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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' - is it worth persisting?

28 replies

olivo · 14/02/2010 09:44

DD2 is nearly 6mo, and from day 1, has not been a fan of tummy time. I did not try it very often in the early days, and being the second child, was not as pushy as i was with DD1! should i be persisting with it - basically, after about 30 secs she puts her head down and cries; if i prop her with a pillow underneath her chest, she just lies down and dozes! have tried enticing her woth toys, us, peppa pig on TV but no luck.
She cannot roll but has had good head control from quite early on and has been sitting unaided for a good lenght of time for about 3 weeks now.
shoudl i persist with tummy time or just leave her? don't want to delay her crawling or anything, but also dont want to make ehr fed up!

OP posts:

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thisisyesterday · 14/02/2010 09:46

just leave her. babies will develop of their own free will IMO, regardless of giving them "tummy time" and all the other stuff they tell you you ought to do.

i've never done tummy time with any of mine, and they were all crawling at 6 months!!!

if she doesn't like it there is no point persisting I reckon

Original poster

olivo · 14/02/2010 09:51

just what i wanted to hear, TIY , thank you. a mother's guilt......

OP posts:

VerityClinch · 14/02/2010 10:43

My DD (7mo) loves tummy time and will roll from wherever she is put to get onto her tummy - from there, although not crawling, she can scoot about all over the place.

However, she will not sit.

I would far rather she would sit (still, in one place) than roll all around the room chewing on whatever she finds in her way...

Want to swap?

LowLevelWhingeing · 14/02/2010 10:47

I totally agree with thisisyesterday - she will develop perfectly well whether she does tummy time or not. If she likes it fine. If she doesn't, no biggie

SheWillBeLoved · 14/02/2010 11:04

DD absolutely hates being on her tummy, she puts her hands by her sides and flaps around like a toppled over penguin

Loves standing up, and is just getting the hang of sitting unaided, although she has a thing for tossing herself backwards to look around rather than just turn her head

CharlieBoo · 14/02/2010 11:17

My dd hates it!!!! I have persisted a little but she still hates it so have given up. She loves standing up so font think she will crawl. Xx

Original poster

olivo · 14/02/2010 11:18

thank you. I'm having another week of mummy guilt (about my 5th since having DD2 ). i wish i could just enjoy her, rather than bowing to the constant pressures put upon me by others, especially as she will be my last
verity, your'e right, still is good, isuppose. wish DD1 would sit still for all of 3 seconds....
swbl, same as my dd, i recognise the penguin description. she also loves standing up....usually when i want her to sit

OP posts:

mintyfresh · 14/02/2010 20:19

Tummy time is important for developing fine motor skills by strengthening the shoulders and arms. If you can interest her for a little time each day it does help developmentally.

I have a dd with motor difficulties and this was the advice we received from our physio. However, if your dd really hates it then crawling also does this when she gets going!

ForestFire · 14/02/2010 20:20

i had three kids wiht no tummy time

what shit

mathanxiety · 14/02/2010 20:24

None of mine liked tummy time at all. Oldest DD hated it with a passion. She never crawled, just got up and walked one day around 11 months. She loved sitting propped up when she could do it.

itstooruddycold · 14/02/2010 20:45

I really wouldn't worry about all the bumf you read. I had weeks of sleepless nights worrying about my 5mo DS who has slept on his tummy since he was 12 weeks and learnt to roll over; I couldn't keep him on his back for a second, I put him down and as quick as a flash he turned over. I tried tucking him in / sleeping bags / turning him over after he'd gone to sleep, but couldn't make him stay so gave up.
He seems to love being on his tummy and is very strong on his arms/shoulders. He is crawling backwards, well shuffling really so I can't leave him for a second as he backs into or under things.

itsallaboutpootle · 14/02/2010 20:57

My dd (now 5) hated "tummy time" and is a normal functioning child who crawled at 7 months, and walked at 11 months. I think most parenting books should be burnt! If your child is fine otherwise, let her be.

mintyfresh · 14/02/2010 21:07

ForestFire - the OP asked for advice and I am simply saying what I was told by a physio!

ForestFire · 14/02/2010 21:07

i onyl read OP
id say dont do it

Reallytired · 14/02/2010 21:13

I found one way to get my baby to like tummy time was to lie on my bed and then have my baby lie on my chest. She enjoyed the cuddle and the breastfeed.

www.biologicalnurturing.com/pdfs/Colson%202005%20PM%208%2011%2029-32.pdf

FiveGoMadInDorset · 14/02/2010 21:14

Neither of mine had tummy time they hated it, but as soon as they could rollover they both started sleeping on their fronts and still do.

SuperAmoo · 14/02/2010 21:17

reallytired - didn't your baby ever do a wet burp in your face??!! this is why I would never do that!!! euwwww

LeninGrad · 14/02/2010 21:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

peachylovesherpoochy · 14/02/2010 21:35

My DD is nearly 5 months and wails like a banshee if I put her on her tummy and then throws up, so I have given up on it. She sits really well too and has good head control. I figure she will be fine without me bothering her! Is hard not to worry isn't it tho!

SarfEasticated · 14/02/2010 21:53

I was never that keen on my LO doing it as she hated it too. I mentioned it to the cranial osteopath she was seeing at the time and he said that it was very important and to persist with it. Put me in my place I can tell you, as I was expecting him to be very hippy and easy about it! Maybe just do it once a day

Original poster

olivo · 15/02/2010 08:18

Hmm, quite a divide here.thanks, though. maybe i should try it from time to time in the mornings, when she is generally on better form?
I'm liking the sound of lying her on my chest, will try that later.( luckily, her reflux has resolved itself, could have been interesting !)

OP posts:

suitejudyblue · 15/02/2010 09:00

Old fogey alert - I don't remember even hearing the term when I had DCs1 - 3 and DC4 he hated it so I didn't push it with him but did feel vaguely guilty which is daft.
Try to enjoy your DD without worrying about all the things the books tell you to do/not do.

Undutchable · 15/02/2010 09:15

THANK YOU for writing this post - and all the answers! My 6 month old is the same and it's been another stick to beat myself with . I shall relax forthwith.

Now if anyone can help get him onto bottles we'll be sorted .

Undutchable · 15/02/2010 09:15

(I shall still try it a couple of times a day though)

camflower · 16/02/2010 05:59

My ds HATED tt until he was about 4 months old (now nearly 6m). Now I can't get him off his front - he flips over like a pancake, especially when I'm changing his nappy. Grrrr!

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