so, why DO babies have to play on their tummies? is it only about crawling? and if so, what's the big deal if they never crawl?

[tutter]

asking because ds1 always hated tummy time

as a result didn't crawl til 11 mo

tried ds2 for the first time today and the poor mite looked so uncomfortablke and scared witless. ok it was only his first tiome, but did make me wonder what the big deal is...

DD never enjpoyed tummy time and we did very little. I would sometimes feel a bit guilty about it all and put her on her tummy, but it would last a few minutes before she complained.

DD had very good neck control from being weeny so we didn't need to do it for that reason.

She did crawl but very little - from about 8/5 months for a month when she learnt to walk instead. DD was on her feet cruising holding hands, walker (push ones not ones baby goes inside) and furniture from 5 months onwards, so it certainly didn't hinder her walking development.

No problem re flat head here. DD didn't send that much time laid flat either, other than for sleeping. DD was always an upright baby - wanting to be held up, sat up and stood up all the time.

When DS was tiny (he is almost nine months now) I used to fret because he absolutely hated being put on his front, did like lots of other babies mentioned and howled into the carpet. So I let him lie on his back, and he slept on his back, and watched I his head slowly flatten a bit. Then he learnt to roll onto his front himself, and he's never looked back. I barely ever see him on his back these days, especially since he's started crawling and pulling himself up, and his head has pretty much unflattened itself. This might be helped by his sleeping position du jour, which is face smooshed into the mattress, knees under belly and bum in the air

So I think it's probably one of those things babies do as and when they feel the need to.

I started countless threads on here worrying about DD, for exactly the same reason as the OP. At 16 months, I can finally say that DD will go on her front without screaming - but that's only because she can now sit herself straight up out of it! Until the past few weeks it was a real no-no and she'd get very upset. Her head is quite flat at the back but it's gradually getting better and she's a happy little girl.

Both mine hated being on their tummies on the floor but were fine when they were on top of me. I used to lie on my back on the sofa (not because I was a lazy bint and wanted to watch dr Phil but because I was interested in my baby's development) and put dd or ds tummy to tummy with me. They preferred that because if their head flopped forward they hit something softer than the floor.

I also used to lie on my back on the floor and then put them on my bent knees so they were in a flying position and they both loved that.

Both those positions are just as good for their back and neck muscles having them on the floor.

mine (6 months) immediately rolls over onto his back when you put him on his front, and has done for the past 2.5 months. So I've given up. His head appears fine, not surprising since he's only really interested in standing up and bouncing on his chubby little rugby player legs. I can't see him ever getting round to crawling TBH, especially since as soon as I put him on the floor to play DD comes and hassles him and he has no space to do anything...

DD doesn't have a flat head but it is pretty squint so that she always looked left! (probably result of 3 days being stuck back to back with me before she finally emerged by emergency C-section!) We were recommended Sacro-cranial therapy and it is now working - with her looking both ways and sleeping with head in any position - hooray! She also loves being upright - sitting and standing with support!
Just tried tummy time - she lasted about 45seconds before she went beetroot and wailed - poor wee thing!

It's important for a number of reasons - but more for older babies than teeny ones.

Tummy time strengthens the back and shoulders, as well as stretching the abdominals. Babies nowadays spend a relatively large amount of time in car seats, bouncy chairs/cradles, activity 'stations' etc/. As a result babies aren't getting the opportunity to roll around on the floor and learn to push up and then crawl. Crawling is important for developing shoulder and abdominal strength, symmetry (using opposite arms and legs) and core strength.

You can't force a baby to crawl (some do skip the crawling stage with no ill effect) but you should actively encourage babies to spend time on their tummies and play like that. I think the bumf says that by 6 months babies should be spending a fair bit of time on the floor.

If they hate being on their tummies put a rolled up pillow or towel under the chest to help lift them slightly, then they'll have their arms free to play.

try him on one of these tummy time surfboard