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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

13 week old tantrums when on belly on play gym

27 replies

bumbly · 20/10/2007 13:10

been told my lo is behind with head control

but every time i put him on his belly on playgym all hell breaks loose

i help him a bit and he can lift his head if i support him - but if i dont he then screams screams screams

when he lies on my belly i noticed he lifts his head ok...whic is interesting - so perhaps there is some hope

but HV etc have been pretty negative abput his current head control status...

any other similar mums with babies with wobbly heads?

what do i do? how can i incourage him that the playgym belly time is good for him?

put all sorts of toys he knows etc but nothing works - he just cries and cries and then remains unsettled for quite a while after

worried

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Nbg · 20/10/2007 13:12

Oh good lord!
Bloody HV's

He's only 13 weeks. Really really dont worry about it.
He will eventually. He probably doesnt like being down on the floor hence him lefting his head ok when he's on your knee.

Saturn74 · 20/10/2007 13:14

Wow, your HV needs to be gently informed that her advice is causing unnecessary distress to the mothers she is supposed to be helping!

PeppermintPatty · 20/10/2007 13:20

My DD is 17 weeks and HATES been put down on her tummy too. She screams until she's sick usually, and I have given up trying. Her head control is fine.

I wouldn't worry about it, all babies are different

POTC · 20/10/2007 13:20

perhaps you could try carrying him in a Mei Tai type sling? that way he's in the same sort of upright position which will encourage him, but still has the support behind his head, and is close to you IYSWIM

sorry, that doesn't make much sense

LIZS · 20/10/2007 13:24

He doesn't need "tummy time" as such , and it is n't a tantrum but frustration cos he can't do it and doens't enjoy it. dd spent her first 4/5 months in a seat due to reflux and it did not hinder her physically at all. ds would only tolerate it once he could roll and I got him a freestanding floor mirror/activity centre so he could raise his head and see his face - he loved giggling at himself - but was at least a month older than your ds.

Have you got a playnest - like an a inflatable oversized doughnut - or a v pillow which he can be propped up over, on front or back rather than lie completely prone and bury his face on the floor. Do you get down to floor level and interact with him , just talking calmly and playing with the toys together.

Scoobi6 · 20/10/2007 13:25

my dd always hated being on her tummy as well, I though she would skip crawling and go straight to walking because she'd howl and throw up if put on her front. She learnt head control fine by sitting on my knee, sitting in a pushchair, being carried about....

Don't worry about it, they are all different. Mine is now crawling round the floor at top speed, she started at about 8 months old

rosmonster · 20/10/2007 13:33

I used to use a small rolled up towel with my ds, just prop it under his chest level with his armpits and then he's not lying flat on the floor which I think is the main problem (basing that on my ds btw)

And don't worry, they all develop at their own pace but he will get there

Original poster

bumbly · 20/10/2007 15:10

you know what girls - think the v-shaped pillow/towel ideas might be useful - will try later today and report back

ta!!

OP posts:

Original poster

bumbly · 20/10/2007 15:11

ps: just that all books say by three months LO shouldbe lifting head -...hence the HV comments i guess

OP posts:

karen999 · 20/10/2007 15:26

Bubly - throw the books away....babies all develop at different times...it is nothing to worry about.....my daughter is 8 months old and she too hated being put on her front. I sometimes used to lie her across my knee just to get her used to it and she seemed to quite like it. She always preferred kicking about on her back and now that she can roll over she thinks this is great.....when she lands on her front she looks about and then flips back over!!

karen999 · 20/10/2007 15:27

oops sorry - typo - "bumbly"

jamila169 · 20/10/2007 15:32

bumbly -12 weeks is 'average' I'm not sure if you know any average children but i certainly don't! If he's lifting his head while on your belly then he has control- its actually harder to lift your head when you're on a slope!
lisa X

Mungarra · 20/10/2007 16:46

My DS2 couldn't do the 'head lag' at his 6 weeks check, i.e. he didn't lift his head up when pulled up by the arms. I kept going back to the HV and then at 12 weeks, he was referred to the GP. The GP wasn't too worried because he smiled, gave eye contact and did other things that we was supposed to. At about 14 weeks, he was able to do it (after some practising with me).

I asked the HV if he would be behind with other things and she said 'no'. In fact, he was commando crawling at 6.5 months, proper crawling at 7.5 months and walking at 11 months.

Luckily, he was my second child because I would have been a bundle of nerves if my first child had been 'behind' with something.

pirategirl · 20/10/2007 16:47

your baby doesnt like it. Thats all i can say.

lizziemun · 20/10/2007 17:47

DD1 didn't like being on her tummy, so i didn't bother with it.

She didn't crawl but was walking unaided at 10mths. It hasn't hindered her at all.

I have come to the conclusion that HV have to give at least one piece of advice which will make us mums to panic and worry.

Mine was when i took dd1 to her 8 month check up that i had to take her to the doctor because her head was small (she like me has a very small frame ). She had no delays and was already cruising, talking etc.

Original poster

bumbly · 20/10/2007 17:56

rosmonster - wish i could buy you a bottle of champagne!!!!!!!!!!!

little one lifted his head when put towel under him..... for a minute or two!!!!!!!!!!

my helping him has helped but towel is better as I can look from a distance rather than be crouched over

been first time i smiled for ages as nice to see Lo not stressed for a second

will try again tomrrow and report back

but so nice to see little one not cry on his belly!!!

OP posts:

Original poster

bumbly · 20/10/2007 17:58

ps: i toonhave been referred to gp re head lag lifting form back - and that i dont know how to resolve??

so far i think towel will help head lag form belly

head lag form back - who knows...but one thing at a time....

rosmonster thanks!!

OP posts:

Tipex · 20/10/2007 18:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

bumbly · 20/10/2007 18:06

hi tipex - well every one i meet seems to boast to me re sleeping through the night

i must be worst mum in world as Lo def not doing that

still getting up every 2-3 hours with bottle fed LO

OP posts:

LIZS · 20/10/2007 19:37

but we all know other mums lie about their lo's to make themselves feel better. Honestly smile sweetly and take it with a huge pinch of salt ! Rarely is any mum's life with a baby as straightforward as they'd have you believe.

Tipex · 20/10/2007 20:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

REIDmylips · 20/10/2007 20:15

not read all the thread, but we were told the same thing, continued every visit for a while tbh. ds hated being on his tummy so we would put him on it a couple of times a day then turn him over when he got worked up. He is now 14 months and perfect (even if i do say so myself )

i honestly wouldnt worry about it!

colditz · 20/10/2007 20:17

My second didn't roll over until 5 months old - crawled at 8 months though, which I think is fairly average. It's just a blip. It doesn't matetr.

LIZS · 21/10/2007 11:03

bumbly can I suggest you look at this thread. Yours is not the only one not conforming to the book or the boasts of other mums !

rosmonster · 21/10/2007 14:27

bumbly, am so glad it helped

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