Tummy time for baby - how much and when?

[Holymoly321]

DS is 14 weeks old and I'm just wondering if he's supposed to have tummy time every day. I did used to put him on his front on the play mat for 10 mins a day when he was much younger, but recently he doesn't like it and so I've stopped. It must be a good few weeks now since he's had done it on a regular daily basis. How old was your child when you started tummy time and how often did you do it. DS has very strong head and can hold his head up very well when he's sitting around but cries when I put him on his tummy.

TBH I only did this when I thought of it, and only for about a minute because dd didn't like it.
I've never been sure what it's supposed to do. Strengthening muscles is good, but babies will lift their heads and roll over and sit up and all those things in good time.
How about tummy time on a cushion with a toy within reach?

Both DSs used to lie on their tummies for 5 seconds, throw up and then flop their face into it. We didn't bother after a couple of goes

TBH I'd never heard of it before mumsnet so my kids didn't ever do it!

I tried with the same result as doesntchristmas. In fact he vommed whenever I tried anything that I was supposed to do (the sling, baby massage... etc) I didn't bother again until he rolled over and did it himself.

lol

Didn't do it with DS and he is fine.

Don't do it with DD (13 weeks) as she's not keen either

This is the first I've heard of it. What does it do? Never did it with DS (now 7 months) as he hated being on his tummy. Have I ruined his chances of playing rugby for England already?

I never did it with my first now 15 months as she hated it. Don't they say you should do it so that if they are happy on their front this will encourage them to roll and crawl? Well my DD crawled and rolled quite earlier but never went on her front. I haven't yet put my 8 week old DD on her front and probably won't do it much as she doesn't seem to like it.

My dd hated it, so I didn't do it. She's 5 now, and can walk and hold her head up fine

I didn't deliberately do tummy time, dd chose to do it herself. She was an early roller, at 11 weeks, so when she wanted to be on her tummy she would just roll over onto her tummy. She enjoyed it, but if your ds doesn't then I wouldn't force it. Once he's rolling he'll probably do it for himself when he feels like it.

I wouldn't bother with tummy time if your DS hates it and has good head control. My rather erm domineering HV was insistent that DS had tummy time at that age as his head control was still pretty poor. By the time DS was 7/8 months he loved being on his tummy!

Aviatrix - if only I could have followed your advice and put the HV on her tummy on the playmat

Never heard of tummy time either; what is it for?

Never heard of it!

My mum was v keen on tummy time - apparently I used to love it as a nipper. Ds absolutely loathed it, despite his decent head control at that sort of age.

I wouldn't stress about it if yours doesn't particularly enjoy it. I doubt that human evolution depended on babies being put face down on the floor of the cave tbh.

I don't know about any other context, but tummy time is recommended to avoid flat-head syndrome which has become more common since the SIDS back to sleep campaign. Ds has a slightly flattened area on the back of his head due to preferring this side when sleeping but absolutely hated being put on his tummy ..

Tried it, DD hated it, hardly did any - and she's fine!