My Toddler Falls a Lot: Should I Be Worried?

Key Takeaways

• Tummy time is genuinely hard work for babies — it requires neck and shoulder strength they’re still building, and factors like reflux, mild neck tightness, or negative associations from past sessions can make it even harder.
• Madden Therapy Solutions brings a whole-child perspective — with 8+ years across feeding, speech, occupational, and myofunctional therapy, our team is trained to spot the underlying reasons tummy time feels impossible for some babies.
• Three simple shifts can make tummy time easier this week — start on your chest instead of the floor, use shorter and more frequent sessions, and time it for when your baby is alert but not overstimulated.
• Some signs of resistance are worth a closer look — limited head lifting by three months, a consistent one-sided head turn, asymmetrical arm use, or a developing flat spot can mean your baby would benefit from targeted support.
• Struggling with tummy time doesn’t mean you’re failing — noticing, adjusting, and asking questions is exactly what good early observation looks like, and a free 15-minute consultation is available whenever you want to talk it through.

Why Does My Baby Hate Tummy Time?

You lay your baby down on the play mat, belly down, and start the timer in your head. Five seconds in, the fussing starts. Ten seconds in, full cry. By twenty seconds, you’ve picked them up because what’s the point of forcing it?

You feel a little guilty. The pediatrician said tummy time matters. The baby books said tummy time matters. The nurse at the two-month visit asked how it was going and you said “fine” because you didn’t want to admit it was actually a daily battle.

If tummy time has become the part of the day you quietly dread, you’re not alone. A lot of babies hate it at first. And there are real reasons why — none of which mean you’re doing something wrong.

Why Tummy Time Is So Hard for Some Babies

Tummy time is hard work. From your baby’s perspective, you’ve taken them from a comfortable position where they could see your face and the room, and put them somewhere they can barely lift their head, with their nose pressed into a mat.

It’s also a strength thing. Lifting your head up against gravity takes neck and shoulder muscles your baby is still building. The babies who tolerate tummy time well usually aren’t enjoying it more — they just have enough strength to do it without it feeling impossible.

A few other things can make tummy time harder than it needs to be:

• Reflux can make belly-down feel uncomfortable. Lying on the stomach right after a feed can put pressure on a baby’s belly and feel genuinely unpleasant. What looks like refusal is sometimes just bad timing.
• A head turn preference or mild neck tightness can make the position physically harder. Some babies have subtle tightness on one side of the neck that makes it harder to lift and turn their head in both directions. Tummy time isn’t only unpleasant for these babies, it’s physically demanding in a way that needs gentle support.
• Repeated short, frustrating sessions can build negative associations. If tummy time has consistently ended in crying, some babies start to anticipate feeling stuck the moment they’re placed down. The position itself becomes the trigger, even before discomfort sets in.

Noticing the why behind the resistance is usually the first step toward making tummy time feel manageable again.

Why Families Trust Madden Therapy Solutions

At Madden Therapy Solutions, we’ve spent over 8 years supporting infants and young children across feeding, speech, occupational, and myofunctional therapy. Tummy time challenges often sit at the intersection of several of these areas, which is exactly the kind of whole-child picture our team is trained to look at.

Our therapists don’t approach tummy time as a checkbox milestone. We look at the baby in front of us and ask the bigger questions. Is reflux or feeding discomfort playing a role? Are there subtle motor or postural patterns worth addressing early? Is the baby’s nervous system regulated enough to tolerate the position? And how can we set families up for success at home, not just during sessions?

We meet babies where they are — at home, in our office, or out in the community — and we work alongside parents so you leave each interaction feeling more confident, not more confused.

If something about your baby’s tummy time feels off, your instinct is worth listening to. You can schedule a free 15-minute consultation with one of our therapists to talk through what you’re noticing and figure out the right next step for your family.

Three Things You Can Try This Week

• Start on your chest, not the floor. Lie back on the couch or bed at a slight incline and place your baby tummy-down on your chest. They get to look at your face, hear your voice, and the angle makes lifting their head a lot easier. This counts as tummy time.
• Try shorter, more frequent sessions. Two minutes, five times a day is much more useful than trying to push through one ten-minute session of crying. Babies build tolerance the same way the rest of us do — gradually.
• Time it right. Avoid tummy time right after feeds (uncomfortable) and right before naps (already maxed out). The sweet spot is usually after a diaper change, when they’re alert but not overstimulated.

When the Resistance Might Mean Something More

Most babies warm up to tummy time over a few weeks with consistent, low-pressure practice. But sometimes there’s something underneath the resistance that’s worth a closer look. Pay attention if:

• Your baby can’t lift their head much at all by around three months
• They consistently turn their head only one direction during tummy time
• They seem to use one arm much more than the other to push up
• The crying isn’t decreasing at all over weeks of gentle practice
• You’ve noticed a flat spot developing on their head

These signs don’t mean something is wrong. They can mean your baby would benefit from a few targeted strategies, which usually make tummy time easier within a few sessions.

You’re Not Failing at This

Tummy time is one of those things that gets talked about like it should be simple, and for a lot of families it just isn’t. The fact that you’re paying attention, trying different things, and wondering whether your baby needs more support is exactly what good early observation looks like.

If tummy time has been a struggle for weeks and you’re not sure whether to keep waiting it out or look into it, we’d be happy to talk it through with you. You don’t need answers or a diagnosis to book a call — come with just questions, and there’s no obligation to go any further than that conversation. That’s what we’re here for.

Click here to schedule a free 15-minute consultation with one of our therapists.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much tummy time does my baby actually need?

Most guidance suggests working up to about an hour total per day by around three months — but that’s spread across many short sessions, not one long one. Even a few minutes at a time, several times a day, adds up.

Does tummy time on my chest count?

Yes. Any position where your baby is on their belly working against gravity counts, including chest-to-chest, across your lap, or on a slightly inclined surface. The floor isn’t the only option.

My baby is older and we never really did tummy time. Is it too late?

It’s not too late. Older babies sometimes resist it more because they’re used to other positions, but the same gradual approach still works. If you’re worried about catching up on missed milestones, it can help to have someone take a quick look.

Madden Therapy Solutions is a private pediatric practice based in St. Petersburg, FL, specializing in feeding, speech, myofunctional, occupational, and pediatric physical therapy. Our team supports children and families from infancy through elementary years, always centering compassion, connection, and meaningful progress. Click here to subscribe to our email list for more family-focused resources and updates.

Click here to schedule a free 15-minute consultation with one of our licensed therapists. We’ll listen to your concerns, walk you through your options, and give honest feedback, no pressure, no judgment.