How much floor time?

[stroop]

My baby is 5 months and doesn't seem anywhere near rolling.

During her awake hours, she goes out with me in her pram, she goes in her jumperoo and her bouncer, and sometimes sits on the sofa. We don't do a lot of floor time as it's a faff to set up in our (wooden floor) livingroom.

Should we be doing more floor time? How much floor time do you do with your babies?

You're not a terrible mother, of course, but the fact is it's not good at all for their development to be in a jumperoo or bouncer most of the time and for 'floor time' to be something special rather than the default. Bouncers restrict the freedom of movement they need to be able to try out their motor skills, and they're not good for their hips or spines. We never had one.

Cheap play rug from Ikea (maybe one of those ones with streets etc on so she can play on it with toy cars etc later on), job done. :)

Yes, I’d definitely do more time on the floor. We just got a big blanket and laid it down on our hard floors. If they aren’t sitting or walking, there’s no risk of injury really and the more time the better. I didn’t do as much with my dd but my ds (2nd) was on the floor most of the day from 3-4 months (as it was the safest place to put him while I ran around after his sister, did some work, etc). He started crawling at 5.5 months and I definitely think he wouldn’t have been if not given the chance. I don’t think you have to do it a set time each day, but I’d aim to use the floor first before the bouncer, swing, etc. and only use those as a last ditch effort when you really need to keep her contained while you get dinner prepared or cleaning done or whatever.

www.janetlansbury.com/2009/09/set-me-free/

I find this website has some interesting articles on the subject. I'm more an 'everything in moderation' sort of parent, but jumperoos and walkers have always seemed counterproductive to me.

My point abput tummy time was really about forcing it when baby not ready. The idea that you MUST do it from tiny is silly in my opinion. There are other ways for baby to develop strength in upper body inc being held in sling. I think the jury is still out on this one with some believing you should let baby do it when ready. As soon as my baby could roll at five months he flipped over on his tummy and loved tummy time. I had been trying to force it previously and it just upset my baby.

As far as sticking on back is concerned, there’s also advice that suggests when babies are tiny we need a range of positions to avoid flat head syndrome as this has risen due to safe sleep advice.

There’s so much advice out there and it can be difficult to navigate. My point really was to reassure op that I am sure her baby will be fine and she’s not a bad mother. As op has said she is going to give baby more time on the floor.

As regards to jumperoos and walkers, I believe in everything in moderation. My baby goes in jumperoo every morning whilst I drink my coffee and then he has his breakfast. In the day he mainly crawls around and plays in his baby prison and also has quite a bit of time sitting in his chair before and after meals. At night before bed he has a go on his walker. I think as long as you don’t use these contraptions excessively then it should be fine.

Before I get flamed, I would let him have free crawling time but my sitting room is not yet baby proof. We are sorting out the sitting room soon. But he does get a bit of free crawling when I pack up baby gym and I can keep picking him up when he gets near hazards. He also likes to have a clamber on my bed in the morning and on me during the day. It’s all good

Op have you considered a baby gym. Something for baby to play with whilst lying on his back- mine has grown out of his now- but loved his until around 6/7 months.

You're not a terrible mother at all OP!
I found baby yoga really beneficial to helping with my DS rolling etc as it helps with their core strength and teaches you things you can do with them at home - obviously this isn't necessary, just something we have found fun and maybe something extra you may want to do to help your baby with rolling you're doing great, mamma!

A big blanket is fine too.