Baby Lead Movement

[helle]

yes, our baby spent time on her tummy when self attaching to the breast for the first 6 weeks. And it's not so much belly position as much as sitting/propping and weight bearing on their legs. the thread is about free movement, not whether tummy time is good or not.

I don't think that's what Yedi is trying to say... she's trying to understand how placing them on their back allows the Baby Lead Movement and being placed on their belly isn't. As being put on their back is a position, and one that you are putting them into, same as placing them on their stomach.

And we're not saying that tummy time is good or not, just that it could possibly be more of a natural position than on their back...

We're not telling you you're full of crap.. we just wanna know more

[ladybirdflies]

perhaps the words from an inspiring book may help here
" The infant progresses from lying on her back to slowly turning and rolling onto her belly. This does not happen all at once, but through many practice opportunities. While lying on her back, the infant stretches and flexes her muscles this way and that. She lifts her leg and crosses it over to the other side. Then, one day, she turns herself all the way over. Her arm might become caught underneath her. She will return to lying on her back and have a little rest before trying again. When she is able to roll over, in her own time, she will have already developed the skills needed to lift her head, free her arm and move her limbs while lying in the prone position."

[Yeddi]

Argh! I'm sorry, I'm just frustrated and don't know how else to phrase the question because we are obviously on different pages. To me, that quote is about the milestone of rolling, and still doesn't answer my question about why only the back. Again, I'm not trying to be combative, but I think if you are going to present something to people, being asked to explain the ins and outs of it shouldn't be considered unreasonable.

I've actually just found some info, so will have a look through.

Edit: Is the chiropractor you're talking about Dr. Paula Giusto?

[Yeddi]

Don't worry, I've answered my own question...

Free Gross Motor Development is a philosophy whose principles were developed and proven through years of research at the Emmi Pikler Institute and Children’s Home in Budapest, Hungary. Dr. Emmi Pikler explains: Moving from one movement stage to another indicates internal, neuromuscular readiness. Each movement has its own history of development. Each one is based upon the other. In other words, each milestone, such as rolling from the belly to the back, builds upon skills mastered in the previous stage (p.12).

The main idea behind this philosophy is that babies should not spend huge amounts of time physically restrained in bouncy seats, carriers, swings, and walkers, prevented from being able wiggle, squirm, and roll. In essence they should be free to move. As far as I can see, tummy time is not a contradiction to this philosophy. I think the main conflict with that idea now, is the fact that with SIDS research "tummy time" has become a "developmental activity" and that some mum's force the issue of tummy time even if their babies roll over when they're put down on their tummies instead of leaving bub to their own devices. From what I've read, I personally don't think it matters which way you put the baby down, as long as they are free to move and explore within the limits of their own physical development.

Source: "Peaceful Babies Contented Mothers" by Dr Emmi Pikler

[buliej]

I've just skimmed this - my reason for looking at this thread is that once again, I made a purchase based on a friend's recommendation and then investigated rather than investigated and then purchased (when will I learn!) - I purchased a Bumbo seat thinking that DS would like this as it allows him to sit up and also thought I could feed him in this ... before he has the muscle control to do so (and before the ABA BLS session I attended yesterday and learned that if he can't sit, he shouldn't be eating) ...after thinking about it, I decided to look into it a bit more and have read that it's not such a great idea to use things like this ... and if used at all, should be used for short periods of time as babies who use the Bumbo frequently don't develop the tummy muscles they need for many of the later physical stages. So another item to be put back on ebay