07/22/2025
'Help! My baby hates tummy time!' 😰
If I had a dollar for every time I hear this, I could probably fund Jude's college education! Here's the thing - when babies consistently struggle with tummy time, there's usually a reason.
Common reasons babies resist tummy time:
• Neck tension from birth stress
• Uncomfortable reflux symptoms
• Visual or vestibular processing challenges
• Cranial restrictions affecting comfort
• Overall nervous system overwhelm
What you can try:
✨ Start with baby on your chest instead of the floor
✨ Use a small towel roll under their chest for support
✨ Make it social - get down on their level and talk to them
✨ Keep sessions short and frequent rather than long and stressful
✨ Try different surfaces - some babies prefer softer textures
When to consider nervous system evaluation:
• Baby immediately arches and cries when placed on tummy
• They can't lift their head at all by 6-8 weeks
• They always turn to the same side
• Tummy time seems painful, not just challenging
• They have other signs of birth stress (feeding issues, sleep problems)
Here's what I've learned: Sometimes the issue isn't that baby needs to 'get used to' tummy time. Sometimes their nervous system needs support to make tummy time comfortable.
I've watched babies transform from tummy time haters to little explorers who actually seek out that position once we address their nervous system function.
Trust your instincts, mama. If tummy time seems like genuine distress (not just normal challenge), it's worth investigating why 💚
