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends starting tummy time from day one. This doesn’t mean prolonged periods from the start but rather short sessions of a few minutes at a time, multiple times a day. By seven weeks, 20-30 minutes of tummy time per day is recommended. As your baby gets older, the goal is to work up to a minimum of 60 minutes per day, broken up as your baby tolerates the position and your schedule allows.

Remember, success during tummy time varies per baby; they are all unique individuals with different factors that can impact their experience.

Tips for Successful Tummy Time

1. Practice a little, a lot: Start with a few minutes and repeat as much as possible throughout the day.

2. Elevate the shoulders: Your baby will have an easier time lifting their head when their shoulders are higher than their hips. Make tummy time easier by:
• Elevating their arms over a rolled-up blanket or towel
• Positioning your baby on your chest
• Placing them over your legs

3. Ensure supervision: Tummy time should always be supervised to ensure your child’s safety. Never leave them unattended.

4. Seek professional help: If your child is struggling with tummy time, consult a pediatric physical therapist. There are various reasons why tummy time can be challenging for some babies, and professionals can help you address these issues.

Every baby is different, so don’t worry if your child needs more time to get used to tummy time. Be patient and celebrate the small victories—each minute counts!

Remember, tummy time is more than just a daily routine—it’s a cornerstone of your baby’s development. With patience and consistency, you’ll see your little one grow stronger and more confident in their movements. And as always, if you need support, we’re here to help you every step of the way.

Emily O’Shea, PT, DPT