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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

Baby hates floor time

14 replies

SearchingStar · 17/01/2022 18:09

My LO is 19 weeks but has hated floor time since he was born. It isn't a problem with laying down as he is fine sleeping and loves to play when he is on his changing mat, to the point that when he is whinging I take him upstairs for a nappy change and "reset" him on his mat! But for some reason he hates being on the floor downstairs to play. I thought it was his playmat but he is the same on his playmat, a blanket or even just the carpet. I sit and play with him or leave him to play on his own and nothing works - the instant I put him down he starts! It doesn't help that he isn't really interested in any of his toys either. He just wants to be walked around and sometimes even that isn't what he wants! I'm worried that he won't be getting the right exercise to learn to roll and crawl etc.. does anyone else have experience of this?!

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BunnyRuddington · 18/01/2022 07:42

My DS hated it as well and is now a quite athletic teen so I wouldn't worry too much.

Hopefully someone will be along soon who knows a bit more but I'm sure I remember there are ways to do it without lying then on the floor.

Original poster

SearchingStar · 18/01/2022 09:32

@BunnyRuddington thanks that's good to know! My OH says to leave him to cry and he will get used to it (or realise we aren't going to pick him up) but I think he is too young for that as he won't understand why we are not going to him when he is upset and he isn't going to try things if he is lying there crying but equally I don't want him not to have the opportunity to build his muscles up! He is my first so I have nothing to compare it too!

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BunnyRuddington · 18/01/2022 16:11

The only thing he'll learn if you leave him to cry is that your not there for him when he needs you.

Original poster

SearchingStar · 18/01/2022 16:42

@BunnyRuddington that's exactly what I say.... !!

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Vicky1989x · 18/01/2022 20:49

My DD hated floor time too but loved her changing mat so I used to bring her changing mat downstairs and put it on the floor and she’d tolerate it a bit better. She actually hated floor time until she was around 7 months. She didn’t roll until 8.5 months, crawled at 10.5 months and walked at 15 months. Perfectly normal 20 month old now

Original poster

SearchingStar · 18/01/2022 22:02

@Vicky1989x glad your DD has developed so well 🙂 my DS loves his changing mat too, he has great fun on it! I'm thinking of trying a plastic mat, like what you'd put under the high chair for him to play on because when he is on his changing mat he can slide himself around a bit with his wiggling but on fabric play mat, blanket or carpet he can't do this. Borrowed one from my mum today that she had from when she looked after my nephew and am going to try it tomorrow! Hoping that perhaps this will help and be a magic answer 😉! Can only cross my fingers!

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Opalfeet · 18/01/2022 23:48

This has been done over and over on Mumsnet, just search hate tummy time. I didn't force it with either of mine, I dont understand the infatuation. Both are fine. Tummy time was time b feeding or time in a sling when out walking.

Original poster

SearchingStar · 19/01/2022 07:31

@Opalfeet I'm not just talking about tummy time, I'm talking about any time on the floor even on his back.

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Opalfeet · 19/01/2022 10:17

Oh right, sorry. I imagine similar applies though looking at these posts.

Olliesmere · 27/12/2022 09:04

Did you ever get your LO to enjoy floor time? I'm in the same exact boat and desperate for advice. Even with me playing with my 5.5 mo, he gets upset after 5 minutes on the floor.

MattieandmummyandIs · 29/12/2022 23:26

My second is the same and so was my first, I just assumed it was a phase and just picked DD1 up and am doing the same with DD2. DD1 was on her feet at 9 months so obviously fine. Some babies just really need to be held or be on you, I would just go with it.

If you are worried about tummy time try doing it in short bursts of a few minutes throughout the day. I find that seems to work better from a baby tolerance level and I get to not worry that we aren't doing any tummy time.

Olliesmere · 30/12/2022 16:57

Thank you! It's odd, because as a newborn, my babe didn't really like being held all the time. It started around 3 months. But he does now, so I'll just have to soak it in while it lasts I guess haha

WhyCantIdoIt2025 · 27/03/2025 12:18

@SearchingStar how is your DS doing now please? Was there ever a point at which he liked lying down to play?

Original poster

SearchingStar · 27/03/2025 12:35

Hi @WhyCantIdoIt2025he is an amazing, super high energy 3.5 YO now! I don’t think he ever really did to be honest, once he could sit up and then start army crawling around the floor he seemed more settled on the floor but he was never really one to just sit and play particularly, more interested in just moving around exploring and then once he got up on his feet he was away! I personally think he would get frustrated when he was tiny.

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