Tummy Time Tips for Newborns: Early Support for Your Baby’s Healthy Growth – Part 2
Flat Head Syndrome and Tummy Time: Early Support for Your Baby’s Healthy Growth – Part 2
Your baby’s first months are more extraordinary than they might seem. Every stretch, glance, and wiggle is your little one’s brain building connections at lightning speed — faster than at any other time in life. This incredible growth happens long before they roll, crawl, or sit, as their brain quietly lays the foundation for all the milestones to come.
Did you know?
In the first 3 months, your baby’s brain volume grows by 64% (Holland et al., JAMA Neurology, 2014).
More than 1 million new neural connections form every second in the first few years of life (Harvard Center on the Developing Child).
Early PT resolves 90% of torticollis cases when started before 3 months (APTA, 2024).
Tummy time is just one piece of the puzzle, but it’s an important one. Movement is what fuels your baby’s growth, which is why tummy time for newborns is more than exercise — it builds strength, helps prevent flat head syndrome, and supports the crucial brain-body connection.
Missed Part 1? Tummy Time Tips for Newborns: How to Prevent Flat Spots and Torticollis
Why Tummy Time Matters
Tummy time gives your baby:
Strength for milestones like rolling, sitting, and crawling.
Protection against flat head by relieving pressure on the skull.
Coordination, balance, and sensory awareness.
Early brain-body connection through movement.
How to Start Tummy Time
Begin at birth with chest to chest — even 1–2 minutes makes a difference.
Use your chest or lap for comfort, then transition to the floor.
Try after diaper changes or when your baby is calm and alert.
Always supervise.
Making Tummy Time Fun
Chest-to-chest snuggles build comfort.
Use a rolled towel for extra support or on a physioball.
Add toys, mirrors, teethers, or your face for motivation.
Keep it short and frequent — 5 × 1 minute works better than 1 × 10 minutes.
Around 1–2 months, we introduced gently rolling into and out of tummy time to provide important vestibular input (stimulating balance and spatial awareness) and supported motor planning and coordination.
Parent Question: Why is tummy time so important for my baby’s development?
Tummy time is just one piece of your baby’s early development, but it’s a powerful one—especially in the first three months when your baby’s brain is rapidly wiring new pathways.
Every time your baby lifts their head, pushes through their arms, or looks around in tummy time, they’re strengthening their neck, shoulders, back, and core—the foundation for rolling, sitting, crawling, and beyond. At the same time, tummy time provides rich sensory input that supports vision, balance, and coordination.
But tummy time isn’t just about muscles. It also builds connection. When you get down on the floor, make eye contact, and talk or sing, your baby learns regulation and bonding through your presence.
And remember, tummy time is only one part of the big picture. Back play and side play are equally important to give babies variety, protect head shape, and help them discover new movements. Together, these positions nurture your baby’s body, brain, and bond with you.
Baby Sloane enjoying tummy time with Dr. Nicole creating playful connection
What Parents Should Know
Brain Growth & Movement
In the first three months, every little movement shapes your baby’s brain faster than at any other time in life. While movement continues to build neural connections throughout childhood, these early weeks are a period of extraordinary, rapid growth — the brain is literally wiring itself at lightning speed.
Tummy time, along with side and back play for infants, prepares them for rolling, crawling, and sitting.
Flat Head Can Start Early
1 in 4 babies develops positional plagiocephaly (flat head).
Risk is highest in the first 6 weeks without tummy time.
Babies with torticollis are 4x more likely to develop flat spots.
Parent Question: Does tummy time help my baby’s brain, or just their muscles?
Both! Tummy time is about so much more than building neck, shoulder, back, and core strength. Every time your baby pushes up, turns their head, or shifts their weight, they’re feeding their brain rich sensory input—through balance (vestibular system), body awareness (proprioception), and visual exploration. These experiences literally help wire the brain for coordination, learning, and connection.
Building Head & Neck Strength Through Visual Play (Birth–3 Months)
Why Head Movements Matter
Initiate spinal mobility → the first step toward rolling and coordinated body movement.
Support visual development → babies learn to look, track, and focus by pairing vision with head turning.
How Neck Strength Develops
Newborn (0 months): Head naturally rests to the side in both back and belly positions due to weak neck muscles.
1 Month: More cervical rotation; head rests even farther to the side.
2 Months: Neck muscles still underdeveloped; chin often rests at the shoulder. Baby can track toys from side → midline but cannot yet hold head in midline.
3 Months: Improved ability to hold head closer to midline in back-lying. Baby can begin swiping at toys in midline. In tummy time, head lifts become easier and more efficient.
What Parents Can Do (Birth–3 Months)
Offer high-contrast toys or faces 8–10 inches away → easiest for newborns to see.
Encourage side-to-midline tracking → slowly move a toy from the side toward center to practice head turning.
Alternate play sides → prevents head preference and supports balanced neck muscle use.
Encourage brief midline gaze (months 1–2) → hold your face or a toy in front to help baby practice.
Support cross-midline tracking (by month 2–3) → move objects slowly from one side across the center line to the other side.
Use chest-level toys in back-lying (by month 3) → encourages baby to lift chin, look forward, and start swiping.
Engage with your face and voice → babies love faces and will follow them, which motivates head lifting.
Parent Question: When should I worry about my baby’s head shape?
The truth is, you don’t need to wait until a flat spot becomes noticeable to start paying attention. The APTA clinical practice guidelines for torticollis recommend screening babies for head turning patterns in the first 2–3 days of life. Early observation can make a big difference.
Things I watch for as a mom and physical therapist:
A consistent head tilt to one side
A strong head preference during play, feeding, or sleep
Limited ability to turn the head evenly both directions
Difficulty feeding on one side
Challenges with digestion or elimination
Body asymmetries, like a C-shaped curve of the spine
Flattening of the head (plagiocephaly) from always resting on one side
Challenges with tummy time
Delays in rolling and crawling
Not using both sides of the body equally
Key Takeaway: If you notice any of these patterns, or if your baby seems to always rest or look in one direction, it’s worth asking your pediatrician or a pediatric PT early. Gentle, early support is the best way to keep head shape and development on track.
Why Early Support Matters
“Wait and see” doesn’t work when the brain is wiring so quickly. Early support helps:
Encourage healthy movement.
Protect head shape ideally without helmets later.
Build muscle balance and coordination.
Boost learning during the most critical window.
Parent Question: Won’t my baby just grow out of it?
Some babies can work out the tension from in-utero or birth on their own through natural movement. But for others, that extra tension sticks around and can affect how they move, feed, or shape their head.
Here’s the key: If you’re unsure, trust your caregiver instincts and reach out early. The earlier we can support your baby, the quicker and easier it usually is—and often the less PT is needed overall.
Try Small Adjustments to Keep Tummy Time Interesting
Change of scenery: Sometimes a new surface, different lighting, or being closer to you can make all the difference.
Use your body: Placing your baby on your chest or across your lap counts as tummy time and often feels safer and more comforting.
Support with a wedge, physioball, or rolled blanket: Elevating the chest slightly can reduce the effort and make the position easier to tolerate.
Keep it playful: Short, frequent sessions with your voice, touch, and eye contact can help them associate tummy time with connection and fun.
Baby Sloane practicing tummy time on a yoga ball to build strength and balance.
When Crying Signals Something More
If you’ve tried these strategies and your baby still struggles, it may be their way of telling you something doesn’t feel right. Sometimes body tension, digestive discomfort, or asymmetries make tummy time uncomfortable.
This is when reaching out to a provider like a pediatric physical therapist can be so valuable. We can do the detective work—looking at your baby’s alignment, mobility, and comfort—to uncover what might be getting in the way. With the right support, tummy time can become a positive and enjoyable part of your baby’s day.
Top 5 Tummy Time Questions Parents Ask About Flat Head Prevention
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From day one. The easiest and most natural place to start is chest-to-chest. As a mom, this was one of my favorite times—skin-to-skin snuggling, bonding, and connecting with my baby.
When my babies started to lift their heads on my chest and look up at me, it felt like such a special milestone for both of us. Not only is this tummy time, but it also supports bonding, regulation, and early head and neck strength.
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Every baby is different, and it’s always best to have trained eyes—like a pediatric PT—assess your little one.
That said, here are some signs that may mean your baby could benefit from extra support:
Crying every time they’re on their tummy, without improving over time.
Persistent head turn to one side in both back-lying and tummy time.
Difficulty feeding from both sides (may only feed well from one).
Takeaway: Tummy time is important, but if it always feels like a struggle or your baby shows these patterns, a physical therapy screen can help uncover what’s going on and get your baby back on track comfortably.
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It can begin very early. Symmetrical movement is key. For example, my son had a lot of body tension from a challenging birth and positioning in utero. From the start, I noticed his head resting to the right with a left sided tilt preference. I couldn’t turn it the other way. That’s how his flat spot began.
If you notice your baby prefers one side or has difficulty turning their head both directions, reach out early. In Colorado, we have direct access, so you don’t need a physician referral to see a PT. Check your local guidelines for where you live. Early support is the best prevention.
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Short answer: No — tummy time is not safe while your baby is sleeping until your baby can roll to their belly on their own. It’s for awake, supervised moments.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Back to Sleep, Tummy to Play guidance: Babies should always be placed on their backs for sleep (nighttime and naps).
Tummy time happens only when babies are awake and being watched.
Putting a baby on their stomach while sleeping increases the risk for Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The sleep environment should always follow safe‐sleep practices: a firm, flat mattress, no loose blankets or soft bedding, no inclined surfaces, etc.
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The first three months of life are a time of rapid brain growth, with billions of new connections forming every second. Tummy time—along with side play, back play, and vertical play—fuels this development through movement, sensation, and connection.
On their tummy, babies strengthen their neck, shoulders, and core while their brain learns how to control those movements, building the foundation for rolling, sitting, and crawling. Sensory input from new sights, sounds, and touch helps wire the brain for coordination, balance, and vision. Just as important, face-to-face play fosters bonding, emotional regulation, and social growth.
At Movevery, we help parents see tummy time as more than exercise—it’s part of a whole-body, whole-brain approach that supports milestones, bonding, and lifelong development.
