10 Things you can do to help a Baby who hates tummy time

Ah, the dreaded tummy time. You’re either here because you’re wondering what on earth tummy time is or, you’ve tried it and your baby seems to start screaming the moment you put them down onto their front… right? Maybe they tolerate it from time to time, but on the whole, it seems like a bit of a chore as you know your newborn is about to get pretty angry with you for even trying. Don’t worry – we have a whole variety of ideas which are guaranteed to make it a little more bearable! Bonus: all of these suggestions also promote many aspects of your baby’s physical and brain development!

1.       Play Mat

One of the first things to think about during tummy time is comfort for your baby. Whilst some newborns tolerate being on their front on most surfaces (lucky you!), others may prefer a softer surface to lay down on.

A slightly padded play mat is a great option if you’d like a dedicated (and really adorable) space for your infant to play on. We love simple padded play mats which are a GREAT investment as they are sure to be used for years! When baby has outgrown tummy time play, they double as a great cushioned pad for a reading nook or toy corner in a toddler’s nursery. They also make a great base for a baby gym, which is ideal for getting your little one feeling positive about their tummy time space.

Alternatively, you can create your own play mat mat on a budget! Use any soft/thick blanket flat on the floor and top with a colourful or black and white patterned blanket. This makes for a great sensory play set-up which rolls up so small you can take it with you for tummy time anywhere!

2.       Sensory Flashcards

If you have family members or kind friends asking what you need for your new baby – this is it. Black and white are the BEST colours to show your newborn – the high contrast literally aids their brain development, and before 3-4 months old, they cannot see in colour anyway! Most babies don’t like tummy time – it’s not exactly the most stimulating experience on its own, as everything around them is blurry, grey, the list goes on. Offering baby something that they can actually see clearly is a sure-fire way to get them completely focused and captivated. You can DIY your own with black marker on white paper or even download these FREE sensory images (scroll to the bottom of the homepage!).

If they’re so fascinated and focused on the cards – the less they will be wondering (and protesting about) why they have been placed on their front! Tummy time suddenly got much less stressful – you can thank us later.

3.       Circular Play

This one is super simple and ideal for babies who have a little more head and body control. Around 5  months old is a great time to start introducing toys to your baby in this way. Simply place them down on their mat or blanket and surround them with toys spaced around the edge in a circle. This not only encourages them to keep their heads up, but is a great activity when baby is learning to roll and crawl, as they like to reach and lean towards the next toy. All whilst engaging those important muscles during their tummy time.

Aim for a variety – soft toys mixed with brightly coloured playthings are fantastic. Toys your baby can get an ‘effect’ from are great too, such as rattles and glow sticks – these also give you a great chance to develop baby’s senses with some sensory time!

4.       Sensory Board

Something you didn’t think you would ever need… until you had a baby that hates tummy time! Lay it flat to keep them extra focused during tummy time or prop it up for nappy changes to keep them distracted whilst you clean them up (another thing many littles do not seem to be a fan of). The black and white is perfect for their brain development and keeping them occupied during tummy time.

If you'd like to try out the wonders of black and white for your baby, get your own sample printables free within seconds, so you can start boosting your baby's development straight away!

5.       Mirrors

Babies can take up to 2 years to realise that their own reflection in the mirror is themselves! Mirrors provide captivation and entertainment during tummy time whilst aiding social development. They are a great way to distract your baby with bouncing light and an adorable little face to look at, too! Experiment with different angles and pop up in the frame – there is nothing a baby loves more than the face of their beloved caregiver.

6.       DIY Sensory Bags

Save yourself some precious pennies by making a super simple activity for your baby to engage with during tummy time. All you will need is a zip lock bag and some household items. A good staple is adding water, some food colouring and some little objects that can move around such as sequins, pom-poms or little coloured beads. Try adding coloured water and oil in the same bag – they won’t mix, so your baby can poke the oil and it will move around, forming new shapes each time!

Tape your sensory bag to the carpet by the edges and place in front of your baby’s tummy time space to make for a stimulating sensory activity.

Warning: never leave your baby unattended with a sensory bag or other small toys.

7.       Sing Song

Instead of tummy time feeling like a chore, try playing your baby’s favourite song or singing a familiar tune to your baby when you place them down. The idea is to make the experience a positive one, where your baby can look around for where the sound is coming from and relax to a soothing tune. Don’t be afraid to get animated – anything to distract your newborn whilst they protest is a great way to get through tummy time until they become used to it!

8.       Object Tracking

Using brightly coloured or high contrasting toys (think black and white) to captivate your baby is a great way to get through moments of stressful tummy time. Grab your object and place it in your baby’s range of vision (for newborns this is around 8-12 inches). Move the object slowly from side to side, encouraging baby to keep their head raised until they have turned it fully towards the other direction.

This is a wonderful exercise for improving your baby’s neck and core strength, whilst improving their object tracking ability and developing their sense of vision. Win-win-win.

9.       Chest-to-Tummy Time

Tummy time doesn’t have to be on the floor! Even from birth, wearing your baby safely in a sling (look up the TICKS acronym for safety and ensure your baby’s airways are uncovered) is a brilliant way to get some jobs done around the house whilst your baby engages in some passive tummy time. They get all the benefits of alleviating the pressure off the back of their head (check out why tummy time is recommended for this reason here) whilst remaining close to their loved one.

You can also lie in a reclined position on the floor, bed or sofa and place baby on your chest. We know most parents do this anyway – but not all know this counts as all-important tummy time! If your baby is usually one to protest during tummy time, soak up those extra cuddles and talk to them, sing to them or hum them a little lullaby whilst they are awake on your front to encourage them to raise their heads and build up their muscles ready for their future development in the coming months.

10.   Pillow Prop

Finally, we have the pillow prop. Placing a dedicated tummy time pillow or small rolled up blanket under their armpits can give them that little bit of extra support they need in the early days. Baby may not be so confused, or feel as vulnerable as lying straight on an empty surface. This also makes it much easier for baby to engage with other sensory play activities during their tummy time!

We recommend using a small prop in the newborn days and removing it once your baby has gained a little more strength (when they can hold their heads for more than a few seconds at a time).

We hope you found this useful! What does your little one think of tummy time? Tag us on social media or comment below to let us know. Until next time - happy Kidhood!