Helping Indianapolis Babies Thrive:Tummy Time-Why It’s So Important

A Gentle Reminder for Parents

If your baby fusses during tummy time, you’re not alone. Many little ones resist at first. With patience and encouragement, tummy time can become one of the most valuable daily activities for your baby’s spinal curve development and nervous system growth. At Electric Life Chiropractic in Indianapolis, we help families learn how tummy time supports their child’s health in powerful ways.

What Is Tummy Time?

Tummy time simply means placing your baby on their stomach while they’re awake and supervised. This can be on a play mat, across your lap, or even chest-to-chest.

Though it may look like play, tummy time is actually shaping your baby’s spine, wiring their nervous system, and preparing them for important developmental milestones.

How Tummy Time Shapes Spinal Curves

Your baby’s spine isn’t fully developed at birth — the natural curves form as they move and grow:

• Neck (cervical curve): Lifting the head during tummy time strengthens neck muscles and builds the forward curve.

• Upper back (thoracic curve): Pushing up on the arms trains stability and alignment.

• Lower back (lumbar curve): Crawling and early movement prepare the lumbar spine for sitting, standing, and walking.

Healthy spinal curves are essential for balance, posture, and nervous system communication throughout life.

Nervous System Growth in Babies

Every second of tummy time helps your baby’s nervous system develop. Here’s how:

• Proprioception – they learn where their body is in space.

• Cross-crawl coordination – connecting right and left sides of the brain for future skills like reading and focus.

• Sensory input – pressure and movement feedback help regulate the nervous system.

As a pediatric chiropractor serving families across Naptown, I often explain to parents that tummy time is about more than motor skills — it’s about wiring the brain and body for lifelong health.

Supporting Developmental Milestones

Tummy time lays the foundation for:

• Rolling

• Reaching and grasping

• Crawling (a critical stage for brain integration)

• Sitting, standing, and walking

When babies miss or resist tummy time, they may develop flat spots on the head (plagiocephaly), tightness in the neck (torticollis), or delays in reaching milestones.

Tips for Successful Tummy Time

• Start small: 1–2 minutes after naps or diaper changes, gradually increasing.

• Use your body: Baby on your chest lets them see your face — their favorite motivation.

• Add comfort: A rolled towel under the chest makes lifting easier.

• Make it fun: Mirrors, toys, or singing keep baby engaged.

• Stay consistent: Daily practice is more important than long sessions.

How Chiropractic Care Supports Tummy Time

Sometimes babies dislike tummy time because of underlying tension from birth. Gentle chiropractic adjustments can:

• Improve neck and spinal mobility so baby turns their head both ways.

• Release stress on the nervous system, making tummy time more comfortable.

• Support symmetrical growth and healthy movement patterns.

Many Indianapolis parents notice tummy time becomes easier — and their babies happier — after chiropractic care.

Closing Encouragement

Tummy time is one of the simplest, most powerful ways to support your baby’s spinal curve development and nervous system growth. A few minutes each day helps build strength, coordination, and balance for every milestone to come.

If you’re looking for a pediatric chiropractor in Indianapolis who understands how tummy time connects to your child’s overall health, Electric Life Chiropractic is here to support you and your family.