4 and a half month LO doesn't like tummy time?

[MeganA9636]

My LO is four and a half months, he is sitting up and grabbing and people are always commenting about how alert and active he is for his age.
However everyday I put him on his tummy and try and encourage him to stay there by playing with him but he just smiles and rolls himself back over!
Does this mean he won't ever crawl? I am 18 and a first time mum so not really got a clue when it comes to baby development.

[Panzee]

Don't panic, nearly all of them hate it. Have you tried lying him on your chest/tummy? That counts.

[Squeakyheart]

It sounds like he is doing really well, some babies never crawl they wiggle or bottom shuffle or just walk! My DD hated tummy time till she could roll over herself so I wouldn't worry just keep trying and see how he gets on.

[MeganA9636]

Yeh he loves that! And when I do he holds himself up and cranes his neck to look around. He just won't do it on the floor!
I try and not panic but sometimes I worry that it's something I'm doing because I am so young and inexperienced.

[nailslikeknives]

If he can roll over, then he can choose which way up he wants to be, so don't worry - I think!
I thought tummy time was to help them learn to push up in order to roll over and strengthen the neck/back muscles, that sort of thing - and yep, both mine hated it. They also crawled fairly early, esp ds2 who hated it the most

[RJnomore]

My oldest hated it. She screamed if I put her down.

She never crawled. She lay flat on her back and propelled herself at great speed using her legs. It was quite disturbing to watch as I was sure she was going to break her neck but she just refused to stop!

She's 15 now and I can reassure you she is perfectly fine, she still doesn't like enclosed spaces or feeling restricted at all, but she's completely normal!

[JuniperTisane]

I don't know a single baby that ever likes tummy time. As long as you are putting him in a variety of positions and not leaving him on his back all the time that's what matters.

[KeepTheCarRunning]

Just to add to everyone else really, ds1 hated it and he crawled at 8 mths and walked at 9. Ds2 is 3 mths and also hates it. This time i'm not pushing it, they'll get there in the end

[RomeoDone]

My 6 month old used to hate it too. I wouldn't worry about it. I used to worry and try and get her to do the 15mins a day or whatever it was but gave up and she is perfectly fine. She will do it now but not for long before she's flipped herself back over. I know some people use yoga balls, lay baby on their tummy on a yoga ball and gently rock, but I wouldn't worry about it. My view is that you don't ever meet healthy adults who have never learnt to crawl/walk so they will get there in the end regardless ??

[hilbobaggins]

I never did tummy time with my DS. He's just fine. I tried it a couple of times, he hated it and then I read a helpful couple of articles that suggested it was unnecessary and faddish. So I stopped. If babies hate something this much, why force them to do it?

Your LO will be just fine.

[Bedsheets4knickers]

The only tummy time my 2 did was once they had started rolling over at about 6 months x

[murphy36]

Mine hated tummy time, we stopped because he didn't like it. He started crawling about 9m and walking around 1y. No problem, I wouldn't worry about it

[Squeakyheart]

megan just to say that feeling of panicking because you think you are doing it wrong is being a mum! I am an older mum with experience of babies and I still think I am doing it all wrong!