Help - DD won't do tummy time - or am I being a rubbish mom

[retrodolly]

Hello,

Please could someone advise me - how do I put my 10+ weeks baby on to her tummy? I realise she needs to practice lifting her head up etc. So far she has been doing a bit of that while on Mum/Dad's shoulder. But the moment I put her on the mat on her tummy she starts fussing and crying. And she is normally a very contented, smily baby. I have tried just before a feed, and a while after a feed + burp.
Is there a special position she should be in? Where should her arms be? Should there be a support under her chest/tummy? Any tips, please.

Thanks!

[NotABanana]

Just before a feed she might be too hungry to want to try and play.

I would let her fuss for a minute or so and see if she settles.

I wouldn't sorry too much at such a young ag. You coud leave it a few days and try again or lie down on the floor next to her and see if she prefers that.

[theyoungvisiter]

DS hated tummy time! No advice except that it can help to get down on their level so they don't feel quite so abandoned.

If you think about it, it's not surprising that they get cross when laid you on their tummy, facing a boring rug instead of a delightful milkgoddess mummy.

Just keep trying little by little and as she gets more able to push herself up she'll probably tolerate it better.

[sitdownpleasegeorge]

Lots of babies hate "tummy time"

ds1 hated it, dribbled and lay his head/face in the patch of dribble and cried. Ds2 was soon rolling over onto his back but he's always been more physically able.

Do you have any special toys to interest her in being on her tummy ?

[cosima]

I put 10week old ds on his tummy on my legs on top of my duvet in bed in the morning, then i can help him along by lifting my legs or putting him on a bit of a slope. Been doing this every morning for a while, also help him roll over onto his side when he's on his change mat having nappy off time

[mistlethrush]

Ds never did tummy time - he wouldn't roll over unless you put him on his tummy when he would immediately roll back onto his back (never went the other way which is meant to be easier). Doesn't appear to have done him any harm - he was an early sitter (on his own unaided at 5mo) not particularly early crawler and walker, and now tears about like anything. He was much happier on his back with mobiles to swat at!

[Sanguine]

DS hated it, but is now fine with it. Keep trying it might just click.

To start with, I lay on my back on the floor with DS lying on my chest. He enjoyed that. Also, try propping her up with a rolled up towel under her chest. Another thing that helped was that I started to do a bit of a massage at bath time. DS loved it, and was soon happily propped up on his elbows to let me rub his back!

10 weeks is still pretty young. just keep plugging away, I'm sure she'll be fine.

[MrsBadger]

dd hated it but I just kept trying once a day, picking her up immediately when she made it obvious she wasn't having fun

eventually she came round to it - there's no need to rush it though

[seeker]

They don't need to practice - honestly.

My mother said she wanted to get my dd a t shirt that said "This Baby Will Grow Up Automatically" - I was always doing things to "help her development"

Then I had ds, and he managed to do everything he was supposed to do even though he spent most of his time lying on a mat being completely ignored! When he wasn't being trampled on by maurauding 5 year olds!

Particularly don't do anything he doesn't like just because it's good for him!

[thefunkypea]

the rolled up towel suggestion definitely helps but it does take time. My dd liked being on her tummy lying on top of me. I'm sure that breaks loads of rules but it worked for us

[MrsBumblebee]

I second what Seeker says - they'll learn how to do stuff whether you encourage them to do it or not! My DS hated tummy time (and life in general, come to think of it), so I gave up after a few attempts. Then, when I tried it again a few weeks later, he'd magically developed the strength to prop himself up on his arms, and didn't mind it any more. He was a fairly early roller and very early sitter, so the lack of tummy time doesn't seem to have done him any harm. If you're still keen, though, the idea of lying him face down on your chest while you're sort of semi-reclined is a good one - that way he gets to use his muscles but is still snuggled up with mummy.

[retrodolly]

Wow! That's all very helpful. And I feel lot less rubbish . I'll try all your suggestions. How 'bout y'all come round for tea so I can thank you properly?

[varicoseveined]

seeker - lol, my DD could do with that t-shirt

[nickytwotimes]

mine hated being on his tummy. I didn't really push the issue and he's a fine wee 20 mth old now.

[VacantlyPretty]

Message withdrawn

[LilRedWG]

Oh, you should see all the threads I started panicing about this exact thing.

DD is now almost two and she's growing up just fine. I know it is very worrying, but please try not to stress, just enjoy your time with her.

For what it is worth, my HV said that all tummy time is valid - so lying on your chest or accross your lap can work just as well. Find out what she likes best - DD liked to be on my stomach/chest and would lift her ead to look at my face when I talked to her.

[LilRedWG]

Ooo - far too many typos to correct in my last post!

[AgonyBeetle]

Why do you have to put them on their tummies if they hate it? [puzzled emoticon]

Mine all hated being on their fronts -- used to lie there bleating pathetically, banging their little noses on the carpet in fury.

So I didn't bother. Admittedly none of them ever rolled over either. Nor crawled, just bum-shuffled. They are now 13, 8 and 4 (years, not months!) and they seem pretty normal, so haven't suffered any lasting ill-effects from not being on thier fronts as babies.