Hey Everyone, my name is Sarah Johnson, and I am a pediatric occupational therapist and part of the Infant Development Team at Emerge Pediatric Therapy.
Today, I want to talk with you about tummy time: what it is, why it matters, and how to make it more manageable if your infant is having a hard time. Let’s tackle tummy time!
Tummy time is something we talk about frequently as therapists. It’s also something pediatricians, family members, and friends often emphasize because of its importance for your infant’s development.
However, some of the most common things caregivers tell us are:
“Tummy Time is really hard.”
or
“My infant hates tummy time.”
And that struggle can become a barrier to infants engaging in tummy time consistently.
The good news is that tummy time does not have to happen only on the floor. There are several alternate positions that still support your infant’s development and can be easier for young infants.
Why is Tummy Time important?
Tummy time helps support:
- Head and neck control
- Upper body and shoulder strength
- Core stability The foundations for rolling, pushing up, sitting, crawling, and later motor skills
If tummy time seems difficult for your infant, using alternative positions can help build these skills gradually while improving confidence and engagement.
Alternative Tummy Time Positions:
1. Tummy Time on a Caregiver’s Chest
- Place your infant on your chest
- Position their arms bent under their shoulders, resting on your chest
You can change the difficulty of this by reclining more. That challenges your infant to lift their head up more.
When you’re first starting out, you can sit more upright and slowly progress to reclining more as your infant gains head control. This is a great position for young infants because it allows them to be close to you and encourages face-to-face interaction
2. Tummy Time Over a Caregiver’s Legs:
- Sit on the floor or couch with your legs in front of you
- Place your infant tummy down across your legs
- Position their arms under their shoulders to encourage head lifting
I recommend placing a toy or mirror in front of your infant to encourage them to lift their head and look forward. This can be a helpful early tummy time position because your infant’s body is more supported, so they are not required to lift their head fully off the floor.
3. Tummy Time Using a Boppy or Prop-a-pillar
This position can be especially helpful for infants who experience reflux, as it reduces pressure on their tummy. Infants also naturally have a flexed posture from their time in utero the first 2-3 months of life and this position allows their hips to remain flexed due to the opening in the pillow.
- Place your infant between the Boppy with their arms under their shoulders
- Position toys in front of them to encourage head lifting
The Boppy provides increased support while still allowing your infant to practice pushing up and strengthening their upper body.
4. Tummy Time Using a Towel Roll
- Roll up a towel and place it under your infant’s chest
- Position their arms over the towel roll with a toy in front of them
The benefit of a towel roll is that it is very adaptable:
- You can start with a large towel, such as a beach towel, rolled thick for more support
- As your infant gains strength, you can use smaller towels
- Eventually, you may progress to a very small roll (even the size of a washcloth)
This gradual progression helps bridge the gap between supported tummy time and tummy time directly on the floor.
5. Tummy Time on an Exercise Ball
This position provides:
- A strong interactive component
- Gentle movement that activates the vestibular system
- Opportunities to work on multiple skills at once
For tummy time on the ball:
- Make sure your infant’s arms are positioned under their shoulders
When starting out:
- Keep your infant close to your body for more support
- As they gain strength, gradually roll them farther away so they work harder to lift their head
Tummy time on the ball works well in front of a mirror or with toys placed at eye level. Suction toys can be placed on a wall, window, or refrigerator to encourage head lifting and engagement.
When to Reach Out for Support
If your infant is having difficulty with tummy time, or if you would like guidance from one of our infant specialists, please feel free to give us a call or reach out through our website. We are always happy to answer your questions and support you and your baby.
Want to learn more? Check out our Tummy Time Handbook created by Dr. Sarah Johnson & Dr. Anne Wolfe!
With 39 pages packed with research-backed tips, tricks, and modifications this book makes the perfect addition to any professional library AND is a great recommendation for families to support home programming.
Did we mention it also makes a great gift for expecting parents and caregivers?