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Original poster

Tummy time fail!

86 replies

SallyMischievo · 17/04/2015 09:52

4 month old DD really doesn't like being on her tummy and will cry after a couple of minutes of being placed on it. I dangle a toy or roll a ball whilst making encouraging noises but she squirms and sobs so I end up rolling her back onto her back or picking her up and giving her a cuddle. Consequently she still can't lie on her tummy with her head held up and I worry that she is not going to be strengthening her neck and shoulder muscles and won't enjoy learning to crawl. We are supposed to be focusing on massaging our baby's back at our baby massage class next week and I just know that DD will kick off! Any tips would be amazing and very gratefully received!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Ifyourawizardwhydouwearglasses · 17/04/2015 09:54

Some babies just don't like it. She will, eventually, but if it's stressing her out then just leave it for a week or so.

Her neck and shoulders will strengthen regardless

hobNong · 17/04/2015 09:55

One thing I read online is to lie your baby on top of your tummy. So do tummy time on you if you see what I mean.

Another was to roll up a towel or something so they have a slight incline where their head is. (Maybe google that one as I'm not sure I'm explaining it well.)

Above all I think don't worry!! She will get there eventually. I was convinced my dd was behind on loads of things, then I discovered babies at a group we go to weren't doing things she'd been doing for a while... I think it all evens out and they all get there in the end.

SunnyBaudelaire · 17/04/2015 09:56

please do not talk about your tiny baby or yourself 'failing'.
Babies neck and shoulders strengthen anyway! I never even heard of 'tummy time' but mine are 16 now.

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MrsPeabody · 17/04/2015 09:58

Many don't realise that if you have your baby upright in your arms/sling it works the same muscles as tummy time. For baby massage, sit with your back supported (against wall with cushion), bend your knees slightly and lay her on them, facing away from you. The elevation gives her something to look at while you are massaging. Hope that makes sense.

qumquat · 17/04/2015 09:59

Dd never had tummy time and has managed to crawl and walk just fine. Don't worry!

forago · 17/04/2015 10:00

I have 3 DC all of whom hated tummy time. ds1 never even rolled over. I gave up trying after dc2. They are absolutely fine - both do gymnastics, football and cricket and always running about, on trampoline etc. I'm not entirely convinced its as essential as made out - assuming all other developmental milestones being made etc

hobNong · 17/04/2015 10:00

This link has tips including the rolled up towel thing. My dd hated it too (seems like that's common) but she was fine lying on me, I just hadn't been counting that as tummy time until I read it online.

GlitterTwinkleToes · 17/04/2015 10:01

Please don't stress out. My DD hated tummy time so I didn't do it with her. She's hitting all her milestones perfectly, and I have no worries with her. Carrying her and supporting her is the best thing you can do if she actively dislikes it.

hobNong · 17/04/2015 10:01

And btw the rolled up towel thing didn't really work for my dd... I know I've mentioned it about 3 times lol so only fair to give a warning!

As others have said, I don't think tummy time is as essential as they make out.

Primaryteach87 · 17/04/2015 10:03

Tummy time was invented to counter babies spending lots & lots of time on their backs (which in yesteryear wouldn't have happened as babies were carried about and slept in their fronts). If she doesn't like it, put her in a sling:"/carry her upright where she will naturally be getting opportunities to practise moving/holding her neck.

TheTravellingLemon · 17/04/2015 10:04

I have a good tip that helps with tummy time, but not in time for your class unfortunately. Take her swimming if you can. The position that you hold the baby in the water uses the same muscles as tummy time and the water is lovely and calming so there's rarely tears after they get used to it.

I'll see if I can explain the positioning in words, but it might be a bit confusing!

Stand with your arms straight, but relaxed and form a 'V' with your thumbs. Use the 'V' to support DD's chin so it can't dip under and the rest of your hands to support the her upper body. She should be sort of flat on the water, like if you were floating. Then walk backwards with her for a couple of minutes. When she looks tired, pick her up and let her chill for a few minutes, then try it again. The key with it is to start slowly, so lots of cuddles, smiles and reassurance. Sometimes they cry at first, but don't be put off, it's only because it's new, she'll enjoy it in the end.

Hope that's helpful.

Hakluyt · 17/04/2015 10:06

Nobody had heard of tummy time when mine were little- there doesn't seem to have been an epidemic of non crawling, non walking teenagers.........

TheTravellingLemon · 17/04/2015 10:24

Hakluyt no, it's only a thing since advice was to put babies only on their backs. A consequence of this change in advice was that the neck and back muscles weren't developing as well as they were previously. So parents are now advised to let DC spend time on their tummies to encourage the development of those muscles.

Hakluyt · 17/04/2015 10:35

Well, the advice was definitely on their backs when mine were little- so not that long ago!

Who did the research?

squizita · 17/04/2015 10:40

Tummy time isn't pushed as a required thing, just a good thing, because although it's good the majority of babies develop their backs and limbs fine without it.
Those who might be slower aren't "problem" slower iyswim - they still fall into the normal range.

Original poster

SallyMischievo · 17/04/2015 10:44

Many thanks for the reassurance and fab advice, all. Lots of things to try!

OP posts:

Grantaire · 17/04/2015 10:51

I never bothered. Neither of mine liked it and were both rolling by 12 weeks so even if I put them on their tummies, they rolled back over immediately.

They both lived in the sling and spent v little time on their backs. No problems. Both walking by 10 months.

ShesAStar · 17/04/2015 13:19

Mine both hated it so I didn't do it. They are 6 and 3 now and have always been fit and strong. It didn't make any difference to anything.

geekymommy · 17/04/2015 13:28

DD didn't like tummy time until she was able to push up on her arms. She did learn to crawl, and loved that.

BlacknWhitePanda · 17/04/2015 13:38

Baby massage for their backs can be done with you holding them so you don't have to worry about your DD not going on her belly for that.
Ds hated tummy time at first.. I used to lean him up against me or a cushion at first, now he can tolerate tummy time for a little bit.
Some babies don't like it at all but don't have an issue so don't worry. Each ones different.

RevoltingPeasant · 17/04/2015 14:01

OP DD disliked tummy time but then a mum who is a physio at baby group told me about putting a firm cushion under her chest and "stacking" her arms so her fists are beneath her chest (not shoulders but chest).

This gives her a really strong support and she is suddenly fascinated by the new angle she can see the world from! She keeps saying "a-gurrh?" in a tone of wonderment!

But I watch for signs of fussiness and flip her over ASAP as I don't want her to associate it with crying.

NoMontagues · 17/04/2015 14:06

I got a telling off by the public health nurse (similar to HV) for DS's neck tone at his 3 month check up. I admit I hadn't really been doing tummy time with him as he hated it and would usually get sick after a couple of minutes anyway.

The public health nurse advised a couple of minutes on his tummy after every nappy change, instead of trying to do longer stretches say once or twice a day.

So after every nappy change I'd flip him over on the changing unit, go to the end where he could see me and rattle a toy around so he would look up at it and over to the side. Once his neck was a bit stronger he did longer stretches on his tummy on the floor.

At his 7 month check she said his tone was "excellent".

toomuchtooold · 17/04/2015 14:43

Mine hated it. 30 seconds max and then they would start crying, so I stopped bothering. (They weren't slow to crawl or walk). There's only about a 3 and half week window between when you're supposed to do tummy time and when they start rolling over anyway, at which point they are getting plenty of head and neck strengthening as they usually flip themselves over just as the doorbell rings and then go nuts trying to flip back over without help

Hakluyt · 17/04/2015 15:16

You know I can't find any information about what sort of delay we're talking about. Presumably people carry their babies about- they don't leave them
lying on their backs 24/7......?

RedToothBrush · 17/04/2015 15:23

Its utter bollocks! Don't worry.

DS HATED it. So I didn't do it.

Then he learnt to roll over. Then he realised 'ooh I want that I can't reach it' and learnt to crawl. In the space of 3 weeks. He's 7 and a half months and on the verge of walking. He's climbing everything. This is early, so if no tummy time slows development I'm bloody relieved!!!

If they want something they will learn to crawl just fine. I don't see the point in forcing the issue if they don't like tummy time. Just let them work it out in their own time.

Its a marathon not a sprint.

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