Tummy Time Tips: Making It Fun and Effective

As a parent, you’re constantly learning new ways to help your baby grow and thrive. One of the most important - and sometimes overlooked - activities in your baby’s early development is TUMMY TIME.

While it may seem like a simple act - placing your baby on their tummy while they’re awake and supervised - tummy time plays a vital role in strengthening muscles, encouraging motor skills, and even supporting visual and sensory development.
But what if your baby dislikes it? Or if you’re not quite sure when, how, or even why to do it? Don’t worry - you’re not alone.
Let’s break down what tummy time is all about, why it’s essential, and most importantly, how to make it enjoyable and effective for both you and your little one.

Why Is Tummy Time Important?

Tummy time is crucial for your baby’s physical development in their first few months of life. Here's how it helps:
Builds Strength: Tummy time strengthens your baby’s neck, back, shoulders, and arms, which are essential for head control and eventually for rolling, crawling, and sitting.
Prevents Flat Head Syndrome: Lying on their back for long periods can lead to positional plagiocephaly (flat spots on the head). Tummy time gives your baby a break from pressure on the back of their skull.
Boosts Motor Skills: It supports the development of gross motor skills, coordination, and balance.
Encourages Sensory Development: Tummy time provides tactile, visual, and vestibular stimulation, helping your baby better understand their body and surroundings.

When to Start Tummy Time

You can begin tummy time as soon as your baby comes home from hospital. In the early days, this might be just 1–2 minutes at a time, a few times a day.
As your baby grows, aim to build up to around 20–30 minutes of tummy time per day by the time they’re 3 months old, spread across shorter sessions.

Common Tummy Time Challenges

Let’s be honest - not all babies take to tummy time straight away. Some may cry or become upset when placed on their tummy, especially if they’re not yet strong enough to lift their head and look around.
The key is to keep things positive, go slowly, and try different approaches until you find what suits your baby best.

Tummy Time Tips to Make It Fun and Effective

Here are some tried-and-tested tips to help you and your baby get the most out of tummy time:

• Start on Your Chest: In the early weeks, lie down and place your baby tummy-down on your chest. Talk to them, make eye contact, and let them hear your heartbeat. It’s a calming and bonding experience that also builds strength.
• Use a Mirror: Babies are fascinated by faces - even their own! Place a baby-safe mirror in front of them to encourage head-lifting and interaction. It’s a great visual stimulus and lots of fun.
• Tummy Time Mats and Props: Use a colourful tummy time mat with soft textures, crinkly fabrics, and interactive toys. A small rolled towel or tummy time cushion under their chest can also help make it more comfortable.
• Get Down on the Floor with Them: Lie face-to-face with your baby during tummy time. Talk, sing, make silly faces, or read aloud. Your presence and attention are often the best motivation.
• Incorporate It into Daily Routines: Don’t wait for the “perfect” moment. Add tummy time into your everyday routine - after a nappy change, nap, or feed (when baby isn’t too full). Even short bursts of a few minutes, multiple times a day, make a difference.
• Try Different Positions: Tummy time doesn’t always have to be on a flat surface. You can:

  Hold baby tummy-down across your lap
  Carry them in a “rugby hold”
  Let them lie tummy-down on a soft exercise ball and gently roll them forward and bac
  These alternatives can help your baby build tolerance and explore movement in new ways.

• Play Music or Sing Songs: Babies respond well to rhythm and familiar voices. Soft music or singing can make tummy time more soothing and playful.
• Celebrate Progress: It’s wonderful to watch your baby lifting their head higher, pushing up on their arms, or starting to roll. Take videos, cheer them on, and celebrate those milestones - they’re all signs of healthy development!

When to Seek Professional Help

If your baby is particularly unsettled during tummy time, consistently turns their head to just one side, or isn’t meeting physical milestones, don’t hesitate to seek support.
At MyMama’s Paediatric Physiotherapy, we specialise in early movement development and provide guidance tailored to your baby’s individual needs.
Our paediatric physiotherapists can help with:

• Tummy time difficulties
• Muscle tightness or weakness
• Flat head syndrome (plagiocephaly)
• Torticollis (neck stiffness)
• Delayed motor development

We also offer parent education to ensure you feel confident and empowered every step of the way.

Tummy time is a small daily habit that can have a big impact on your baby’s development. With a bit of creativity, patience, and encouragement, it can become a special part of your routine. Whether you’re looking for advice, a personalised tummy time plan, or a professional assessment, our pediatric physiotherapist Claire Galea at MyMama is here to help your baby build strength, coordination, and confidence.

Visit this link to learn more and book your spot: https://www.mymama.mt/paediatric-physiotherapy