Why Tummy Time Matters: The Hidden Foundation for Feeding and Communication
When most parents hear about tummy time, they’re usually told it helps prevent flat spots on a baby’s head. And while that’s true, tummy time is actually much more important than that. Tummy time helps build the foundation for feeding, speech, and communication development.
During these early months, your baby’s brain and body are working together to develop the muscles, coordination, and sensory systems needed for things like breastfeeding, bottle feeding, chewing, babbling, and eventually talking. The good news is that tummy time doesn’t need to be complicated. Small, playful moments on the floor with your baby can support some of the most important parts of their development.
What is Tummy Time?
Tummy time simply means placing your baby on their stomach. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends starting tummy time shortly after birth and gradually working up to about 60–90 minutes per day by around 3 months of age. This can be broken into short sessions throughout the day. Tummy time might happen:
On the floor with a play mat
On your chest while you recline
Across your lap
During play with toys, mirrors, or songs
Most babies don’t love tummy time at first—and that’s completely normal. Like any new skill, it gets easier with practice.
How Tummy Time Helps with Feeding Development
Many parents are surprised to learn that feeding skills begin developing long before babies eat solid foods. Feeding requires coordination between the mouth, jaw, tongue, breathing system, and body posture. These systems develop together as babies move and explore their environment. Tummy time helps build the strength and coordination needed for feeding. When babies lift their heads during tummy time, they are strengthening muscles that help stabilize the jaw and airway. This stability is important for coordinating sucking, swallowing, and breathing. Without strong head control, feeding can sometimes be tiring or less efficient. Tummy time activates the core and shoulder muscles that babies later use when they begin sitting for meals. This stability helps children sit upright in a high chair, bring food to their mouths, develop chewing skills, and manage food safely. You may also notice your baby bringing their hands to their mouth during tummy time. This is an important part of development. Babies explore their hands, fingers, and toys with their mouths to build oral awareness. These early experiences help prepare them for spoon feeding and chewing later on.
Tummy Time Also Helps Support Speech & Communication
Long before babies say their first word, they are learning the building blocks of communication. Tummy time encourages several important early communication skills. One of the most powerful parts of tummy time happens when caregivers get down on the floor with their baby. During these moments, babies experience eye contact, a variety of facial expressions, reciprocal interactions, and how to imitate a caregiver’s movements. These interactions help build the foundation for language development and social communication. As babies lift their heads and push up during tummy time, they practice coordinating their breathing with movement. This helps build the respiratory support needed for babbling and speech later on. Babies learn communication through responsive interaction, not through screens. When caregivers talk, sing, and respond to their baby’s sounds during tummy time, babies begin to understand the rhythm of conversation.
Why Face-to-Face Time Matters So Much
Today’s families are surrounded by technology, and many parents are doing their best to balance busy lives with caring for their children. What we know from research is that babies learn best through real human interaction. Screens cannot respond to a baby’s sounds, facial expressions, or movements in the way a caregiver can. Simple everyday moments like tummy time on the floor, singing songs together, making silly faces, and responding to your baby’s coos are incredibly powerful for brain development. These small moments of face-to-face connection support both communication and emotional development.
Tummy Time & Early Reflex Development
Babies are born with automatic movement patterns called primitive reflexes. These reflexes help newborns survive and begin interacting with the world. Over time, these reflexes gradually become integrated as babies develop more voluntary movement. Movement experiences like tummy time help the brain organize these reflexes. Examples of primitive reflexes include: Rooting reflex, Moro (startle) reflex, Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR), and Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR). When reflexes integrate smoothly, babies can develop more advanced motor, feeding, and communication skills. Every baby develops at their own pace. However, if tummy time remains extremely difficult or certain patterns persist, it can be helpful to talk with a professional.
Some signs to watch for include:
strong dislike of tummy time that does not improve over time
persistent head turning to one side
difficulty lifting the head
very stiff or very floppy body posture
ongoing feeding challenges
strong startle responses beyond early infancy
These signs don’t necessarily mean something is wrong. They may simply mean your baby could benefit from some additional guidance and early support can make a big difference.
Helpful Resources for Parents
If you’d like to learn more about infant feeding and development, these evidence-informed resources are excellent places to start:
Feed Your Baby & Toddler Right — Melanie Potock
Responsive Feeding — Melanie Potock & Jill Castle
Nobody Ever Told Me (or My Mother) That! — Diane Bahr
Feed Your Baby & Toddler Right — Diane Bahr
These resources emphasize responsive, relationship-based approaches to feeding and development. If you have questions about your child’s feeding or communication development, early guidance from a qualified professional can provide helpful support and peace of mind. The Next Page Therapy is available to help the families of Jacksonville, Florida with their feeding and communication concerns. I offer parent coaching and direct speech-language therapy to help support your child’s development. Fill out a contact form today for your free consultation.
