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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Hoiw much back and tummy time?

21 replies

MaryPortasFan · 16/02/2011 13:53

My DD is 12 weeks old. She's a very independent little soul and loves sitting in her bouncy chair/ playnest and grabbing toys (with some success!). She is constantly trying to pull herself up into sitting position and wants to be upright all the time. When we hold her she always wants to be standing up as well. However, if I lie her down on the floor on either back or tummy to play she screams! Does it matter if she does very little lying down? Is there any harm in always being sat up/ propped up/ standing up? I worry she won't learn to roll over!

Sorry, this probably sounds like a silly worry- she is my first baby!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Davsmum · 16/02/2011 13:58

SHe must sleep lying down - so that may be all the lying down she needs ! She sounds very alert and very bright ! I wouldn't worry,.. my DD & DS never lay down very much and your DD is obviously wanting to be in a position where she feels she has more of a view.
She will probably start to roll over in her cot ?

schmee · 16/02/2011 15:54

The reason for tummy time is to try to prevent plagiocephaly or flathead syndrome, so it might be worth trying to incorporate some time for that. The bouncy chair or playnest won't prevent that. Try lying down on the floor facing her or putting her for tummy time lying on you. It doesn't have to be for ages, but it might help her get used to the position.

From about four or five months you can use a bumbo seat (only use this on the floor, pref with some cushions around as they can tip over). With the bumbo the head doesn't touch anything so you don't need to worry about causing plagiocephaly.

Davsmum · 16/02/2011 16:22

Thats not the REASON ?!
Maryportasfans child won't lie down so the chance of her developing plagiocephaly is not that great is it ? I doubt many children ever spent much time on their tummy but we don't have a population of adults now with flat heads do we ?
Sorry - but why would you want to start Maryportasfan worrying about something she hadn't even thought of ? Its her first baby !

schmee · 16/02/2011 16:26

I'm sorry but that is the reason that tummy time is recommended in children who are put on their backs to sleep. And being in a bouncy chair or nest won't prevent plagiocephaly.

If it wasn't important, it wouldn't be recommended would it?

I really don't see what's wrong with my post.

MoonUnitAlpha · 16/02/2011 16:31

I didn't really bother with tummy time as ds didn't like it. At 5 months he was happier to spend some limited time on his front and now at 6 months he can roll and is nearly crawling.

Just keep an eye on your baby's head, ds's isn't flat at all. Time in a sling counts as tummy time too btw.

Davsmum · 16/02/2011 16:35

RECOMMENDED - not vital - by people who are advising on the condition you mention.

No - theres NOTHING wrong with your post as such - but the OP was not concerned about plagiocephaly - she was concerned her child will not lie down on tummy or back and wondered if that mattered.

Mums have enough to worry about and all these recommendations they are bombarded with must make them paranoid !
God knows how mothers survived before all the 'experts' with their latest theories turned up.

schmee · 16/02/2011 16:38

She asked if tummy time was important. I explained the reason why. Her decision if she wants to persevere and if she does, I've made a couple of suggestions of easy ways to achieve.

Actually I don't really see what "experts" and "latest theories" has got to do with anything. Don't you believe that plagiocephaly exists?

Davsmum · 16/02/2011 16:44

Yes I do believe it exists - I just don't think Mothers need another thing to worry about. I think if your child is going to get that - they will. Its not life threatening,.. or is it ?
I am sorry if I came across a bit harsh there - OP DID ask if it mattered and you obviously believe it does.

My Friends DS had a very flat head from being born and now he is older you can't really tell. TBH I would let my own child be in the position he wants to be in or is most comfortable in.

schmee · 16/02/2011 16:48

There's a whole other post going on about it. No, it's not life threatening, but it can cause functional problems (jaw alignment, eye problems) later in life, and at a very simple level can prevent your child from being able to wear a cycle or riding helmet. Or being bullied. Tummy time is there to help prevent it.

People can choose to ignore advice or not, but if someone is asking whether it's needed or not, they probably want the facts.

Original poster

MaryPortasFan · 16/02/2011 16:49

Thanks all... I guess one day she'll cry in her cot and I'll go in and she'll have rolled over!

I had heard of the flathead thing but she definitely doesn't have a flat head. And when she's sitting in the nest or on my lap her head isn't in contact with anything so she's not always leaning on it. She will do tummy time on her dad's tummy so we'll make sure that happens each day.

I was just concerned that no time lying down would be bad for her back. She's a big baby and doesn't fit in her carrycot anymore so we've had to switch to the buggy seat as well so she's not even flat then. My mum says I'm worrying about nothing, which is probably true!

OP posts:

Davsmum · 16/02/2011 16:53

SChmee - Yeah - I apologise,.. I take your point. I spose its best to be aware of it - and then make your own decisions.
I think I am in a tetchy mood today !!

MoonUnitAlpha · 16/02/2011 17:00

If she lies down at night then I wouldn't worry - it's not like you're always leaving her to sleep in a carseat or buggy.

Try getting a good supportive stretchy sling - that's good for their backs.

schmee · 16/02/2011 17:04

Thanks Davsmum - and you are right in that it's not nice to put the wind up new mums unnecessarily.

Brillbryant · 18/02/2011 13:51

After Reading this post, I'm slightly worried. My DS has got a bit of a flat head where he lays on his back. He's 22 wks old. He's just started rolling from tummy to back. In fact every time I put him on his tummy, he just rolls on to his back. He'd actually rather be on his back rather than his tummy. Should I be concerned?

schmee · 18/02/2011 18:35

I'm sure he's absolutely fine but you can ask your hv to measure the front to back length versus width.

schmee · 18/02/2011 18:37

Lots of babies have a little bit of a flat patch which sorts itself out. It's only if it's severe and doesn't seem to be getting better that you need to be concerned.

chillichill · 19/02/2011 13:19

um.. the reason for tummy time has nothing to do with flat head, but TUMMY TIME IS IMPORTANT! reason being it helps babys develop the muscles they will need to crawl and eventually walk. it develops neck, shoulder and back muscles in a way they won't be able to sitting up or lying on their back.
even if its 5 minutes a day, even if she screams, give her tummy time. my dd hates it hut we do it 2 or 3 times a day for a few minutes.

schmee · 19/02/2011 20:38

No chillichill - it really does have to do with flat head syndrome.

K8Nesb · 04/04/2011 13:36

Late to the party here but chilichill is predominantly right - tummy time is all about muscle development for being able to then sit up, crawl and walk. Yes, the more tummy time a baby has, the less likely s/he will develop flat head syndrome, but flat head syndrome is NOT the main reason for tummy time. schmee seems to be obsessed with this bloody syndrome which is largely harmless to children when actually it is FAR more important that a baby develops those muscles. www.nhs.uk/Livewell/pregnancy/Pages/Caringforanewborn.aspx
-does the NHS mention flat head syndrome at all in its advice on tummy time??????

noheroicsplease · 04/04/2011 14:25

Sorry Schmee but I agree with K8Nesb and Chillichill. Tummy Time is absolutely about muscle development

Plumm · 04/04/2011 14:32

Agree about the muscle development (if the baby books and my HV are to be believed).

We gave DD1 tummy time and she hated it - cried all the time (started at 5 mins per session, then worked up to about 15) - but we perservered. Like your DD she insisted on being held up as soon as her neck was strong enough and (after ignoring crawling completely) she was walking at 10 months. So, yes, I think tummy time is important.

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