Is tummy time essential?

[Mybellyisaneasteregg]

With ds I did tummy time every day from birth a few times a day, gradually building up in duration. He rolled early and then went on to crawl and walk early.

Am pregnant with my second baby and I'm wondering how essential tummy time is. I don't want an early crawler/walker (didn't realise the implications of this with ds obviously) so I was wondering if there are others out there who didn't do any at all or who only did it occasionally it or when it occurred naturally.

[Nocomet]

DD1 screamed, so I gave up
Forgot to bother with DD2

DD1 was late to crawl and hardly bothered before learning to walk at 14 months

DD2 crawled more and also learnt to walk at 14 months. So I don't think it matters.

[Nocomet]

Late/never crawlers are sometimes (as me and DD1 are) dyslexic. Possibly something to do with left right coordination, but never heard of early crawling being an indicator of a problem.

I'm not very convinced about the lack of coordination theory as DD1 could climb before she could walk. Getting on to the dinning room table needs lots of coordination.

[colleysmill]

There has been research to indicate a link between not crawling and a diagnosis of dyspraxia/dcd in older children and anecdotally this is certainly my experience but that's not to say all children who don't crawl will be diagnosed with dyspraxia.

There was a piece of research a few years ago that looked at prison populations and many had undiagnosed dyslexia or dyspraxia prior to their convictions but that's not to say everyone with those diagnoses will become criminals!!

[UriGeller]

Yes but it doesn't have to mean flapping about on their stomachs like an angry walrus!

All my dcs hated being put on their tummies. They haven't been big roll over-ers either. But they've all been held a lot, and that strengthens their spine and neck muscles just as good. A sling is ideal "tummy time" without being "angry walrus time"

[schmee]

Eatcake Those playnests/doughnuts are good because they don't put pressure on the back of the head - this is NOT true. The advice on this has changed.

Tummy time is really important to strengthen the neck muscles, wrist muscles and apparently to help with eye tracking (not sure how this works). Sling time is also useful, but not quite the same. Also putting the baby in an old fashioned pram/carry cot rather than a bouncer or car seat.

It's artificial yes, but putting babies to sleep on their back is also artificial and tummy time advice is to counteract this.

Re; flat head syndrome/plagiocephaly - tummy time is helpful for this, but there are a huge number of other issues. Just because a child has a flat head doesn't mean they haven't had enough tummy time.

Captainproton - it sounds like you had some bad advice for medical professionals like so many other parents of children with torticolis (including me). It may have been the condition that meant that tummy time was so painful for her. Please do NOT feel guilty about this. There is a shocking lack of understanding amongst health care advisors about torticolis and plagiocephaly.

[UriGeller]

Oh they all crawled like champion racehorses too by 8 months and there's no evidence of any co ordination problems!

[captainproton]

Oh god I know we were given some rubbish advice, GP, HV and one paediatrician. This is why I think tummy time is important. If your baby seems in distress then please don't let them fob you off.

There maybe nothing wrong, but unless someone who is an expert knows what they are looking for sees your child you may find out too late.

DC2 didn't even seem in as much distress as DC1. But the physio checked him over at DC1s appt and immediately added him under her care.

We were fortunate that he started physio so young. But really all the excerises were mainly tummy time, a few neck stretches, and assisting him in rolling by leading him with his hips.

She wanted him sat up, rolling both ways before being discharged. He didn't much like the exercises but he is now strong, active and happy rolling everywhere and sitting unassisted.

I don't know why you wouldn't want that for your child. They must be bored on their backs all day.

[Mybellyisaneasteregg]

fuckwittery that is interesting about your dc and I'm glad I'm not the only mother who has considered changing this aspect of my parenting for subsequent children!

The only drawbacks of early crawling/walking I meant where actually for me! I was very envious of those placid babies who didn't move much until 12-18 months. They seemed to stay babies for longer. Early crawling ruined ds sleep at 5 months and from 11 months he became a premature toddler who wanted to run everywhere!

I think I will still do tummy time, maybe stick with the 15 mins a day. We were doing substancially more than this with ds.

[mummytime]

I personally was thinking more of the little girl I met once who was walking at 7 months, 5 months doesn't seem unusually early to crawl (and I have 2 bottom shufflers/late walkers, as well as a normal crawler).
I wouldn't panic - Don't Panic.

I wouldn't say crawling ruins sleep. Some children are just very active! If they can't move they get even more frustrated - I can remember having to send my DS on runs when he had chicken pox because he was so bored (not near other people I assure you).

[ikeaismylocal]

We did tummy time a couple of times with ds but it just make him puke and cry so we didn't do it again. He could hold his head up on the day he was born and sat at 4 months, crawled and cruised at 6 months and walked at 10 months. He's now 16 months and he walks up and down stairs by himself, climbs to the top of the highest climbing frame at the park and runs everywhere, lack of tummy time certainly didn't negatively effect his development. I think that physical development is down to genetics, dp's family all walked at 9/10 months.

[UriGeller]

True, all my family have been (comparatively) late walkers, 18 months or so. I'd never even heard of a baby walking before 1 until a couple of years ago when my SIL's in-laws had a baby that was walking around 10 months! It looked strange to me and still does, though I know its the norm for a lot of people.

[MaryPoppinsBag]

Interesting about the lack of crawling being linked to dyslexia. My sister hated being in her front. Didn't crawl. And we suspect that she is dyslexic. (She is 31)

[JugglingFromHereToThere]

I think babies need a varied and stimulating environment and spending some time on their tummies could well be part of that. It wasn't so much a thing though when I had my DC (now aged 15 and 12) though think I had heard of it. I don't think their physical position is as important as having their parents and care givers engaging with them though - after all when they can roll and then crawl they're more able to sort out the physical stuff for themselves - as long as they have the right encouragement

[JugglingFromHereToThere]

My dd has mild dyslexia (or good coping strategies!) and personally I'm more inclined to think it's something she was born with. I feel it's part of the whole way her mind works - for example she's artistic and also disorganised - and I also see the similarities with my own thinking and characteristics (suggesting a genetic link?)
I have heard of this suggested link between dyslexia and crawling before but personally, though interested, I'm not necessarily convinced.

[ikeaismylocal]

I have dyslexia and I crawled normally, I think the dyslexia link is more likely to be that dyslexic children will possibly find it harder to learn to crawl and maybe skip that stage rather than them somehow becoming dyslexic because of the lack of crawling.

[JugglingFromHereToThere]

BTW dd was fine with crawling though she did go backwards to start with, sometimes getting herself stuck under the kitchen table which was quite amusing
She actually spent more time crawling than ds (who is more NT)
ds was less of a crawler, going more from sitting to walking IIRC

[TheScience]

DS1 didn't like being on his tummy so I didn't make him tbh. I can't remember when he rolled over but he was crawling at about 8 months walking at 11 months. He spent lots of time in his bouncy chair and was in a sling a lot - no flat head or anything.

DS2 preferred sleeping on his front as a newborn but now at 8 weeks will sleep on his back or in a swing in the day, and one his side or back (co-sleeping) at night. I haven't really done tummy time with him since the first couple of weeks.

[Raxacoricofallapatorius]

I never bothered with tummy time but the DC lived in a sling which is good for muscular development. Both rolled by 12 weeks, sat at 4-5 months and walked at 9 and 11 months respectively.

[deepinthewoods]

I never did tummy time, but we used a sling, and co slept, so my babies were very active and mobile during the night, not lying flat out in a cot.

[TheCountessOlenska]

My tummy time refuser (dd) crawled at 6 months and walked at 12 months. Had a slightly flat head but it seems to be a normal shape now (age 4)
Ds loved being on his tummy from birth, crawled at 5 months and walked at 11 I feel your pain OP
He has always had a lovely shaped head as well.

[naty1]

My DD didnt crawl properly till exactly 8m and walk till 13 but i assure you she was naughty enough anyway. She used to inch around on her back, turned the xbox on at about 4m. As soon as they can cruise they are as naughty as when walking anyway.
I think walking early is also personality (that and strength) some just wont let go others just fling themselves and fall over a lot.
I only did tummy time haphazardly as she didnt like it (nor lying on her back either, reflux). So ended up mostly holding her. Despite that she seems to have a flat corner of her head i think she was sleeping too close to the cot bars.
I would just do a reasonable amount.
I found they struggle with sleep when learning new skills but that would happen whatever age.
My DN is not walking at 15m as they have decided not to encourage too much.

[alteredimages]

Tummy time is v important IMO. I wasn't doing it for the first month with DS and this was immediately picked up by the doctor at his six week check as his neck muscles were underdeveloped. At four months he now seems caught up but the difference was really obvious for the first couple of months compared to other babies his age.

He hated it at first, and still doesn't love it, but even five minutes a couple of times a day have helped immensely.

[deepinthewoods]

I think it is important if your baby sleeps in a cot or spends a long time in a moses basket or pram. Depends on your parenting style, more mobile babies may not need tummy time.

[Pobblewhohasnotoes]

We did tummy time with DS, but then DH is a physio and felt it was something he wanted to do.

He crawled at 6 months and walked at 10. I totally understand what you mean about not wanting an early one next time for your benefit, it's exhausting having a child that wants to do the next thing all the time.

I'll still do it with dc2.