Not all babies embrace tummy time, but it’s crucial for physical development – so try a different approach, suggests Helen Buteux…
When my daughter was a few weeks old, she made her opinion on tummy time very clear. The moment I placed her on her front, she let out a determined protest and made sure I knew she was unimpressed.
As an occupational therapist (OT), I understood why it felt so overwhelming for her: she didn’t yet have the strength, the sensory familiarity or the confidence to enjoy being in this position.
But I also knew we could work with it. I used tiny, playful invitations instead of long stretches: a cosy incline across my chest, a soft towel supporting her under the arms, something visually interesting to look up towards, and sessions lasting seconds, not minutes.
Slowly, she grew more comfortable. She never transformed into a baby who adored tummy time, but she tolerated it enough, and each small success supported her growing strength and confidence.
I’ve seen this pattern countless times in my clinical work, too. Many little ones resist tummy time at first, and practitioners and parents can assume “it’s too difficult”, “they don’t need tummy time”, “they get lots of interactions in other ways”, “we don’t have time”.
But resistance rarely means inability; it usually means a different approach is needed.
The first years of life are the most rapid period of brain growth we ever experience. Within the brain, neural pathways are forming at extraordinary speed, shaped by movement, sensory exploration, relationships and environment.
I would argue that the early years is more important than any other educational stage, because it is here, long before school, that the foundations for curiosity, coordination, emotional regulation, communication and learning are laid.
We simply never get this window back. Which is why the everyday experiences we offer babies matter so deeply.
Movement is not just physical; it also shapes cognitive, sensory and emotional development. And tummy time, when approached responsively and flexibly, is part of that foundation.
Research shows that awake, supervised tummy time contributes to early motor skills such as:
More recent evidence shows that small, frequent moments of tummy time play can support stronger overall motor development.
Tummy time doesn’t have to mean one set position on a mat. It refers to any position where a baby’s tummy is supported against a surface and they’re working against gravity.
If their tummy is down and they’re lifting, pushing, or turning their head, it counts. Side‑lying, gentle inclines, chest‑to‑chest time, and supported propping all offer the same strengthening and sensory benefits.
These variations are often far more comfortable for babies who resist traditional tummy time.
Ofsted’s Getting It Right From the Start report raised important points about the early years sector’s understanding of physical development:
For tummy time, this means understanding that the tiny moments matter, environments matter, and practitioner confidence matters.
Across my work with babies, families and early years settings, my role has often been to help adults see what babies are trying to do, then adapt the environment or the task so the child can engage meaningfully. Sometimes that’s meant:
I’ve seen how small adjustments unlock huge progress. When the environment and task are adapted thoughtfully, babies can participate in activities they want and need to do, activities that strengthen their bodies, support regulation and build confidence.
This is exactly where early years practitioners, alongside parents, truly shine.
Early years practitioners are already well equipped to support physical development because they:
Tummy time and prone play fit beautifully into this philosophy:
1 Think tiny, frequent moments. Just like with my daughter, seconds of comfortable engagement build more progress than long stretches of discomfort.
2 Use positions that reduce effort. Gentle inclines, side-lying and supported chest-to-chest positions help babies explore strength without frustration.
3 Celebrate micro-steps. A brief head lift, a tiny weight shift or a small moment of gaze upward all signal emerging skills.
4 Create environments that invite movement. Soft mats, interesting textures, simple props and open floor spaces naturally encourage exploration.
5 Communicate observations, not instructions. Sharing what you’ve noticed with families keeps communication supportive and feeling like a partnership.
Tummy time doesn’t need to be a battle, and it certainly doesn’t need to look one specific way. When early years practitioners understand why tummy time matters, and how adaptable it can be, they are better equipped to offer babies the rich, responsive movement experiences that build the foundations for future skills.
Tiny, flexible moments of tummy time play strengthen the motor, sensory and regulatory systems children rely on to thrive.
With informed practice, thoughtful environments and confidence in the small steps that lead to big milestones, every baby can develop the early building blocks they need for learning, movement and lifelong wellbeing.
OTs can support staff with developmentally informed training. This helps practitioners understand developmental norms, not just milestones, early motor sequences and the microskills that lead to big milestones.
OTs can explain sensory foundations. We help practitioners recognise how sensory systems support movement, regulation and physical development, all of which support a child’s future.
OTs help embed evidence-informed practice. Not through intervention to babies, but through empowering the adults around them, making everyday practice more confident, enjoyable and developmentally aligned.
Helen Buteux is an occupational therapist. She has over a decade of experience specialising in early development, sensory foundations, maternal wellbeing and evidence-informed practice for infants and toddlers.
