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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

Tummy time

24 replies

anonymama · 12/02/2008 13:08

Can't remember at what age I'm supposed to encourage DS2 to spend a bit of time on his tummy. Anyone?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

whatironing · 12/02/2008 14:11

I think its from birth isn't it?

PillockOfTheCommunity · 12/02/2008 14:12

don't know but it's a load of tripe anyway IMHO!

never done it with either of my 2, ds1 was sitting early and walking at 10mths, ds2 was sitting early and at 10mths is about 3 weeks off walking independantly.

juuule · 12/02/2008 14:18

Don't know what the guidelines are but think it's unnecessary anyway. Unless, of course, your baby enjoys it.

TheDevilWearsPrimark · 12/02/2008 14:19

I never bothered, they did what they wanted, when they wanted.

Meandmyjoe · 13/02/2008 16:21

I agree with the other posts. My health visitor and all the books ket going on about the importance of tummy time. It's good if your baby enjoys it but mine didn't. He fussed immediately. However, as soon as he could roll over at about 15 weeks, he tolerated it a bit more as he felt he's achieved something and I hadn't forced him into it.

I'd let your baby take the lead but if he doesn't enjoy it then don't worry. My friend's baby hated tummy time and she stopped doing it. He crawled at 8 months and walked at 11 months so I'm sure it's no big deal.

PorridgeBrain · 18/02/2008 20:41

Please don't get hung up on tummy time like I did. The HV's went on and on about it and I worried silly that DD cried every time I put her on her tummy when all other babies from NCT loved it. I used to try it every now again but stop as soon as she cried. Once she had the strength to lift her head up she was happy and ended up being one of the first of all the NCT babies to roll from front to back so it really doesn't mean a lot when they start it IMHO.

Bluestocking · 18/02/2008 20:45

My DS hated it so after the first time, and a gale of protest, I never did it again. But he rolled over, crawled and walked when he was supposed to so I don't think the omission did him any harm. I think it might just be another stick to beat anxious first-time mothers with.

foxiec · 28/02/2008 19:00

my hv just told me that if id do not do tummy time then it will mean my dd will walk and crawl later, but she hates it. The hv is coming round to do excercises with me? anyone else had a similiar experience?

PaulaYatesBiggestFan · 28/02/2008 19:09

what tosh
its unatural imo
who gives a flyiing fig what age baby walks

gemmummy · 28/02/2008 19:11

if baby doesn't like it...don't do it! your baby will let you know!

WigWamBam · 28/02/2008 19:20

Oh, foxie - cancel the HV. You don't need to do exercises ... when your baby is ready to spend time on her tummy, she will do.

You don't have to see the HV at all, let alone put up with them making you feel bad and giving you exercises.

hana · 28/02/2008 19:26

but being in a differeret position is good for a baby, doesn't matter what you call it. they spend so long on their backs - carseats/sleeping/prams/bouncy chairs, and you don't want them to get flat heads. doesnt' have to be scheduled in or anything
bit silly tho that the hv is going to do 'exercises' with the baby, odd

BumperliciousNeedsaGlassofWine · 28/02/2008 19:30

DD is 8 mo and still hates tummy time! She just puts her head in her hands and cries, it's a pitiful sight!

But I am not worrying too much and not encouraging her to crawl as all hell will break loose then!

BumperliciousNeedsaGlassofWine · 28/02/2008 19:31

If you do feel you have to do it try putting a rolled up towel under their chests, they might prefer to be propped up a bit, or laying them half on a cushion.

pushki · 28/02/2008 20:39

Ooooohhh - what a cynical lot most of you are about a bit of old tummy time!!! Going to admit it that I'm a physio but I;m not about to get all fanatical on you about tummy time - don't think you need a hv to come to give you exercises! Most babies though really do need to spend times on their tummy at some point - like hana says, if you think that some days babies might be semi-flexed in car seats, bouncers etc for a lot of the time. Spending times flat on their backs and tummies is good for developing their motor control, head control and stimulating development - they can't learn to roll in a car seat!

Don't worry - be sensible and cancel the HV - although they might come after you, they can be scary sometimes

Hopeysgirlwasntbig · 28/02/2008 20:42

I had another baby after a fairly big gap (over 8 yrs). There was no mention of this back to sleep, front to play stuff back then! I have to say, my DD loathes being on her tummy. I do try and do it at least once a day, but she seems to get quite upset. My other two children, I just let them do what they wanted to and they're absolutely fine!

nigglewiggle · 28/02/2008 20:46

When DD was a baby (2 yrs ago) a friend told me that "tummy time" would help with writing skills later in life!!!

foxiec · 28/02/2008 22:49

thank you for your great comments. they have really cheered me up !

chunkypudding · 14/03/2008 12:26

glad I searched for this. Have been beating myself up that my 8 week old spends v little time on tummy as he gets really wound up...

think I should be looking to the wee fella himself to see what's best for him rather than worrying too much about other people's advice - after all, they don't know him!

thanks for starting the thread, have been feeling like a crap mum for the past few days for various reasons so it has really helped

FluffyMummy123 · 14/03/2008 12:26

Message withdrawn

blondiep14 · 14/03/2008 12:31

what the heck is tummy time???

bad mum here, never read a baby book!

DS often sleeps on his tummy on me does that count even tho it's naughty?

JamesAndTheGiantBanana · 14/03/2008 12:35

I found my lo hated tummytime until I spread a really colourful patterned tshirt he never stopped staring at on the floor first. I'd also just been wearing the tshirt so it smelled of me, and he spent a lot longer pushing up to see the tshirt before he got fed up. Obviously colourful playmats etc work too, it was just that he loved the tshirt!

HereComeTheGirls · 14/03/2008 15:33

Tummy time is pretty helpful for avoiding a flat head, as the more time the child spends not lying on its back the better in that respect, and also it will help them to sit/crawl more quickly..my DD was late to crawl and sit, so spent a lot of time lying on her back and had a pretty flat head for a while!

HereComeTheGirls · 14/03/2008 15:36

I used to be of the school of thought that you should just leave a child to it and they will do things in their own time. However the physio decided to do some intensive work with my 16 mo old DD who has slightly low muscle tone and a mild motor delay to see if they could encourage her to stand up..Within only a week she was standing and now is pulling up all over the place, which is great news although tiring for us. So big up the physios, pushki!

But I agree its not so much of an issue for normally developing kids who might sit and crawl by 6-7 months anyway

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