Baby Face Planting during Tummy Time

[Piggel]

Hi there,

My LO will be 16 weeks on Thursday and we’re about a week into the 4th leap (he always seems to start the leaps a few days early).

Our boy loves tummy time and has done from the start, we’ve often spent most of play time on our tummies. However he’s now started to face plant the floor and screams at me if I roll him back onto his back - I was presuming he was getting tired or frustrated. I’m not sure if it’s linked but he started trying to roll from back to belly last week and now almost has it. He rolled from belly to back a few times before this leap but it’s like he’s forgotten how to do that now, perhaps where he’s focussed on rolling the other way? He’s also taken to straightening his arms out in front of him instead of under his chest. I know this is a wonder weeks development point but I’m not sure why. Perhaps it’s for when the babies start crawling?

Is anyone else’s LOs doing this? I just don’t really feel happy leaving him dribbling and licking his play mat 😅but I can’t take him getting frustrated with me either! I’ve attached some pictures - please excuse him being in just a nappy, it just gets so hot in our house when it’s warm out!

Thanks in advance.

Awwww... he's fine. When he fishes ancient dusty peas out from back of fridge in 3 months time and pops them in mouth for a savory experiment, you will laugh at yourself at worrying about him mouthing a muslin. Tummy time works well in small doses at this age, just long enough for him to work on strengthening those neck & upper body muscles. Turn him over when he makes persistent frustrated I'm fed up noises.

I honestly wouldn't worry at all. Just let him do it when he wants and stop if he is not engaged. Due to a health issue, my son was not allowed to do tummy time at all. So he didn't, but hit all of his milestones without issue.

If your son is happy on his tummy, grand, but if he isn't interested it is not a big deal.