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Children's health

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Original poster

9 week old HATES tummy time

30 replies

ohlordylord · 10/02/2011 14:57

Due to a operation, I've been slow in doing tummy time with 9 week old DS. He really doesn't like it. We've been doing it every day for about 10 days, as often as possible, and although he can now lie there for a bit without crying, he won't do anything. No amount of toys, lying on floor etc can get him to move his head. The only time it worked is when I moved his head from left to right and then he moved it back.

Any suggestions? He's good on my chest so I'm not overly worried about his muscles but I'd like to see him improve.

Thanks

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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theresapotatoundermysink · 10/02/2011 15:00

Of course he hates tummy time, he's only tiny!

MollysChambers · 10/02/2011 15:02

If he doesn't like it don't do it! My oldest hated tummy time so never had any. She was sitting at 5 months and walking at 10 months. I really don't think it's anything to worry about.

Bertina · 10/02/2011 15:06

Don't put him on his tummy.

He'll like it in his own good time. Enjoy snuggling him on your chest.

theresapotatoundermysink · 10/02/2011 15:11

PFB moment.

It happens to the best of us :).

Original poster

ohlordylord · 10/02/2011 16:07

When I first read all your posts, I got defensive. PFB indeed!

But you're right. (sigh). He'll grow to like it in his own time.

But the HV and the osteopath I go to keep telling me to do it so the guilt kicks in.

OP posts:

BornToFolk · 10/02/2011 16:18

DS hated it too but as he was PFB I felt I should perservere...
Some things that helped:

propping a (baby-safe) mirror up in front of him so he could lift his head and look at himself
putting a rolled up towel under his chest to lift him off the floor a bit
lying him on the bed, with his head off the edge and sitting underneath him singing etc (bit dangerous this one, as I did get puked on more than once!)

He never did crawl though...

gilbonzothesecretpsychoduck · 10/02/2011 16:21

I never did tummy time with my dcs until they could roll over and do it for themselves. Ds crawled at 5 months despite this and dd walked at 10 months so I really don't think it makes all that much difference - a happy, settled baby and a non-stressed mum are the important things.

CharlotteBronteSaurus · 10/02/2011 16:22

dd2 is 15 weeks and we don't do tummy time. i'm sure i read somewhere that carrying them in a sling exercises all the same muscles.

I'm not sure dd1 did tummy time until she could roll onto her tummy of her own accord, and she sat/crawled/walked early.

mosschops30 · 10/02/2011 16:24

I dont understand the need to make a baby do something they dislike. ds2 never went on his tummy because he hated it.
He survived and is now an active toddler

Rule no.1 is 'NEVER TAKE ANY NOTICE OF YOUR HEALTH VISITOR'

reikizen · 10/02/2011 16:26

tummy time my backside, it's such a weird concept to me! How did all these generations of PFBs cope before it was invented. (Btw, I'm now having a go at you ohlordy, just this industry of making parents feel like they should constantly be DOING SOMETHING to get their children to the 'next level'). Didn't do it with either of mine and they just rolled over, crawled etc in their own time.

MarineIguana · 10/02/2011 16:29

Another refuser here. Anytime I try to put DD on her tummy she flops her face onto the ground and screams - so I gave up. She's now almost 11 months and almost walking but won't crawl. DS was similar - neither of them wanted to go on their tummies, or crawl - they just found their own way.

Mine both have very large heads and I think that's maybe why they don't like it - it's uncomfortable. If your DS is the same that might support my theory!

Numberfour · 10/02/2011 20:06

Who the hell thought about tummy time in the first place! I second what reikizen says. If only I had realised this when DS was so little.

QueenOfFlamingEverything · 10/02/2011 20:11

Yeah, I'm with eveyone else

I hate the term 'tummy time' and want to poke the lady who runs the local Sure Start group every week when she trills 'How are we doing with our tummy time then, mummies' [shudder]

Just wait til they learn to roll onto their tummy then they just scream cos they can't roll back again

ethelina · 10/02/2011 20:13

All babies hate tummy time. Don't worry yours will find other ways of not being on his back in a few weeks. At 21 weeks mine will still only out up with 5 mins at most.

sneezecakesmum · 10/02/2011 21:34

Tummy time is very good for babies as it strengthens neck muscles, gets them to use and strengthen the extensor muscles along the back. Is a precurser to crawling (which is very good for teaching reciprocal motion) and helps with fine motor skills. Tummy time on you is just as good, as is cradling them in one arm with your hand under their tummy. It is a very good all over body work out for babies and helps to obtain skills for walking etc.

Having said all that if DS loathes it, apart from trying it now and again, I wouldn't stress either of you out by forcing the issue. Most babies will develop normally without tummy time anyway.

QueenOfFlamingEverything · 10/02/2011 21:45

Yeah but they learn to turn over on their own soon enough - whats the benefit in it before then?

All this just makes me remember the MNer who once said that babies should be born with a label on saying "This Will Develop All On Its Own"

strawberrycake · 10/02/2011 21:48

Mine hated tummy time until he could roll. Not only did he crawl quite early but he also now sleeps in a star shape on his front.

If I'd put him on his belly at 9 weeks the rage would have been instant. In fact if I put him down at all any bloody way round at 9 weeks there would have been rage.

strawberrycake · 10/02/2011 21:50

Oh god queenofeverything- mine is 9 bloody months and has spent the last SIX months able to roll one way but not the other. I believe he now can but realises I'm more efficient as a baby-roller and simply exist to serve his every want and need.

QueenOfFlamingEverything · 10/02/2011 21:52

Ha. Mine is 6 months and has been doing it for the last three. I know he can roll the other way, I have seen the bugger do it, but only the once!

strawberrycake · 10/02/2011 21:54

Mine can sit and pull himself up!!! Still he persists in the I can't get off my belly game. Unless I leave him to get VERY angry and he crawls over and flops back down on his belly in front of me

MoonUnitAlpha · 10/02/2011 21:56

Mine didn't like it so I didn't bother either - by about 5 months he'd tolerate it and now at 6 months he can roll and spends lots of time on his tummy and holding his head up.

Original poster

ohlordylord · 10/02/2011 22:03

ha ha you're all making me laugh! I didn't realise I'd unleash such venom for 'Tummy Time'!

OP posts:

strawberrycake · 10/02/2011 22:10

Lol, soon you'll be enjoying stick-him-on-his-back-stuck-between-two-pillows-for-some-peace time.

InvaderZim · 10/02/2011 22:15

Lots of stuff "counts" for tummy time, such as tiger in the tree, being in a sling, etc.

Guacamole · 10/02/2011 22:21

I'm with reikizen!
My DS hated it, so I gave up. When he learnt to roll onto his tummy he'd go nuts until I turned him back onto his back.
He's now crawling (although admittedly later than his 'friends') and will happily do tummy time when he feels like it.

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