10/02/2026
Tummy time is more than just “getting baby off the back.” 🤍
It’s one of baby’s very first workouts — and it plays a role in building the strength, coordination, and movement patterns they’ll use for milestones to come.
During tummy time, babies are practicing:
✨ Lifting + controlling their head
✨ Building neck, shoulder + upper body strength
✨ Bearing weight through their arms
✨ Developing trunk stability
✨ Exploring movement from a whole new position
✨ Laying the groundwork for rolling, crawling + eventually sitting
But here’s the thing: tummy time shouldn’t feel impossible.
If your baby immediately cries, constantly turns their head to one side, struggles to lift their head, keeps their arms pinned back, or just seems really uncomfortable on their belly, I don’t want parents to hear “just do more tummy time.”
Sometimes we need to ask why it’s hard for them in the first place.
As a pediatric chiropractor, I look at how baby’s neck, spine, shoulders, hips, and nervous system are working together so we can identify areas of tension or movement restriction that may be making tummy time harder.
And remember: tummy time doesn’t have to mean 20 minutes crying on a play mat. 🤍
Chest-to-chest counts.
Across your lap counts.
Short, happy bursts count.
Quality > forcing the clock.
Save this for the newborn days — or send it to a new mama who needs the reminder that tummy time can be built little by little. 🫶
— Dr. Mackenzie
LIFE Chiropractic NH
