Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Behaviour/development

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

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Tummy time: Is it that important?

34 replies

MultipleMama · 08/06/2014 18:21

I have done tummy time with my previous DC just because they had no problems with it and was told to encourage it.

But is it really that important as they make it out to be?

Reason I ask is my 8mo (6mo adj & high needs) hates being on his stomach. He screams and screams and can take upto an hour to calm him down. We've left him a few times to see if he settles but he just continues to scream. He's rolled over front to back about 4 times while crying yet doesn't settle and he's rolled back to front and start crying as soon as he's on his belly. He has great head control but due illness has a limp left side, he's like this at PT/OT sessions. He's been looked at by his pead and he's healthy nothing that would suggest stomach pain or reluctance to stay on his stomach. He has no interest in toys and doesn't attempt to reach for them just lies there and cries. He's always done this since we introduced tummy time when he came home from NICU.

His Ped, OT and PT have said to keep at it and try and encourage him more but it's no use. Shall I just give up? Is there anything else I can do besides tummy time? Or should I stick with it. I just don't want to keep on stressing him and causing him to cry and scream. I feel awful like I'm forcing him and causing him harm :(

DH just tried again while I nurse and write this and he's starting to get worked up again :(

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Raskova · 08/06/2014 18:22

They'll get a wonky head if you don't. They'll also develop muscles quicker to be able to crawl etc

BertieBotts · 08/06/2014 18:25

All they mean by "tummy time" is time spent not reclined/lying flat. So if he's happy in an upright bouncer, face down on someone's chest, in water, being held upright/sitting, in a sling etc, those all count as tummy time. Even things like a bumbo, high chair/pushchair not in a reclined position can count but they shouldn't be the only source.

It is important not to have them lying flat all the time but it's not important to "do tummy time" ie have them lying flat on their front on a play mat.

RubberBulletKisses · 08/06/2014 18:30

DS is 9 months and hated tummy time until about a month ago. We didn't push it at all and he's now beginning to crawl and is quite happy on his belly. They all get there!

JuanFernandezTitTyrant · 08/06/2014 18:36

DS is 7.5 months and hated tummy time until about 4 weeks ago. He started commando crawling 3 weeks ago but has obviously decided "proper" crawling is for losers and moved straight to cruising. I can't say that I think the lack of tummy time has done him much harm.

Original poster

MultipleMama · 08/06/2014 18:39

Ahh. That makes a lot more sense. Not sure why they're only focusing (telling me) to do "tummy time" on his stomach...

Thank you for explaining that, I feel more at ease now! X

OP posts:

GwenStacy · 08/06/2014 18:42

We had a Lamaze tummy time thing which really helped - this one :)

www.amazon.co.uk/Lamaze-Spin-Explore-Garden-Gym/dp/B000I2MRHE/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby&ie=UTF8&qid=1402249295&sr=1-1&keywords=lamaze+tummy+time

Original poster

MultipleMama · 08/06/2014 18:46

Thanks for your stories ladies! He loves kicking his legs and attempts to "bounce" on our laps. He can't sit up get either falls to the side or on his back so standing on our laps is his favourite thing (only coming in 2nd to bring carried in the boba).

OP posts:

AuntieMaggie · 08/06/2014 18:47

Someone told me it's important for development of the throat muscles which help speech too... not sure how true that is

fingersonbuzzers · 08/06/2014 18:49

My first DC hated it too so I didn't bother with it.

By 11 months she was nowhere near crawling and still wouldn't tolerate being on her front. She saw a kids physio who said we had to get her doing tummy time.

I finally got her to tolerate it by lying her on a picnic blanket with little bits of food like raisins on it and she'd eat them on her tummy!

Made a massive difference to her, she went from refusing to be on her tummy or countenance a crawling position to crawling within a few weeks.

Original poster

MultipleMama · 08/06/2014 19:01

The only toy he attempts to play with Sneezy the dragon

OP posts:

Dressinggownbelt · 08/06/2014 19:05

I read somewhere that even laying on your chest counts as tummy time. I expect as he gets stronger he will get more comfortable with it. Don't push it, he'll be fine.

FruitbatAuntie · 08/06/2014 20:28

Well I hope it isn't vital, as both my DSs hated it and I didn't try too hard to persuade them. DS1 is now 8.5, and walked and talked perfectly normally and on time. DS2 is now almost 2 and walked later but has no probs talking!

Sounds like just another thing that mothers are encouraged to worry themselves silly about tbh - as long as they aren't left in car seats etc. all the time, I'm sure babies will be just fine?

fledermaus · 08/06/2014 20:36

Tummy time is important for them to develop head control, neck, chest and arm muscles. If your baby can already hold his head up and roll then he's doing fine.

DC1 didn't like being on his tummy so I didn't make him - he would lie on me though and spent a lot of time in a sling. He crawled by 8 months.

Portlypenguin · 08/06/2014 20:42

My ds (now almost 3) hated tummy time. End of. He had good head control at normal time and has met all his milestones. Don't worry!

Bedsheets4knickers · 08/06/2014 21:02

I never did it much maybe an occasional pop down but very randomly . Mine are just perfect

ShoeWhore · 08/06/2014 21:11

I've got 3 dcs and the older two both hated tummy time - dc2 def down to reflux, made him sick and in hindsight I suspect ds1 had a touch of reflux too.

They both sat early, walked at a normal (if not early) time etc (unlike dc3 who loved being on his tummy who sat and walked pretty late)

Ds2 enjoyed sitting in one of those inflatable nests - would that help him practise sitting do you think?

Original poster

MultipleMama · 08/06/2014 22:05

We have a Blossom farm cow 3-in-1 that he uses but not sure when to switch it wear it helps with sitting. He has a very weak left side so I think that's delaying him further...

I know he's behind in development anyway but glad to know that I don't have to place him on his tummy! He loves baths so "tummy time" is easier to do in water with sensory lights!

OP posts:

BertieBotts · 08/06/2014 22:13

I do think some HCPs aren't aware of "other kinds" of tummy time, they just know tummy time is important.

The reason it is pressed is because since the back to sleep campaign a lot of parents took the message that it's unsafe for babies to sleep on their fronts and understood it as meaning that it was dangerous for babies to be on their fronts at all and this is what leads to problems, when they're always kept in a supine position as it doesn't allow them to develop the right muscles for various things.

Plus, I'm sure this isn't you, but some parents do literally move their babies from cot to car seat to pram to play mat on floor (on their back) to lie-down bouncer. But it's a bit patronising and sounds judgy to say "Make sure you pick your baby up!"

beccajoh · 08/06/2014 22:17

I didn't with DD (didn't know I was meant to!) and she sat up at 5.5 months, crawled at 9 months and walked days after her first birthday. She didn't roll until after she crawled.

Tried doing it with DS (he's 4.5m) and he either cries or just lies there and licks whatever he's lying on. He lifted his head up once but it seemed to be too much effort so put it back down again. Time will tell I suppose, but he seems to be managing without. His latest thing is doing what appears to be tummy crunches. He can roll onto his side and back again.

DancingtheTittyTango · 08/06/2014 22:21

I didn't do it with either of my first two and amazingly they still crawled, cruised and walked like everyone else's kids! Ive not been doing it with my 3rd who is 5 months and she can hold her head up fine! I think as long as you are holding them upright and doing other things with them rather than just laying them flat all day every day there's no need to upset them by putting them on their tummys if they don't like it.

Original poster

MultipleMama · 08/06/2014 23:18

He only ever really lies flat when at OT/PT sessions or during massage/sensory time. He's only ever been in his stroller once - he really hates it .

We have two "beanbag/nests" he uses for play but he prefers to be in the carrier with his wrist toys haha.

OP posts:

Charlotteamanda1 · 09/06/2014 06:47

Hi. Tummy time is important and being placed in different positions isnt tummy time.
Tummy time strengthens muscles in their core, kneck , arms and legs. Its very sensory it stimulates senses in their skin.
Prem babies can be sensitive to tummy time so you may need to do some little exercises to de sensitise him.
Baby massage using different textures on his tummy hands and feet.
Place a rolled up towel under his chest so he is not completly flat on the floor.
Have him on his tummy but on a settee cusion which you have propped up at a slight angle. He may have a sensory issue with being totally flat.
If it is sensory keep working at it - not so he is too distressed.
Being sensitive can (not will) leed to fussy eating, late motor development. Its very weird how our bodys are connected.
He may prefer bottom shuffling to crawling later on.

Original poster

MultipleMama · 09/06/2014 08:02

charlotte Thank you for replying.

DS has hypersensitivity (mainly touch, sight, sound) and suspected SPD. He has to be held and dressed a certain way as most materials irritate and stress him. So we can't just "de-sensitise", but he has appointments (twice weekly) and massages (twice daily) to help. He really hates any kind of pressure on his stomach/chest aside for his weighted swaddle, or against our chests.

We've tried every recommendation his therapists and doctors have given us to get him on his stomach and so far; narda.

I'm going to bring it up with his therapists but we'll keep giving it a go for now.

OP posts:

Charlotteamanda1 · 09/06/2014 22:10

Oh bless him. When they are that sensitive you have to be so careful when trying to desensitise them as it can make it so distressing for them.
It might take ages to make any difference to his sensitivities. You probably have already but a sensory diet from an occupational therapist might be of use.
I wouldn't use any of my suggestions in case I have said something that might be too much for him. I would just go with people who understand his sensitivities advice.
You sound a fab mum. That's a high level of appts for both of you but fantastic that you have that level of survives.
Sometimes changes seem to take forever to happen. Keep going. Some children bum shuffle instead of crawling. Others by pass it all together and go straight to walking. Who cares as long as they get there.
It's lovely that he loves laying on you. Attachment and his love for you overtakes everything else ;)

ElBombero · 09/06/2014 22:14

Did everything by the book inc tummy time with PFB, could not out DS on tummy on floor as he would be terrorised by PFB, he's fine. Head control always strong

Flip

1 2