Tummy time

[newmomof1]

Hi all

Quick one: health visitor has told me we should start doing tummy time with baby from 3m+, but all the literature we've been given says to start 'soon after birth'.

We did try tummy time (before HV told me it's 3 months) and LO already tries to use her legs to push herself along.

When did you start having tummy time with LO?

I can’t remember exactly but before 3 months. Our health visitor told us to start as early as possible. We used to lie with him on our chest tummy to tummy and on the feeding pillow with a light that changed colour in front of him. We only did a couple of minutes a time but built up gradually.

Did she maybe mean 3weeks+? We did tummy time pretty much straight away. I wouldnt wait 3 months, defo start it. Worked for DS, he was crawling at 6 months and sleeps on his tummy now, i think its more comfortable for his reflux bless him

Babies born at full term with no health issues can start tummy time as soon as their first day home from the hospital—so long as they are both awake and alert and haven’t just fed! I started within the first couple of days, but for no longer than a few minutes at a time.

Do you babywear at all?
It has the same physical effects on baby’s development as tummy time as they are essentially in the same position - so I guess mine both had “tummy time” that way from about 2 days old.

The midwife put DD on her tummy at one day old and she loved it! So tummy time right from the start here.

We did tummy time from birth too.

The earlier the better...time on your chest counts when they’re tiny (but only if you’re lying flat) ...but you do need to progress to a firmer surface after a while.

‘tummy time’ helps with all kinds of things, such as bladder control (later on!) and getting the internal organs working properly aiding digestion. Obviously upper and lower body strength and gaining the skills to move around.

Little and often when they’re tiny, increasing in time as they grow.

Your HV needs more training, delaying until 3 months is bad advice.

We did it from day 1. By three months DD was properly holding head up and had great head and neck control.

Thanks for your responses - i did assume the literature was right!

We've been doing tummy time from around week 2 as HV only told me otherwise yesterday, but we will continue doing tummy time - thanks all!

As the parent of a 7.5 month old who STILL screams hysterically and vomits everywhere within minutes of being on her tummy, I’d say if your baby is happy go for it ASAP. Mine’s got no chance of crawling, and all the poor girl wants is to be on the move 😩