tummy time???

[JRmumma]

I have a 12 week old baby. From about 4 weeks old ive been trying to make sure he goes on his tummy for a few minutes per day as I read that they need this to develop the muscles they need to roll over and crawl etc.

My question is, is this enough? And how should he be getting on by now? He doesn't really push up on his arms yet, just arches his back and can turn his head side to side.

Sounds about right - I think my son was pulling his head up but not actually pushing up on his arms by then.

Don't worry about the amount of time - he'll be getting practice using the same muscles every time you hold him and he pulls away to get a good look at you as well.

It makes no difference - they develop the muscles they need anyway without doing tummy time or you worrying about it! Gross motor skills are inherited, not learned. As long as he has some roll-around-on-the-floor time every day it doesn't matter if it's on his back or his front.

Z is right. Don't give it a second thought. I worried constantly about this sort of thing with DD1. DD2 attempted to roll today at 14 weeks and she has had virtually no tummy time but has happily laid back in her baby gym and on blankets as I've have hoiked her about all over the place.

I stressed about tummy time - DD cried everytime so I gave up! She's 20 months old & quite normal