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Parenting

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Original poster

Lack of tummy time has impacted my baby

152 replies

knitting774 · 30/03/2021 10:09

My DS has always hated tummy time, crying whenever he was put on his front. Because of this I gave up trying and now, at 11 months, he’s behind on his gross motor skills.

I blame myself for not continuing the tummy time and picking him up when he got upset. I should have left him on his tummy to figure it all out and build up muscle strength, rather than giving in.

I’m so worried that he still can’t crawl or get into sitting position from lying down. I decided to really work on the tummy time and made myself do 20 minutes a day with him every day in March, but it hasn’t made a difference.

He will slide backwards on his tummy and slowly rotate around on his stomach, but can’t get on all fours.

I have to entertain him constantly whilst he’s on his tummy - he’s fine (just about) when being entertained but as soon as I stop he starts crying.

Is there anything else I could or should be doing? I’m at a loss and am feeling so anxious about it. I’m also beating myself up that I didn’t try harder from day 1.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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mathanxiety · 30/03/2021 20:16

What centile is he for weight?

Original poster

knitting774 · 30/03/2021 21:47

Last time he was weighed at about 6 months old he was around the 70th.

I’ve been Googling and have scared myself silly with what has come up. What if it’s something serious?

I honestly don’t think I can cope with this worry any more.

OP posts:

Vicky1989x · 30/03/2021 21:53

My DD hated tummy time so I rarely done it either. She didn’t roll until 8.5 months but began army crawling a week ago (she’s almost 11 months). She can’t get on all fours, doesn’t pull herself up and can’t get herself into a sitting position though.

I’m not worried, she’ll do it when she’s ready. Some babies are slower on motor skills but are faster with other skills.

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BananaPie · 30/03/2021 21:56

Please don’t worry. All babies develop at their own pace. Not doing tummy time won’t have caused a problem.

My DS was eventually diagnosed with dyspraxia. He hated tummy time too! He was very delayed in gross motor skills. He never crawled and stood independently and walked for the first time at almost 2 years old. We did have physio from around 18 months to help with some gross motor skills. He is almost 11 now and although the dyspraxia will never go away, he is happy and developing well.

Worth keeping an eye on things. We picked it up fairly late, but probably little that could have been done sooner.

bloodywhitecat · 30/03/2021 22:08

By "not weight bearing" do you mean he puts no weight through his legs even when being held upright or do you mean he doesn't stand holding on to furniture etc?

Original poster

knitting774 · 30/03/2021 22:14

By "not weight bearing" do you mean he puts no weight through his legs even when being held upright or do you mean he doesn't stand holding on to furniture etc?

@bloodywhitecat I tried holding him in the standing position earlier. He sort of bends and straightens his legs as if he’s in the Jumperoo, and will put weight through his legs for a second or two, but then he will just sink down. He also stands on tiptoes rather than flat feet.

There’s no way he could stand holding onto furniture.

OP posts:

Original poster

knitting774 · 30/03/2021 22:19

He also has his legs in frog’s legs position when doing tummy time, which I don’t think is normal? Shouldn’t they be straight behind him?

OP posts:

katienana · 30/03/2021 22:23

I apparently took steps aged 6 months, my sons however- the eldest was 12 months when he started walking, then he caught a cold and stopped walking for about a month! He was then up and away quite quickly. Youngest was 17 months when he walked unaided. Both boys are exceptionally tall and heavy. Youngest has really good coordination and ball skills, they are both good with fine motor stuff too.
It's nothing you've done so stop beating yourself up. If there's nothing wrong then baby will develop at own pace, but just in case go to gp or health visitor with your concerns. You can't help worrying, but blaming yourself is a waste of time.

Original poster

knitting774 · 30/03/2021 22:34

I do blame myself massively. I thought it was enough just to put DS on his mat with his toys as I thought babies naturally figured these things out for themselves. How wrong I was.

OP posts:

dementedpixie · 30/03/2021 22:37

It's nothing to do with what you have or haven't done so stop blaming yourself

lavenderlou · 30/03/2021 22:40

While I think you should get your DS checked out, please don't blame yourself. Tummy time is useful for strengthening neck muscles but lack of tummy time is not likely to cause significant effect on overall development. My DC both had reflux and hated tummy time so we didn't do it at all. They both sat early, were weight-bearing early and walked at 12 months. If your DS does have any delay with his motor skills development (and he might not - there is such a wide range of normal development) it's unlikely it was due to a lack of tummy time.

LifesLittleDeciders · 30/03/2021 22:41

My DD hates tummy time and I gave up with it by 7 months.

She was walking at 9 months. It’s not the tummy time.

While you baby might not be doing something you thought they should have by now; it’s because there brain is focused on something else they’re learning and it takes almost all of their brain power to work it out, babies learn one thing at a time.
So while you baby isn’t focused on movement, they’re probably focused on your speech or the way you do things, so they may be talking earlier than walking.

Please don’t worry.

lavenderlou · 30/03/2021 22:44

To add, neither of my DC ever rolled either. I was quite concerned about it at the time but it has had zero long-term effects. One of them is even a competitive gymnast.

Pinchoftums · 30/03/2021 22:44

My DS hated tummy time and didn't crawl until his first birthday. He spoke late too. He has just come back from football and the coach came and told me how impressed he was with his agility and speed. Don't stress! Get him checked out but it could be nothing at all.

Original poster

knitting774 · 30/03/2021 22:45

Is it worth me continuing with the tummy time then, given that he really doesn’t like it? I was hoping it would help him start to crawl?

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2bazookas · 30/03/2021 22:47

@knitting774

Things he can pull himself up on.

I don’t have anything he can pull himself up on. I’m not sure what to get!

You don't have low arm chairs or a sofa ?

StrawberryCreamCake · 30/03/2021 22:48

Don't beat yourself up about it - babies all do things at different times. A couple of months seems like a big deal now but won't when they are 10 years old or 18 years old.

How long do you leave him on the floor though? I've never done tummy time with DS but he's crawling and standing by himself at 8 months. Honestly I think it's just because all babies do different things at different times and also because I've just left him on the floor to get on with it since he's been about 6 months.

With his sister I held her all the time because she was my first. This time I don't really pick DS up a lot. Of course I give him loads of cuddles and kisses and also he's still breastfed so I pick him up then. But for most of the day I just make sure he's dressed in warm clothes and put him down on the floor. It's a hard wood floor as well but he's only bumped his head a few times.

He just spends most of the day moving about the room and practicing standing.

Just set him down on the floor and let him explore. Put toys out of his reach and he'll practice how to move to get there.

Original poster

knitting774 · 30/03/2021 22:58

Just set him down on the floor and let him explore. Put toys out of his reach and he'll practice how to move to get there.

@StrawberryCreamCake I have tried this but he tends to get frustrated and start crying, at which point I’ve always given up and just moved the toys closer to him!

OP posts:

2bazookas · 30/03/2021 23:01

@knitting774

Is it worth me continuing with the tummy time then, given that he really doesn’t like it? I was hoping it would help him start to crawl?

You don't have to or train him to crawl; (or roll or sit up or stand or walk). Babies do all that in their own time, when they are ready, and there is no correct time. It varies hugely and has nothing to do with intelligence

   Don't constantly compare your baby (or yourself) to other babies (and mothers).  Enjoy him just as he is, enjoy every stage  as long as it lasts and don't keep wishing it away . They grow up so

fast and you'll never get this precious baby stage back again, so treasure it.

Embracelife · 30/03/2021 23:11

Talk to hv and maybe book a session with a paediatric physiotherapist
You have made a diagnosis of "delay" by comparison. That s not tge way to diagnose....
Get a professional to assess and advise you properly.

Don't make him do 20 minutes of tummy .short bursts maybe unless a physio advises you otherwise

Original poster

knitting774 · 30/03/2021 23:12

They grow up so fast and you'll never get this precious baby stage back again, so treasure it.

I’m trying to, but my worries are taking over. If only I could know that he will be okay.

OP posts:

Embracelife · 30/03/2021 23:12

And don't move toys to him...motivate him to roll snd move to them

Embracelife · 30/03/2021 23:13

Get him assessed properly if you worried.

Embracelife · 30/03/2021 23:13

What does ok mean?
Does he react to you?
Smile?
Laugh?

Jent13c · 30/03/2021 23:28

He will be due his 12 month review soon. They will assess him against what is normal for a 12 month old NOT what your friends babies are doing. The vast majority of mums who tell you these stories about everything their babies are doing are exaggerating, mostly because they have been made to feel the same way by someone else and need to prove that their babies are doing all the right things.

Our HV use the ASQ which you can google for his age and see what kind of things they are looking for. You'll see its not a pass or fail thing, its a look at what areas your baby might need some support in. Every single child scores higher in some parts than other so realistically your baby may score as needing support in gross motor but may be more advanced in fine motor.

For tummy time you could lie him down (with a rolled up towel under his chest if he hates being flat) and put yourself in front of him flat on the floor and sing. Or in front of a mirror. Lying on top of you is also strengthening the neck muscles

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