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Original poster

Anyone else absolutely hates tummy time?

53 replies

Bluemamma · 28/01/2022 17:22

I have a 4 month old baby and the health visitor just told me I have to do more tummy time with him - she was of course right. Problem is I absolutely hate it, it hurts me to look at poor babies who hate it and cry and seem so uncomfortable. I hated it with my first baby but I did put a lot more effort in it in the end.
With this baby I have to admit I dropped the ball completely- pretty much zero tummy time except on my chest. Now I’ve been trying for the last 4 days but he just hates it and I can’t look at him so I literally do it for 2 mins and now I feel guily. Do your babies like it?

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TheOldLadyOfThreadneedleStreet · 28/01/2022 19:20

I tried with DC1 but only did it a bit, he hated it. He developed normally. I gave up very early on with DC2 as she had reflux and tummy time was just awful for her. She was very late in her physical development, but got there in the end, I think that’s just her rather than lack of tummy time!

Original poster

Bluemamma · 28/01/2022 19:24

Wow thanks everyone, very reassuring and a lot of ideas to try. And to everyone that said that tummy time wasn’t a thing in the past- definitely agree. We all turned up fine didn’t we with no tummy time :). I’ll try a few more times but I’m not going to keep doing it if he doesn’t start to enjoy it. Anyway he is holding his head up just fine! Someone said their baby had reflux so it was hard- same here, he has reflux so he just spit up and is uncomfortable. Anyway thanks everyone il keep trying but no pressure

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PennyDiamond · 28/01/2022 19:27

I had a refluxy baby and didn’t manage much tummy time with her. I seem to remember time in a sling counts as tummy time though.

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TheOpportuneMoment · 28/01/2022 19:36

DS hated tummy time. I tried occasionally and he just screamed. At 4 months he learnt to roll front to back so if I put him down on his tummy he'd immediately flip over. There wasn't much point after that!

GalacticGoddess · 28/01/2022 19:44

I did tummy time with a combo of them laying on top of me looking at me/DH closely which was nice, laying on the floor with me laid in front, some normal where it's just on a play mat

bubbleblower85 · 28/01/2022 19:52

My baby is 6 months and she still hates it, we can't get beyond 4 minutes, I think some babies just don't like it.

Fallagain · 28/01/2022 20:49

@Bluemamma

In the past babies were put on their tummies to sleep. Sling times able counts as tummy time.

xXwhenwillitendXx · 28/01/2022 20:53

My dd hated tummy time so I never really did it, she was sitting unaided at 7 months, crawling at 8 months and took her first steps on her first birthday, she's now 18months and there is no stopping her. She also now always sleeps on her tummy

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 28/01/2022 20:57

Tummy time is bullshit; another way to pile guilt onto mothers... Neither of my two tolerated it, and why should they? I wouldn't like to be told what position I should be in. Let your baby be comfortable, safe and happy. You're doing the best job 💋

myyellowcar · 28/01/2022 21:05

He hated it and I never really did it as a result. I used to feel guilty about it but a few years later and it literally did not matter at all.

scg18 · 28/01/2022 21:12

Mine hated it but we got a water mat and he likes that and he now seems fine with it, he just gets frustrated because he can't get anywhere yet (5 months). I agree with others though, especially with reflux, do what is comfortable and if you really want to get more do some of the holding/flying baby round on tummy in arms/on legs etc

DiddyHeck · 28/01/2022 21:17

I have a 4 month old baby and the health visitor just told me I have to do more tummy time with him - she was of course right.

Huh? Why 'of course'? I just had to Google 'Tummy Time' because I didn't even know what it was and I've got 3 adult DC. It wasn't a thing then and I doubt it's a thing to get worked up over today.

CLeighannHxo · 28/01/2022 21:18

I just want to add that my HV told me that "tummy time" is actually just time where baby is not laid flat on their back, she told me that it was introduced when the rules changed to babies being put to sleep on their back due to cot deaths which resulted from babies being put to sleep on their front (which was actually recommended years ago). She told me that tummy time was introduced to reduce babies getting flat heads due to always being on their backs.
So anytime where baby is not laid flat on their backs is tummy time really.

PinkSyCo · 28/01/2022 21:23

just want to add that my HV told me that "tummy time" is actually just time where baby is not laid flat on their back, she told me that it was introduced when the rules changed to babies being put to sleep on their back due to cot deaths which resulted from babies being put to sleep on their front (which was actually recommended years ago). She told me that tummy time was introduced to reduce babies getting flat heads due to always being on their backs. So anytime where baby is not laid flat on their backs is tummy time really.*

Ah now this is interesting and makes perfect sense. I will now tell my DD not to worry too much as my DGS spends quite a lot of time of time in a sling.

Allhallowseve · 28/01/2022 21:30

I didn't do it with any of mine all walking before 11 months and sat up and crawled way before that .

Namechangegardens · 29/01/2022 22:05

Honestly I have a 4 month old and completely let it slip for first 8 weeks, HV got worried about head support, i got incredible mum guilt about not doing it enough and tried to get into the habit but he HAAAAAAAAATED it so so much.

Once I got reassurance from GP about head control I just stopped doing tummy time. He's now 4 months and holds his head up like a pro - not rolling yet but I know it'll come.

He got a lot more enjoyment out of being held upright on my lap and gradually learning head control that way, may be worth a try?

Timeturnerplease · 29/01/2022 22:20

DD1 had approximately five minutes of tummy time in her entire life. The few attempts basically went lay her on tummy, turn around to grab enticing toy, hear choke and scream, realise DD has projectile puked, put her in the bath and mat in the washing machine.

She’s 3 now and seems to move like a normal human. She’s very clumsy but that’s more due to the fact that she can’t even walk across a room without talking at 532mph.

Allpenguinsarepingus · 29/01/2022 23:01

I think time in a sling or baby carrier counts, at least in terms of avoiding flat spots on the back of the head.

shivawn · 29/01/2022 23:23

Mine doesn't mind it for a few minutes at a time, he works really hard at it. I could probably leave him on his tummy for longer because he doesn't cry but I normally stop when I feel like he's exerting himself too much. It makes me uncomfortable when he starts going red and grunting from the effort. I've been doing it since I brought him home from hospital and he's 14 weeks old now.

WobbleHead · 30/01/2022 06:43

My 4mo hates it instil I started showing him Hey Brar YouTube videos for a minute or two on my phone held in front of him. The only thing that holds his attention enough. It’s also reassuring people saying it’s not that important as we’re surely only doing 3-5 mins of it a day still.

FTEngineerM · 30/01/2022 06:51

DS1: hated it, we didn’t bother, sat at 6m, crawling at 9m and walking at 1.
DS2: falls asleep if our ok belly and tired. Cries if our on belly but wants to be awake. So fuck that, again, and I’m sure it’ll be fine.

LapinR0se · 30/01/2022 06:54

@Bluemamma does your baby have a flat spot on his head?

SweetPotatoDumpling · 30/01/2022 07:17

Definitely wasn't a thing when I had my babies (90s). Both walked at 10 months...and are now strapping, healthy young women 👍

Original poster

Bluemamma · 30/01/2022 08:03

@LapinR0se no, no flat spots. My first son had a significant flat head syndrome that’s why I was putting so much effort in tummy time- he is now almost 3 with a perfect round head.
@Namechangegardens - that’s what I do. I hold him on my lap I sitting position and he loves looking around and holds his head like a pro.
The HV just put him on his tummy during the check up and he just started crying and struggling becouse he hates it so that’s why she criticised me and said he should be much much better at it and should be doing it with no problems

OP posts:

RedToothBrush · 30/01/2022 09:02

Sorry but i think the whole 'you should do more tummy time' is utterly ridiculous.

Ds hated it. It was one of the few things he got really distressed at.

So i refused to do it.

He was absolutely fine. He instead started moving on his back very early, then cruised early and eventually walked when he could be arsed. He never crawled. He was mobile enough on his back and bum shuffling so didn't see the need.

I honestly think health visitors come out with a giantic amount of crap that only makes you feel awful.

Trust your instincts on this one. If its not working for you, you don't have to do it. It doesn't make you a bad mother.

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