Baby does not like tummy time

[Minky01]

Hi all,

My 4 month old really does not like tummy time. She is a very active baby, loves being on her back grabbing her toes, loves her sit up play chair but tummy time.. she just lays there with her head on the mat, not doing anything. We've tried with a tummy roll, and she tries a little but gets bored very quickly and lays her head on it. She's holding her head all by herself now, so strengthening her neck is not an issue, but I feel like her arms could be a little stronger. I don't know.

Anyone else experienced baby not taking to tummy time, or have any advice on arm strengthening if that is even a thing? (first time mum 😊)

Two of my four didn't like tummy time.

The eldest nwvr did crawl, and I've got to be honest her arms were pretty weak! But not in the long run. We did a lot with playdough with her once she was a year old (so didn't just eat it!) And that helped to strengthen hands and arms. Also lots of climbing time encouraged at the playground

DC4 we didn't do tummy time because she had bad reflux. If i popped her on her tummy she'd be sick and lie with her face in it! She did learn to crawl, just a little later than the ones that liked being on their tummies - she was on the go just after 10 months. She approached it from gradually leaning over from sitting rather than pushing up from the floor. Her arm strength indistinguishable from a baby that did tummy time.

If advise to keep giving it a short go now and then - you may find as baby is stronger and more coordinated they mind the position less. If they still don't like it don't worry. As they get stable with sitting, encourage lots of reaching/leaning and patting to strengthen arns and trunk. at a year plus if they don't crawl (like my eldest) then lots of scribbling, climbing and playdough.

Tummy time is a great work out, but it's not the ONLY exercise a baby can do!

Tummy time hadn't been invented when mine were small or at least nobody told me about it. Neither of my now adult DC have ever had any problems with posture.

Thank you for your responses!

I only hear of people whose babies love tummy time, I knew mine wouldn't be the only one, but I guess I thought maybe she wasn't doing as well (even though she is happy and thriving) 😅

My partner said to me, "Cavemen didn't have tummy time mats."

I'll defo keep giving it a go. It's just nice to know it's not a universal 'baby should enjoy it' thing x

Neither of my DS liked it. I would do it occasionally for a couple of minutes and that's it. They're both six and a half foot tall with great posture now 🤷🏻‍♀️

I've never head of tummy time! My children are adults! It sounds like nonsense.

I'm another one with adult children. 'Tummy time' is a reasonably new concept as far as I'm concerned, we just 'put the baby on the floor' and they'd usually roll over onto their stomachs once they were able to roll, and just sort of - lie there. None of them have been disadvantaged in any way by this, although perhaps my eldest would have become a bank manager if tummy time had been a thing then, so who knows?

As your baby clearly doesnt like it why force them to experience it? Totally no need. He or she will be perfectly fine without - just like all babies born before someone decided "tummy time" was a necessary young baby experience.

DS had bad reflux so just threw up if I put him on his tummy.
We did a bit with him on me (tummy to tummy), but I wasn't bothered about it and hardly did it.
He crawled really early (maybe 6-7 months) and was walking by 9 months, so it didn't do him any harm.

Mine absolutely hated it, we had a spinning ladybird that they laid on, really hated that.
One dc had a large head was was getting a flat spot so time on their fronts was important but not enjoyable.

Oh god mine HATED tummy time! Literally would cry immediately and then when he learnt to roll he would immediately flip himself over onto his back 😂 it's to strengthen neck muscles but he was already holding his head up very early so I never worried about it and now he's one and crawling all over the place so it didn't hinder him! I remember our health visitor also telling us that walking around with him in an upright position and lying down down with him lying on us on his tummy also counted as tummy time. I wouldn't worry, I think a lot of babies aren't too keen on it!

Tummy time "wasn't a thing" in the days when babies were put on their fronts to sleep.

Caveman didn't have tummy time because babies were carried.

Nowadays when babies sleep on their backs and are often contained in bouncers, car seats, swings "tummy time" is a thing to counteract that.

OP, keep trying the tummy time little and often. You can also lie baby tummy to chest on you, and carrying n a sling with their head free also counts.

What is tummy time?! Whatever it is my DC never had it and they’re strapping young adults now.

Tummy time mats?! We used to put our babies on the carpet or floor to roll around. Sounds like another commercial opportunity to flog baby stuff you use for five minutes then give to a charity shop.

My DS hated it with a passion so I didn't force it. Still crawled within the normal timeframe and as soon as he could roll started sleeping on his stomach and hasn't stopped two years later. I wouldn't worry, if she doesn't enjoy it just let it go.

It's normal for them to hate being randomly plonked on the floor. I hardly ever did tummy time and my children are fine.

But being in the sling counts or the baby lying on top of you feeding - which mine did.

It's a thing because some babies spend a lot of time lying on their back in modern society as opposed to cavemen babies.

You don't need to put them on the floor or whatever for tummy time. They can also perch on your chest when you're reclined, that went down much better here. It's just about helping them to develop their neck muscles.

Wouldn’t worry, my son hated it too so I never really bothered that much. Can’t say it’s made one bit of difference.
Advice changes so much with babies they’ll probably decide “tummy time” is terrible for them in a few years anyway.

I didn't do it and it hasn't caused any problems

Time lying on your chest is counted as tummy time, basically it's just to help them practice lifting their heads and strengthen their necks. So any opportunity to have baby lift their head and shoulders whether on the floor, on your chest, across your knees etc. counts. Not all babies like tummy time and some hate it! For those with grown kids, it is a relatively new thing in response to the fact that it's now known that it's not safe to lay babies on their bellies to sleep, which was effectively tummy time as babies would lift their heads while awake and lying on their fronts.

Baby wearing also counts as tummy time. I baby wore a lot and they met all milestones as expected. After I realised this I sacked off all “standard” tummy time. A stressful waste of energy making them do something they hate. Get them in the carrier and take them out for a walk. It engages their core muscles the same and being able to look around and be nosey at the world is better than staring at some mass produced tummy time toy.

Neither has my 24 year old, nor anyone else of that age I know who didn't have tummy time 😂

Mine hated tummy until he learnt how to roll over so he could get out of it. I only did tummy time for about a minute and then rolled him back, cuddles then repeat. He loved crawling though. Now standing is the most amazing thing ever

None of mine wanted anything to do with the dratted tummy time.

They all crawled, walked, etc. well within the normal age range for developing these skills.

I personally think it's a pile of hooey, and the saying about teaching a pig to sing comes to mind.

Do not worry OP. My now 6 year old had awful reflux and cmpa, and tummy time was just too painful for her. She is (and always has been) one of the most agile children I've ever come across.

I love your husband. If in doubt with DS, I always used to think "what did they do in the stone age?"
Edited to add: he survived