When most people think of tummy time, they think of neck strength. And yes — building strong neck muscles is important. But tummy time is doing far more than that, it is one of the first and most powerful ways your baby begins building their
brain.
What Is Tummy Time Really Doing?
Your baby is born with almost all the brain cells they will ever have. What they don’t have at birth are the connections between those cells. Those connections are built through movement and sensory experience.
In the early weeks, the lower brain is most active. This part controls automatic survival reflexes like breathing, sucking and grasping. As your baby grows and begins to move, lift, turn and explore, higher brain connections begin forming.
Every time your baby lifts their head, turns to look at you, pushes through their arms and shifts weight they are building neural pathways! The more those pathways are used, the stronger they become. If they aren’t used, they fade away. So tummy time isn’t just exercise, It’s building your baby’s brain.
Beyond the Neck: What Else Is Being Stimulated?
Tummy time also:
• Stimulates the inner ear (important for balance and coordination)
• Activates key developmental reflexes
• Encourages shoulder stability
• Builds core strength
• Supports future milestones like rolling, crawling, walking
Tummy time is a mini milestone! To enjoy tummy time, your baby needs:
• Adequate neck strength
• Good range of movement
• Comfortable shoulders
• A tummy that isn’t sore
If any of these areas feel uncomfortable, tummy time can quickly become frustrating.
Why Some Babies Don’t Like Tummy Time
If your baby is always crying during tummy time, it doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. Very often, it means something feels uncomfortable or difficult.
Common reasons include:
- Tension in the neck or shoulders
- Birth-related strain or positioning
- Reflux or tummy discomfort
- Limited range of movement to one side
- Underdeveloped postural reflexes
If a baby struggles to lift or turn their head, the effort required can feel overwhelming. Imagine being asked to do a plank before your muscles are ready, that’s how it can feel for some babies.
Supporting Mums As Well As Babies
Tummy time can feel stressful.
When your baby cries, it’s hard not to feel like you’re doing something wrong. Many mums leave feeling unsure, worried, or overwhelmed. That’s exactly why we run our tummy time classes.
We don’t just show you positions; we help you understand what might be causing difficulty and how to adapt tummy time to suit your baby. We look at movement patterns, shoulder balance, head turning, and comfort and give you practical, gentle ways to help.
If you have questions about your little one, we’re always happy to chat after class or arrange a consultation to provide extra support.
If you know someone who could benefit from this blog post, please share it with them. We offer a complimentary spine check to anyone who is interested in how chiropractic may be able to help them or their family members.
