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Parenting

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Original poster

Tummy time help?

15 replies

Deegibx · 17/12/2022 10:55

Hi everyone

Had my 6-8 week health visit to check yesterday for my seven week old. Everything was fine, but she said she expected her head control to be better by this stage. I do try and do tummy time but my LO doesn’t really like it or stay interested in it for long. I try to use toys, get down there with her etc but a lot of the time she’ll just try to lick the carpet.

how often should I be doing it? My LO can lift her head and turn it but if u try and pull her up by her arms, she won’t lift her head which is what the health visitor did. Any tips please?

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upfucked · 17/12/2022 13:29

Lay on your back and place her tummy on your chest so you can chat to her. Sling time counts too.

Darthwazette · 17/12/2022 13:32

Tummy time on your chest might be more engaging for her but I wouldn’t worry too much. It’s not like she will never learn to control her head.

StateOfTheUterus · 17/12/2022 14:29

My DD loathed tummy time. The only thing she would tolerate was this: sit on the floor with knees bent. Hold baby on thighs peeking over your knees to look around the room.

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SalviaOfficinalis · 17/12/2022 14:37

Don’t worry, sit on the sofa and have her lying across your lap, or lean back and have her on your chest.

Have you got a baby gym? Ones with scrunchy bits of bright colours might interest her. And it’s a bit softer on her face than licking the carpet.

Boopboopboo · 17/12/2022 15:14

On your chest as others have said or try a small cushion or similar under her chest so she's raised up a bit and it's more interesting. The u shaped cushions work well though. Don't worry too much though, my eldest couldn't do any floor tummy time for most of the first 3 months for medical reasons and they have done just fine in life!

LaMadrilena · 17/12/2022 15:23

There's so much pressure to worry about things like this. My DD always just got bored and fell asleep. But remember, only a few years ago no one did tummy time, and babies still learned to hold their heads up! If your baby has a genuine physical/neurological problem (and presumably there's no reason to think she has), it'll show up anyway. And if she doesn't,

LaMadrilena · 17/12/2022 15:24

Poop, hit send to early.

If she doesn't have a problem, then she'll learn and get stronger in time!

panko · 17/12/2022 15:28

Very important especially as babies spend a lot of time sleeping on their backs. Try on your tummy or chest

mondaytosunday · 17/12/2022 15:32

Goodness please do not worry! My son didn't walk independently til 18 months. A friends daughter didn't walk til she was two. My son is a personal trainer and my friend's daughter is sporty too.
Unless way out of the developmental range I wouldn't worry one bit.
Also these checks are, well, to be taken with a grain of salt. Apparently my son was 'teething and about to come through' from three weeks. He didn't cut a tooth until 13 months. Sometimes they say things because they don't want to say the truth, which is that they don't know.

Original poster

Deegibx · 17/12/2022 15:58

Thanks so much everyone! Honestly feels like there’s always something to worry about 😅 thank u for all the tips

& @SalviaOfficinalis i don’t but thank u for the idea. I’ll look into this :) x

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Rakszasa · 17/12/2022 18:46

As pp said, sling and carrying them in your arms also strengthen their muscles.
My DS hated it, but I've heard a smart thing from my older sister: when I had kids, it wasn't a thing, haven't done it even once, and look, my kids don't have floppy heads😅

lilroo87 · 17/12/2022 18:49

My DD hates tummy time, she spent a lot of time in a sling which was really good for head control and I also bought a tummy time pillow which helped her as she could sit a bit more upright. Definitely worth thinking about carrying them around in a sling (if you don't already) and maybe look at the pillows cause they just give them a bit more help and take some of the pressure off

user14728311987 · 17/12/2022 18:54

My baby hates and never does tummy time but has always had good head control. When very small she would spend a lot of time with us chest to chest either upright or slightly reclined. Also spent a lot of time in the sling. Then when a bit bigger did lots of lap sitting. She's only ever lying on her back when she's asleep at night.
Even with good head control early on, I'm not sure she was lifting her head up when pulled by the arms at 7 weeks.

alark · 17/12/2022 21:43

I always recommend her but have a look at Milestones and Motherhood on instagram, she has tonnes of tips and ideas for tummy time and all the other motor skill related things one tip I've seen is to try it little and often, so pop her on her tummy just for a minute or two after every nappy change.

Also, like others say, don't panic! DS hated tummy time too and we struggled to do much of it, but he still rolled/sat up/crawled on schedule and started walking at 11 months

Original poster

Deegibx · 17/12/2022 21:50

Thank you so much everyone!! Will definitely look into the sling x

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