Reflux impacting tummy time/rolling

[TeainanIV]

Hello wise Mumsnetters! I'm looking for people's experience on a refluxy baby and tummy time. With my first DD, this was never an issue and tummy time/rolling went great! DD2 is now 5months and 2 weeks old and we are still really struggling with tummy time as she is always sick after 30 seconds or so of being on her front! It doesn't seem to matter how far between feeds it is - she will always bring stuff up. I'm worried it's impacting her development as she isn't really rolling either, I think potentially because of discomfort and vomiting. She doesn't cry or get upset when in tummy time but is very wobbly/wriggly and brings up lots of curdled milk. I'm, in my usual overthinking brain, now worrying it's also going to impact her crawling! Has anybody had experience with their reflux babies and tummy time? I've done it in other ways e.g using my legs or feeding pillow to elevate her a bit, but this then impacts on her rolling. Thanks for your advice/experience!

Hi @TeainanIV I feel your pain! I have one child and he was exactly like this. It definitely held him back from progressing to rolling and gaining strength to crawl, but tbh I think it was me that was holding him back. He'd scream, cry, puke and I'd pick him up. But his form was always fine immediately afterwards, so eventually I just ended up leaving him at it. I didn't have much other choice. Once I left him to it, he started to enjoy being on his tummy. Around 6 months old was when he really got into tummy time. He rolled literally the day he turned 6 months. He's 9 months now and not crawling or up on his knees yet which I feel is due to the slow start with tummy time. But he's getting there, pushing up on arms and pivoting on his tummy. I don't know if this is 'good' advice exactly but I found just letting him at it was the the only way.

Sorry should also add the reflux greatly improved at 6 months too. Probably a combination of growing out of it and starting solids. Still a happy puker but nothing like before.

Lots of babies don't roll at this age, some decide to wait until they can do other stuff and crawl first. Some don't crawl until over a year old, some will do it at 6 months. She'll let you know when she wants to start exploring more.

My daughter did no tummy time lay on the floor due to reflux but did hours upon hours a day with her on my chest. She had exceptional head control by 10 days. She rolled once at 4 and a half months then didn't roll again until 5.5 months and then rolled continuously! She did go on her tummy on the floor until she learnt herself to move from her back to her front.

Thank you all for sharing! I thought I'd be less of a worrier second time around, but DD2 has been a tricky madam from day one! @Superscientist both my daughters were the same - excellent hear control! My husband and I always joke that reflux babies have spines of steel 😅 (DD1 was awful silent reflux but rarely ever sick).

@Lavenderandlemons thank you for sharing! I need to stop comparing her to other babies I think - with my eldest I never really did because she was a COVID baby and we didn't really see many people! A blessing in some aways as I didn't compare as much! This time round I'm awful for it. Really hoping solids helps our little one too - she's been to the pediatrician and they've said there hopeful it'll start to ease once she's sitting and on solids so fingers crossed!

@Ahsheeit you're right, need to stop comparing her to my eldest and other friend's babies! She's a chatterbox and happy little girl which is the main thing 🥰

My daughter has mild physical reflux and severe silent reflux and was so bloody strong! i think all the screaming and back arching gave her a good abs work out!