Why I’m a True Believer in the Tummy Time!™ Method: A Personal Story

When I had my third baby, August, I thought I knew what to expect. After all I’d been through the newborn stage twice before and had been working with babies in their homes for almost 2 years! I was mentally prepared for the possibility that my baby could have a tongue-tie because of my past experiences, but the challenges he had post birth surprised me! 

While August was born with a tongue-tie that was really the least of our worries. He was born with a notable stridor, difficulty coordinating suck, swallow, and breathe, and a significant diastasis recti. I could hear him swallowing large amounts of air during each feeding. Luckily, he was able to sustain a latch and transfer adequate amounts of milk at each feeding.  He struggled with reflux, and I could see a difference in his nervous system regulation, he startled at even the slightest noise, noises that a typical newborn wouldn't even notice. I knew we needed to get to work right away! 

Years prior to his birth I had become certified in the Tummy time method (TTM) and had been spending my time learning more and practicing this technique, along with pre/post frenectomy therapies. Even with this background I was amazed at how quickly we started seeing changes after we implemented the Tummy Time!™ Method. Within just three days of a consistent routine, there was a remarkable difference. He was more regulated, his feeding improved, and he was more comfortable in his own body.  

Of course, getting into a routine wasn’t easy. As most moms with multiple kids know, those early postpartum weeks are chaotic and downright exhausting. My husband returned to work shortly after the birth, and I was solo parenting three little ones. There were some setbacks initially, but once we committed to the routine, it became second nature.

August did his best first thing in the morning, so we made it our ritual—straight to the floor after waking and a diaper change. My older kids loved joining in, helping their baby brother learn how to be strong on his belly. It was a learning curve for them to at first, they were still learning how to be calm and gentle with the baby. We made it fun, and that made all the difference.

One surprising thing? August loved naked tummy time. So, we did diaper changes on the floor and turned every one into a mini session. As the weather warmed up, we moved outside—dirt, grass, even sand at the beach became part of his sensory exploration.

But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Even with his great tolerance on his belly, August still struggled with upright head control. He’d rest his chin on his chest and lacked the muscle activation he needed for proper postural reflexes. When he was nearly five months old, I had the incredible opportunity to attend an advanced TTM training in Atlanta, Georgia, with Michelle Emanuel herself.

That class was a game-changer. Michelle worked with August and helped me fine-tune what we were already doing at home. One of her biggest recommendations? We needed to extend the time August was spending on his belly and focus on activating his postural righting reflexes.

We followed her guidance, and within a two weeks, something amazing happened—August began to demonstrate the Landau reflex, and his head control dramatically improved. 

The coolest part? As we moved along, we let August lead the way. We didn’t pressure him to sit. We didn’t prop him up. We just gave him time and space on the floor. And soon, he taught himself how to transition from his belly into a prop-sitting position. From there, he learned to sit independently—and most importantly, he could move in and out of that position on his own. Shortly after, he began crawling… and by 11 months, he was walking!

Tummy time isn’t just about motor development. For us, it was about nervous system regulation, feeding improvement, family connection, and resilience. One of the most meaningful outcomes for us has been the progress in feeding. August not only overcame his early coordination challenges, but we're still successfully breastfeeding at nearly 18 months postpartum—a milestone that feels even more special given the rocky start. It helped August thrive in ways I hadn’t seen with my other kids, and it gave me tools as a mom (and a provider!) to support his unique needs.

If you’re a tired mama wondering how to fit tummy time into your day—or if you’ve been told your baby “will grow out of it”—please know you’re not alone. You don’t have to do it perfectly. But if you can find a rhythm that works for your family, the benefits are truly powerful.