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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 play no fun??

20 replies

Eva2010 · 24/03/2010 20:35

My almost 3months bubs is a happy baby and enjoys playing but when i try and get her to play on her front she most of the time gets distressed and cries....

are there some babies that just don't like it? Or should i keep persisting?

As i know its important for their development and prevent flat head...I have tried getting toys to interest her and distract her which sometimes works and i talk to her but it only lasts for a few minutes, anyone got any ideas....

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mumblecrumble · 24/03/2010 20:37

My daughter Never enjoyed 'tummy time' and Never readlly did it. She is now a happy and healthy 2 year old with a lovely round head.

Just go with her

BessieBoots · 24/03/2010 20:37

No ideas sorry, just to say my 6 month old will tolerate tunny time for 5 mins max... I think it annoys him that he can't see as much as when he's on his back/in his bouncer/ on the bumbo.

Original poster

Eva2010 · 24/03/2010 20:48

so should i just do it until she gets upset?

how can u encourage babies to roll over?

BessieBoots what age did u put ur baby in the bumbo as she really enjoys sitting up and she can support her head and shoulders for a while...hold on is the bumbo that plastic seat thing or something else my brain has gone to mush....

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tethersend · 24/03/2010 20:53

My DD used to lie face down crying into the carpet. I soon stopped bothering with it- and she still learned to roll.

BessieBoots · 24/03/2010 20:54

Yes the bumbo is the plastic seat thingy. They're allowed in it from when they can support their head, but I waited a bit longer... Give it a go!

vidia · 24/03/2010 20:57

Neither of mine liked it so I didn't do it. They are now 4 and 2 with no ill effects.

Original poster

Eva2010 · 24/03/2010 21:00

yep i will give the bumbo a try she is much happier sitting up and seeing the world! I think i will keep trying tummy time but change her position when she starts crying.

What ages did ur babies roll and sit independently?

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pookamoo · 24/03/2010 21:03

I hardly bothered with tummy time and DD rolled over when she was about 5 months old.

One tip is to put the baby on your bed, quite close to the edge and then you sit on the floor so you are face to face with them and talk / play with them.

Obviously you never leave them alone when they are on the bed etc.

It's not nice when they don't like it - the first time DD was put on her tummy, the Health Visitor did it on one of her early visits and she just plonked her face down on the carpet and wailed! I turned her right over!

Original poster

Eva2010 · 24/03/2010 21:10

great idea, def try out ur bed tip...thank u.

They cant be learning and be happy if they r distressed well thats what I think so i am like u and would turn her over.

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TottWriter · 24/03/2010 21:24

My DS (now almost 2) absolutely hated 'tummy time', so we didn't really bother. He didn't think much of those bumbo things either tbh (he's an utter fidget), so until he could sit up (which he was hopeless at until 8 or 9 months, near enough - he kept trying to stand instead...) we had him in a baby bouncer. (Those fabric ones which stand alone and they 'lie' on, not the ones which attach to the door.) He was in there from when he was big enough to not rattle around - before that he just lay on his back a lot, when he wasn't up being cuddled.

His head is fine. And once he could roll over by himself he didn't mind it quite as much. But I can't remember now at what point he did that, only that the first time it took him about half an hour of relentless trying.

lisbey · 24/03/2010 21:27

My DS1 hated being on his front and could walk before he rolled over.

He loved lying on his back under the baby gym and the bouncy chair with things to bash strung across the front.

Don't remember there being so much pressure to have tummy time then though, although rolling over was a big thing and I worried a lot.

Perfectly normal 9 yo now

Shaz10 · 24/03/2010 21:29

My son loves tummy time, doesn't roll! (8 months)

CrystalQueen · 24/03/2010 21:35

A midwife told me that the flat head thing is only a problem if they spend all their time on their back. So as long as you are picking her up and generally doing things with her, I wouldn't worry about it. FWIW my daughter hated tummy time, figured out how to roll from her front to back quite early on and took ages to go the other way.

Firawla · 24/03/2010 22:03

neither of mine keen on it either, no need to force it really if they dont like it. you can just keep trying her every now and again, if she doesnt like it still then pick her up from it straight away, and i dont think u have 2 worry about it. my ds1 never rolled till after he could crawl, i dont really see the big deal about rolling

Original poster

Eva2010 · 24/03/2010 22:18

Thank u, u have all have stopped me from worrying about it, my dad has jus said 'maybe she doesnt like laying on her pop belly' ...lol,I think i need to try and chill out about these milestones...

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cyteen · 24/03/2010 22:24

I was the same with my DS - he hated tummy time with a passion and didn't roll until after he could crawl (about 10mo). But he sat beautifully by 6mo, was very dextrous with food etc...they are all so different.

He's now 20mo, perfectly agile, with a massive round head

Octaviapink · 25/03/2010 11:54

Tummy time isn't essential for development - they learn to do all the movement things anyway and to be honest the longer they're immobile the easier your life will be!

Bumpsadaisie · 25/03/2010 12:38

DD (9 mths) hates tummy time still and won't crawl, though I think she could do so if she wanted as she is strong enough. But she likes bum shuffling and standing up. She knows Mummy and Daddy don't crawl and I just don't think it occurs to her that crawling is a sensible way of going about your business! I don't blame her - I hate crawling too (went through a period of trying to "demonstrate" crawling to her - what an idiot, mummy!)

DD is able to roll over, easily, even though she never ever did tummy time for longer than 20 secs. But even though she can, she never does, as she is always sitting up!

Don't worry about it - they all do different things. Friends of DDs have been crawling for ages but on the other hand are not nearly as good at standing, eating and babbling as DD.

DDs friend was crawling at 5 months and walking at 10 months. Amazing to see - but when it comes to eating, he is still on purees and very fussy. Whereas DD is feeding herself grown up food that's just been mashed up a bit and eats everything with gusto! You should have seen her go at chicken curry and broccoli last night.

Swings and roundabouts. If your DC is good at one thing there will be something else that they are not so good at. There is only so much time in the day, poor things!

DawnAS · 25/03/2010 20:52

My DD hated tummy time and now, at 9 mo, she has a very flat head . I really wish that I'd persevered.

We were referred to a paediatrician last week and he checked the assymetry of her head, which is fine. So now we have to just wait (could be years) for the head to right itself.

I would say that as long as your DD is not on her back, don't worry too much, but please take heed of our experience... Every LO is different, but unfortunately we learnt the hard way that we should have done things differently.

Original poster

Eva2010 · 26/03/2010 07:34

Thank u for sharing your advice and experiences!!!

She did do 5 mins yesterday and she was happy and then cried so just gna do it everyday and change her position when she has had enough. At the mo she is more interested in holding things and batting for things which she cant do on her tummy.

HV's r very big on it 'slp on their back, play on their front' is their slogan.

im a first time mum fink i gotta chill and take HV advice wiv a pinch of salt and just go with my instincts.

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