How to enjoy tummy time

[TheVeryHungryTortoise]

My son is 11 weeks old and we've been trying to give him tummy time since those first few weeks, unfortunately he's not a fan and just screams and screams until I turn him back over.

I'm getting really worried that he's not going to develop his upper body strength. He was able to hold his head up at birth and is already sitting up straight whilst being lightly proped up but I'm concerned that any progression will start to slow. I've tried lying down with him so that he can see me but he just screams into the floor! Does anyone have any tips on how to encouage him to enjoy tummy time?

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

No tips on getting him to enjoy tummy time sorry.

About 15 years we were in exactly the same position with the same concerns. You'll be pleased to know that DS is a lively and athletic teen with incredible upper body strength, but that's probably down to all of the cricket he plays 🙂

[Lovetodream]

Have you tried placing him on your lap instead?DD is 4 weeks old and seems to enjoy that more than being on the floor. I’ve put a furry soft blanket for tummy time that she likes.

[TigerQuoll]

Do you have any musical toys? My nieces really liked a particular plastic cube with buttons on it that played animal and musical sounds and lit up when you pressed the buttons. They could go a good 30 seconds to a minute of tummy time with no complaints if we either sung to them or activated this toy on front on them. Without it they'd only last around 5-10 seconds.

[surreygirl1987]

My little boy hated it u til about a month ago! He is 16 weeks now and I can leave him happily on his tum for 10 mimd or so at a time and he does over an hour a day! A few weeks ago I couldn't even get 2 minutes from him!

The biggest thing for my son was letting him do tummy time on my chest, with me laid back on a sofa. I started with not much of a recline. Then I increased the recline more every day. On the floor I started using a cushion for him to make it easier. Now I put a mirror in front of him. Try anddistract him. I found it easier to put him on the changing table on his tummy so I could put my face in front of his. Obviously make sure he doesn't fall off! He will hopefully start enjoying it but most babies hate it from the start. Mine screamed and screamed! Never thought he'd he happy doing it!

[lovely36]

You can practice tummy time in many different ways. You can lay him on your chest on his tummy and talk to him or cuddle him. You can put him on your lap in his tummy. You can put him on the bed on his tummy. And put some pictures of black and white shapes. (They don't see Color until 4 mo this) black and white is what they are most attracted to at this age and it helps them to focus their vision. Interesting isn't it? Also put baby on tummy.. if he's only comfortable doing it for a few seconds. That's fine. Do it throughout the day. My son hard tummy time. (It's very important you listen to him when he's upset.) I died to put my son on his tummy many times throughout the day for a few seconds. Sometimes 2 /3 minutes if he was content. As soon as he began to get upset Id put him on my chest.