How to encourage more movement during tummy time?

My DS is 3 months old. I make sure I give him tummy time several times a day, but he just lies there, usually sucking on his hand, lol. He can lift his head up quite well, cause I've seen him do it in the past, but these days he just lies there. I do all I can to encourage him to move (either moving his arms and legs, or just moving his head from one side to the other) - I get down next to him, I've tried a mirror, shaking toys, singing to him, calling his name, gently helping him roll over... I've turned off the TV as it seems to distract him. One of the girls in my baby buddies groups suggested a rolled up muslin wrap under his chest, which helped a little to begin with, but now he does the same thing and just lies there with the muslin wrap under him. I think he's just a very chilled out baby, lol.

I know all bubs reach their milestones at different times, but I've heard of so many other bubs this age who have already rolled over, and my DS just doesn't seem anywhere close to this.

Does anyone have any other ideas on how to encourage him to move more?

Sounds like you have already tried everything i would have suggested, he will move about soon enough i guess :)

Sterla, Sam's pretty much 5 months old and still hasn't rolled and doesn't even try. I figure some babies are keen to move about the world, while others are happier to just sit and observe.

You'll probably find that as he becomes more interested in his surroundings he'll lift his head more. Sam's now figured out that he can lift his head up on his tummy and see more than he can if he just lies on his back (but shows no interest in getting from back to tummy). At first the only way we could encourage him to lift his head was to put him on his tummy with his head facing to the left - he didn't like it and would lift his head to face right, but once he'd got there, he was just content to lie there once more.

I figure that life is so much easier when they stay where you put them... I used to worry (especially when Sam was about the same age as your son) that he wasn't even trying to roll... but he's so much more interested in sitting than rolling.

Your boy sounds very much like mine - chilled out, relaxed and content... Try not to worry, it's all perfectly normal. When I worried that Sam wasn't trying to roll yet I was given lots of stories about babies that don't roll until 7-8 months old and that often the early rollers do it once by accident and then don't really do it again (and if you're going to take that approach, Sam did it at 9 weeks!).

BW

They are all so different. My DD rolled at 5 months, my DS1 rolled over at 11 weeks & my DS2, who is 11 weeks today, hasn't rolled and is not even attempting it.

DS2 was on the floor a lot because I was always nervous that DD would knock him off the couch with her love and enthusiasm! He also spent a lot of time nappy free. DS2 is in the Ergo half the time, and DD wore bulky pre fold nappies with covers, and I think this hindered her movement.

TBH, I am glad DS2 hasn't rolled yet. DS1 was crawling at 6 months and I could live without a repeat performance!

It sounds like you are doing all the 'right' things.

Sterla - you sound like such a great Mum to your little boy :hug: you are doing everything perfect.

My DD is only a little older than your DS and only just rolled over a week ago and has only done it once. She is too busy checking out everything and faces etc to care about rolling too much yet ;) She's just learnt how to blow raspberries and squeal so she's concentrating on that instead of rolling I think!

As long as you are playing with him and encouraging him along, placing toys in front of him that he can try and reach out to grab etc, plenty of tummy time and back time etc then he will soon learn to do the rest.... have fun!

Thank you so much for your replies girls :). I've been quietly worrying about it for awhile now. He's doing everything else he's 'supposed' to be doing at his age, except with tummy time.

MrsB26: Yeah, I can't think of anything else to do either!

BW: Yup, that sounds like Oliver. I might try putting him down with his head facing to the right, cause he certainly favours the left.

Aliash: Thanks - it's good to hear that it really does vary greatly when bubs roll over for the first time.

Renstar: Thank you :hug:. Sometimes I really need to hear (read) that.
Go Ava! :D