Tummy Time

[OnNaturesCourse]

DD was lifting her head at 2 weeks and moving it around quite the thing. HV recommended tummy time soon after.

Over the past 3 weeks or so we've had so much going on that DD hasn't really had tummy time other than the time on our chests while she sleeps.

We've been trying tummy time again the past few days and she HATES it and isn't lifting her head much at all, she kicks like crazy until she is forward enough to put her head on the mat... And the crying - it's enough to wake the neighbors at the end of the street.

Noticed that when we sit her up she will keep her head straight for a few seconds then tilts it to her right shoulder. Occasionally it'll roll forward so her chins on her chest then pulls it back up to the right shoulder.

Have we put her development back by missing tummy time?

I'm going to mention it to the HV on Monday but in the mean time is there any tummy time games we could try? (I've tried having her on my shins, she doesn't like it)

[Fresh01]

Try putting a small mirror in front of her so she can still see you when lying on her tummy. We had a Lameze one, that was on a cushioned wedge. DC1 hated tummy time until we put the mirror in front of her and one of us sat behind her leaning over so she could see us in the mirror. Just being able to see us made a huge difference.

[OnNaturesCourse]

DD won't even lift her head enough for us to put a mirror under her, she just pushes herself forward so her head goes on the ground. 😭 it's a good idea tho!

[OnNaturesCourse]

Forgot to mention DD is now 10 weeks

[Iusuallylovecake]

My little boy hated tummy time and still does at 7.5 month old!!!! Just do a little a few times a day and build up. We used a mat with a soft roll on one side so he wasn't on the floor and also on the bed so it wasn't quite so hard. Just do little and often!! She'll be fine, you haven't missed any major development yet. In fact my gp said don't worry about doing too much of it when I mentioned his screaming fits!!!!

[OnNaturesCourse]

We've tried the bed etc. Nope, she just tries to sleep. She thinks tummy time is sleep time really... Or scream time. Can't win.

[Willitbe]

Have you tried laying on the floor beside her? distracting her with things while she is laying on her tummy. Little and often is the trick, and as her muscles strengthen then she will start looking around more at things. Make sure things immediately all around her are bright colourful or black/white contrast and near enough to catch her attention.

If she won't tolerate that at all, have you tried something under her chest, to lay over, but be able to see things on the ground infront?

Or just laying on your chest and gradually you reclining so that she is doing tummy time on you!

This is very long youtube tummy time video, but a few good things in it:

[BorahT]

My son hated tummy time until he could roll over himself at about 7 months so I gave up doing it much when he was very little! Though he was on his tummy laying on my chest a lot, and also hated being left at all so spent a lot of time in a carrier so that avoided worries about a flat head.