How to encourage tummy time?

[Alb22xx]

DS is nearly 4 months and has hated tummy time since day 1. He’s quite strong with his neck but I worried as he can’t hold it up fully while in a supportive seat (the mamas and papas one)

He sometimes tilts but he can move his head freely without frustration so I’ve got no worries about torticollis or neck muscle!

From day 1 if I try tummy time he cries into the surface he’s on. I’ve tried everything to encourage and distract him but when he gets worked up I just stop it

Now I’m worried he needs to be holding his head more and I need to try tummy time to get his neck muscles strong (I currently get him to turn side to side to do some exercises)

Any ideas please? As soon as he cries it breaks me and I stop it - I’ve tried so much over the past few months

I’d stop trying, he’s so young, he sounds strong, you’re obviously doing plenty with him. They all develop at their own speed. I know it’s difficult not to compare with other children but he’ll find his way.

Try laying him over your knee, one of mine screamed on the floor but fine over knee. Also don't get too stressed about it they'll do things in their own time. I have 3 dc and all tollerated tummy time at different ages.

Back in Ye Olde Days... My dc didn't do tummy time. Ds still walked at 9 months
. And not with his head lolling about
. New fangled nonsense!!

Another way is for you to lay on the bed or sofa and lay them tummy down on your chest (my favourite form of tummy time

@Justyouwaitandseeagain

Another way is for you to lay on the bed or sofa and lay them tummy down on your chest (my favourite form of tummy time

Also this. If you start noticing he’s probably doing it anyway. If he’s breastfed he’ll be holding his head up.

Don’t do anything you’re both finding distressing. His neck and whole body will be growing and getting stronger every day.

Please do not worry about this - it is just something else for you to beat yourself up about. Generation upon generation upon generation of babies have not had "tummy time" and they they were and are all just fine.

Truly, there really are plenty of things to worry about as a parent but this is not one of them! What your baby needs is for you to relax and enjoy him! Better on his back with a smiling face in front of him!!

Pretty sure he won't be walking around at 18years old unable to lift his head.
In all seriousness, I used to worry about this with my first baby. He was fine. Second baby didn't bother at all. They naturally strengthen it themselves mostly.

Mine hated it. I never pushed them to do it. They cried so much I thought it would be cruel to carry on. They’re absolutely fine now, youngest is crawling about and pulling themselves up at 10 months. They’ll do it in their own time, please don’t beat yourself up about it and there is no need to push them to do it.

I do most of mine with DD as pp has said, lying down with Dd on my chest. She also does a fair bit of it when breastfeeding as I quite like lying down for that as well! Apparently sling time counts as well, and have started carrying her round at home in a tiger in the tree hold which also counts (and seems to soothe her when she is fussy).

Until the last couple of days she was just face planting if put down on a surface… getting better now though especially with a small cushion under her chest (one that came with her play mat).

Unless they spend ALL their time lying on their back I think it’s fine!

Sorry.Call me an old fogey…tummy time didn’t exist when my lot were little…they are all in their 20s and thriving physically and mentally…really don’t worry about it!😊

It’s really important to do tummy time, think of what it was like before it was invented. Whole classes of children running around the playground with their heads flopping about, none of them able to see a thing. Carnage it was. Thank God for tummy time!

My husband and I were just laughing about this the other day - we were so worried about lack of tummy time - daughter hated it and really we didn’t do much

She started walking at 10 months so I’m not sure what use tummy time would have been and now I’m like - why did we waste so much time being worried 🙈

Tummy time used to give mine the rage. She would just lay with her forehead on the floor and scream until I turned her over. Abandoned it after a few tries and it's made no difference to her at all.

Im still waiting for the punch line !!!🤣🤣 what a load of ........ !🤣

Just stop doing it. Mine hated it too and I've never bothered, 7 months now and no issues!

@LazyJayne

It’s really important to do tummy time, think of what it was like before it was invented. Whole classes of children running around the playground with their heads flopping about, none of them able to see a thing. Carnage it was. Thank God for tummy time!

Love it!!!

Tummy time is just a fad - ignore it.

It is awful to think of Mums worrying about this - such a waste of energy when they could be enjoying their little ones.