To hate tummy time?

[FrillyMummy]

My LO is 10 weeks old and every time I pop her on her tummy, she screams. I have pretty much given up on it now. I have her on my chest and on my shoulder where she gets to lift her head, but a few people have been v surprised that I'm not doing 'proper' (whatever that is) tummy time. She'll be ok though, right? I don't see many kids walking round who can't hold their heads up!

Time on your chest or in a sling (as long as not a lying down position) counts as tummy time, so don't worry.

It is quite important though apparently for wrist strength or something? That's why it's been recommended since they started recommending back sleeping. But it doesn't have to be on the floor if your baby doesn't like it.

I think tummy time is a load of codswallop to be honest!

It's fine if your child enjoys it, as my DD2 did - would love to be on her tum, rolling about, lifting her head up, wriggling around etc.

But if your baby hates it there's not much you can do. DD1 hated it and I don't think we managed more than about five minutes total. She would just lie there yelling with her face smooshed on the floor.

She still learned to hold her head up, roll over, sit up, walk, etc. with no apparent ill effects.

What nonsense. You're right, schools aren't full of kids with floppy heads because they weren't given tummy time. Don't stress just make sure baby isn't lying flat all day every day.

I was told if you sit on the floor with your knees up in a reverse 'V' then put the baby tummy down on your thighs with its head peeking over your knees then that counts as tummy time; but they enjoy it more (possibly) because they're higher up & can see what's going on around.

bertiebotts I didn't know just being upright counted - that's interesting. DD1 was always in the sling with me when tiny, so perhaps that did help her after all.

DS loved it.
DD hated it.
DD walked youngest and at 13 months has probably picked up a pen to scribble more times than DS at 4.

My DD was the same, dried every single time and just got so frustrated that we rarely did tummy time. But she was rolling by 3 months, rolling back over by four and a half and built up her strength quickly to commando crawl and then properly crawl. I think tummy time is really good if baby enjoys it, if not, don't worry too much

I'm sure someone once told me that all the talk of the importance of tummy time now, is to counteract the fact that people often leave their babies in swings/bouncy seats and car seats so much. If she's upright a lot and generally in a variety of positions, I wouldn't worry. DS quite liked tummy time, but if she is just screaming into the play mat, I wouldn't push it.

I didn't do it much with my dd (now 18 weeks) as she hated it and also it seemed to make her reflux even worse so there was vom even more everywhere than usual! However, we did do a little (like, 2 minutes) every day and just in the last week or so seems to have got the idea that she can use her arms instead of her nose to support herself. I am quite pleased about this!

Thanks It irritates me how people thinks its the end of the world that I'm not doing it!

My 11mo was same hated it regardless of what implements u put under him to encourage him so we didn't do much either. Once he learned to roll front to back he practically never did it again he was a later crawler at 9months but then again he bum shuffled from 7months and could hold his head up from the day he was born (not kidding in hospital another baby was crying and he lifted his head up from my shoulder and looked round) it's not done him any harm

I had to give up on tummy time totally because my DS hated it. It did not stop him holding head up, crawling, walking etc...

P.S. I was only adding my two penneth as an alternative not saying you HAVE to do it, my 8 week old isn't very keen either.

All 3 of my kids hated tummy time and we did very little of it. All 3 could hold their heads up at 'normal' time and none have trouble with their wrists, or were delayed in any other milestones.

Oh it's a load of nonsense. As if their neck muscles are steadily atrophying with every minute they spend not screaming face first at the floor.

DS would only do it when the HV was visiting! He really liked flying though which is also good for your pelvic floor. Lie on your back, put the baby on their tummy on your shins, then bend your knees towards your chest.

• cried, not dried!

I too, hate tummy time. It is the constant source of conversation at baby clinic as in 'ooooh neveah loves tummy time'. I don't know if it's the twee name that annoys me most.

What the hell is tummy time? Never had this in my day and my DD age 14 and 20 seem just fine! They can both walk and run and hold their heads up unaided and everything lol!

welcome to parenthood. if it wasn't tummy time it would be ebf or weaning or dummies orr thumb sucking or nappy type or controlled crying or picking them up everytime they whimper or .....

Tummy time?? Never even heard of it . I certainly didn't do it with my Dd who's now 14 with a lovely upright head.

If anyone does want to do it, then a good way is lying dc on the bed on their stomachs, then sit facing them on the floor. This and lying on my chest, was the only way ds would do it.

My dd hated 'proper' tummy time too - though would happily lie on my chest holding her head up without grumbling. Roll on a few months and now she's just turned six months she likes being on her front more, and pushes herself up with her arms - but leave her more than a few minutes (if that) and she screams blue murder...Some babies just don't like it I think! Don't let the smug parents freak you out :)

It is important but as others have said, time on your chest or in a sling counts too.
Just try to do it for seconds at a time initially on a soft surface with lots of distraction.
Neither of mine liked it initially and I never let them get distressed but both tolerated it well by 5 months and positively enjoyed it by 6 months.