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Original poster

Late start to tummy time - 5 months

16 replies

PoTayToes80 · 19/07/2022 06:04

My baby is just over 5 months and I’ve been really bad at doing tummy time with him. As in we really don’t do it at all until recently. Mainly because he always hated it so much and honestly I found having a baby hard work enough without deliberately including something in the day that made him cry.

His head strength has always been good (lots of time in a carrier), as is his leg strength, but I’m trying to do tummy time more often now and he still gets frustrated easily and his seems arm strength seems a little weak. He also isn’t rolling yet, although he does turn onto his side sometimes from his back.

Just looking for a bit of reassurance from anyone else who started late with tummy time I guess! Or who had late rollers. He’s always been pretty on track with his physical milestones until now and so I think the lack of tummy time is now impacting this.

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chocopuffs · 19/07/2022 06:15

Don't worry OP! I felt exactly the same as you - my baby was pretty unsettled and it just felt so painful to have to then force her to do something she hated. I pretty much gave up! I was told that being in a sling gives similar benefits, and also tummy time is a fairly new concept I think. Mine is a toddler now and meeting all her milestones just fine - I can't remember when she rolled but I promise it'll happen and all of this won't be such a worry soon! They do get there in their own time.

Therealpink · 19/07/2022 06:18

Never bothered with tummy time on my 2nd, 3rd or 4th child. All are excellent athletes😄

Caspianberg · 19/07/2022 06:33

We didn’t do much at all when tiny. He hated it.
used sling a lot. And carrycot on pram rather than car seat so he could stretch out.
From 6+ months he got better at not minding it. Crawled soon after and walked at under 9months so seemed to have no correlation.

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sarahc336 · 19/07/2022 06:41

Dd1 hated it and would scream so we never did it. She did crawl late which I do think was due to this but in the grand scheme of things it doesn't matter does it. If your child hates it don't force it in them x

Flowersinamilkbottle · 19/07/2022 06:46

We never did tummy time. It seemed like torture for them and me. One of mine walked at ten months (they barely crawled) but couldn't roll until over until well after that. They would pull themselves to standing in the cot if they wanted to turn over.

sammielouise · 19/07/2022 06:46

I really wouldn't worry, baby is on their tummy whenever they're laying on your chest, or in carrier and looking around, it's all tummy time!

FourChimneys · 19/07/2022 07:04

Tummy time seems to be a new idea. I never heard of it with my DC who are now young adults. They are fine.

Numbat2022 · 19/07/2022 07:08

Don't worry about it. I very much doubt any of us did structured tummy time! Mine hated it because he had reflux, so it meant both a screaming baby and a change of clothes. Needless to say we didn't do it much, he was fine and is now a very active three year old.

Ohmydayssilleople · 19/07/2022 07:09

FourChimneys · 19/07/2022 07:04

Tummy time seems to be a new idea. I never heard of it with my DC who are now young adults. They are fine.

This!!! My children were never put on their tummy because they quite rightly hated it …cannot see what the benefits are TBH .

Original poster

PoTayToes80 · 19/07/2022 08:17

Thank you everyone! These were all the sensible things I needed to hear from someone else. Trying to tell yourself just isn’t as effective :)

OP posts:

Dinosaurus86 · 19/07/2022 08:25

Mine hated tummy time until very recently, so I wasn’t very good at enforcing it! He’s now 7.5 months and usually immediately turns onto his tummy when I put him down. He’s mastered rolling across the room in the last few weeks and is also able to sort of crawl/slide (we have hard floors) backwards but can’t go forwards yet.

Fupoffyagrasshole · 19/07/2022 08:26

yeah I didn’t really bother she still walked at 10 months

honestly relax it’s fine x

bluegardenflowers · 19/07/2022 08:29

I never bothered with tummy time and (surprise, surprise) all kids have developed quite normally. Tummy time is a load of bollox unless your baby has identified delays

bluegardenflowers · 19/07/2022 08:30

Walkers at 10 and 11 months too.

Caspianberg · 19/07/2022 09:43

I think mine hated it when small as he had such a big head! Effort to lift

RedHerring24 · 19/07/2022 13:50

I wouldnt worry @PoTayToes80
My DD had severe reflux so tummy time was just a no go. I tried so hard and she just cried and vomited so i gave up.
One day she just rolled onto her front and got hopelessly stuck and cried her eyes out.
But as she discovered she could go from back to front thats ALL she did for a month. It was hard as she would just lay there like a reverse stuck tortoise!
Then she discovered she could actually roll back again and she hasnt stopped since.
All she wants to do now is be on her front trying to crawl.
I was as worried as you but honestly, babies just figure these things out in their own time.

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