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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

22 replies

jadey24 · 20/10/2008 21:06

My 3 month old dd hates tummy time.
She either cried her head off or goes to sleep and dont even bother to try and lift her head up or move.

She has really good head control otherwise in any other position and when sat on lap can push herself into standing position.

HV says not to worry bit im concerned that if she dont try and do things with tummy time she isnt gonna crawl or roll over.

We do things to try and encourage her but no use she just dont like it.

Does/did anyone else have a child that didnt do well in tummy time but crawl ok etc?

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Wade · 20/10/2008 21:19

Yes she hated tummy time - I think a lot of them do. I just encouraged her by getting her to do a few seconds here and there and distracting her by dancing around or something. Also used to get her to lie on my chest then slide down a bit. As she became more mobile she didn't mind it as much. She crawled normally and walked at 13 months. Don't worry.

PortofinoPumpkin · 20/10/2008 21:27

WTF is Tummy Time? Has this become compulsory? Are small babies being forced to do something they don't like because someone has decided it was a good idea? My dd is only 4 but I have no memory of anything like this. And she rolled over, crawled, walked etc etc Sorry if I sound a bit rude but I'm a bit !

chequersandchess · 20/10/2008 21:29

What portofino said.

feelingbitbetter · 20/10/2008 21:31

I don't know of any baby who didn't HATE tummy time. DS is only getting a bit more tolerant of it now (18wks). I used to compromise by lying him on my tummy/chest and by propping him up with a rolled up hand towel under his arms (face not so stuck to the floor IYKWIM). I also put him tummy down over my knees which he quite liked.
I never let him get to the point of crying, I would rescue him after a bit of grizzling, but did it often through the day. He did 10mins in front of Top Gear the other day!

Ohforfoxsake · 20/10/2008 21:34

never thought do (or remembered to do) Tummy Time. Its just something else we can get hung up on and feel guilty about. Still, it hasn't held any of mine back, they can all leg it from me when they need to!

Honestly, don't worry about it. Enjoy the time you can leave her in one place, come back and she's still there! My DD2 is mobile and I'm a nervous wreck now

seeker · 20/10/2008 21:36

My mother says that all babies should be issued with a t shirt that says "This Grows Up Automatically".

They are programmed to develop - honestly. You don't need to do anything to make it happen!

Wade · 20/10/2008 21:41

Yes it's the law!! You must do tummy time! No, small babies are not forced to do anything, they are just given the chance to play on their tummies for a few minutes (or seconds as the case maybe) when they are awake. Just for some variety as they are always put to sleep on their backs. Some of them love it.

PortofinoPumpkin · 20/10/2008 21:42

So if everyone's baby hates this why are we doing it exactly? LOL Ohforfoxsake - I remember those days. One moment you can leave them with some toys on the rug and go and make a cup of tea = and the next you come back with steaming mug to find baby vanished! usually to be found under the sofa or half way up the stairs.....sigh. At least they don't argue with you at that age

muppetgirl · 20/10/2008 21:48

I have one who loved it and one that hates it!
Ds 1 loved it and slept on his tummy from an early age and still does and ds 2 who screamed the place down so we stopped doing it. Ds is a much bigger baby than ds 1 was (he's 3lb's heavier than his brother was at the same age -11 months) so I think this had a bearing from ds 2 as he's got a whole lot more 'head' to lift and control and I think it became uncomfortable for him. Ds 2 is now rolling and happy to be on his front for a short time but not to spend any real amount of time at all.

Original poster

jadey24 · 21/10/2008 10:54

Im not gonna worry about it nw then if babies develope just as well without it.

I dont agree with putting them though unessessary stress and soon as she cried id move her.

Its good for head control but dd already is pritty strong and has 90% head control so im deffo not concerned with that.

I read on this website that they wont be able to learn to crawl and that worried but im wont worry nw.

OP posts:

Leoloopydoo · 21/10/2008 11:06

None of my 3 boys hated tummy time. Just take it slowly, 30 seconds at a time every hour, the earlier you start with it the better. they seem to hate it because they are frustrated that they can't get their head up but you can encourage them to turn their head to the side to start with.The point is to get them to strengthen kneck and back. its also to prevent them from spending 24 hours with pressure on the backs of their heads which can flatten and deform it.

Elffriend · 21/10/2008 11:08

Don't worry about it. I also had it drummed into me that babies HAD to have tummy time or it would delay them crawling yadda yadda yadda.

DS hated it. He had reflux and it caused him physical pain. I gave up on it.

He was NOT delayed. Now his only problem is running everywhre at full pelt whilst looking the other way...

love the t-shirt idea of seeker's mum.

Highlander · 21/10/2008 12:02

neither of mine had tummy time. Both sat up at 6/7 months and crawled at 10 months.

Neither were the least bit interested in rolling over

Buckets · 21/10/2008 18:34

The Tummy Time concept has come up because the SIDS recommendation of back-sleeping can lead to temporarily malformed skulls. My youngest is a tummy sleeper however (YOU tell him!) and at 11wks he can hold his head up very well, spin 180degrees and has even wriggled forward 6" when I've not been able to get to him quick enough!

TBH though, having a late crawler has its benefits - they have more common sense!

Buckets · 21/10/2008 18:36

Flat Head Syndrome

Original poster

jadey24 · 21/10/2008 20:03

This also concerns me but does this mean that babies that dont get given tummy time end up with flat head syndrome or is it just a small percentage of these that get it?

OP posts:

Buckets · 21/10/2008 20:52

Yeah I know, it's just NICE covering their backs.

Leoloopydoo · 22/10/2008 09:37

if your dd has a flat or deformed head you would probably have noticed it by now. I think you can avoid it if they don't have their head in the same position all the time.

seeker · 22/10/2008 10:04

Have a look here for info about flat head syndrome. It points out that babies that are in slings, and being carried and so on have plenty of opportunity to have their heads in different positions .

seeker · 22/10/2008 10:05

And also points out that there is no evidence to support treatment - most experts think that it is a temporary and self correcting condition.

mistlethrush · 22/10/2008 10:16

Ds hated tummy time. I believe that it is more difficult for them to roll from their fronts to their backs (was told this) but from early on ds would simply roll straight back onto his back and stay there happily. He sat at 5mo (fairly stable, on his own), and doesn't have a flat head. He was also large - but had amazing head control (he could lift it off my shoulder on day one!) - he liked being upright on my lap for periods by 3 months so was getting the 'exercise' of holding his head on his own without being at foot level so he was much happier. Either sitting on a lap (or lying) or lying on his back under baby gym etc was best for him at this age.

I wouldn't worry too much - lots of variety, occasional quick periods on tummy (even if only to get the roll back exercise!) - as long as they are not on their backs all of the time in the same position...

Original poster

jadey24 · 22/10/2008 20:36

That is what Grace is like same as ur Ds.
She could hold her head frm day one and sits upright on our laps- We actually dont have a choice in the matter coz she dont like to be held like a newborn baby lol.

But yeh she can hold her head unsupported since she was 2 months old like that and we know she is strong and can push herself into standing position when on laps...which she does constantly now.

The back of her head looks fine to me right nw too.

In the day she is either on our lap on in her bouncer. She very rarely lies flat down during day..she dont nap much in day.

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