Is "Tummy Time" essential ... cause my baby HATES it!

My little 9 week old Willow HATES 'tummy time' with a passion.
I've tried all the tricks - amusing her while rolling her over, singing to her while rolling her over, laying her on my tummy tricking her into incidental tummy time, laying her on her tummy across my arm to try an amended form of tummy time. Nothing works, it upsets her so much I don't think it's worth pursuing.
We've had a really hard first 6 weeks, a VERY unsettled little baby and just now when things are settling down and we are all getting into a comfortable groove I am really hesitant to start a daily routine that so clearly upsets her so much.

What does minimal tummy time mean ... will she be slower to crawl?

I've read the comments Robin Barker has on Tummy Time in her book Baby Love - it's advantageous for babies with disabilities or premmie babies, but by and large it's hard to see that its necessary for normally developing babies.

Any one have any tips not mentioned or even just encouragement that I'm not a terrible mother by not pushing tummy time.

ive never pushed for tummy time...DD1 didnt like it she crawled at a "normal" time. I dont put DD2 down for enough tummy time either because she is an easy target for DD1 on the floor. Your not a terrible mother :hug:

hey!

I am not an expert but thought i would jump in here with my opinion lol
( this is all stuff that i was told byt he way lol)

Tummy Time is needed by all babies but it doesnt have to be huge amounts but they need the tummy time to develop muscles and also to avoid getting flat spots on their heads.
i had a hard time with my DS2 cause he wore a hip brace for the first 12 weeks and couldnt lay flat on his tummy so we used to lay him over our arms just so he still got that time to build his neck/back muscles.

I am hoping someone else will pop in and give you a more deffinate answer but i am pretty sure tummy time is pretty important and you should persist with it... ( i know that sounds really insensitive cause i know how hard it is, and it would be so much easier to just give up on the idea but i honestly think it is important!!)

i hope some one has some great idea that fixes it for you hun!

I never pushed tummy time with my little one...he hated it too. I used to lie to the MCHN when she asked if I was putting him on his tummy at every appointment ;) At around 4 months he learned to roll then was quite happy to be put on his tummy. I just let him do it in his own time and he's perfectly fine, absolutely no issues with development....he was crawling properley at 7 months, standing at 8. My advice would be to go with your instincts on this one. With a 9 week old I don't see any harm in waiting, they are after all still getting used to the big wide world!

I never really did much tummy time with DD either. She learned to roll fairly quickly and was able to hold her head up quickly too so I don't think a lack of tummy time did much to disadvantage her! I'd probably be more worried about flat spots than not reaching physical developmental milestones, so if her head is looking fine I wouldn't stress too much.

Can you carry her over your arms so she is facing down? Another mum I know used to lay their bub on a footstool in front of the tv (not ideal I know, but it kept her entertained for a few minutes and she kind of forgot she was on her tummy). Or you could probably just carry her around in a semi-upright position (change to an upright position once she can hold her head up properly) just so she isn't lying on her back all the time.

will she lie on her side at all? Maybe try that and just pop her on her tummy for a few seconds then roll her back to get her used to it.

Both mine hated tummy time at first - but then I was given a fabulous tip!
Roll up a wrap or even a tea towel, and place it just under your bubs chest, with their arms forward. This supports them a bit - and makes it easier for them. I swear by this now - it worked with both my girls :)
But start with just a minute or so at a time, then as they get better at it they enjoy it more.
If she really struggles with it though - I wouldn't worry. Dont push it, just try again next week!

My DS hated it too....so I used to lay him on his tummy on my chest as often as I could :) It was the best bonding ever!!

DS2 and DD hated tummy time. I never pushed it and they have developed fine. DD has only just started liking it for a little be as she can now roll onto her tummy only for now and can get a good look at the boys at play. Curiosity will get the better of them end and they will just start to like it all of a sudden. Minimax has given a great tip with the tummy on the chest!
Robyn Barker's Baby Love is a fantastic book, it's very practical.

I never did the converntional tummy time but rather "tummy on mummy" time. I would slouch back on the couch and have my boys on my chest. Naturally they would try to list their heads to look at me and eventually paw at my face, but being on me have them a comfy feeling and it was a lovely way to have cuddles AND get their necks strong as well. Also, when they got tired and slumped forward, landlong on my chest/shoulder was softer for them than the floor.

I used to do this whenever I watched telly or just felt like hanging out with my babies.

Jsut thought i would add
when i said that i thnk tummy time is importnant i didnt just mean laying on the floor tummy time... just some time not laying on their back iykwim...
the tummy on mummy is a great idea!!!

Have you tried tummy time on a fit ball?

My ECHN told me that tummy on mummy time was just as good as tummy time on the floor. All my kids have done tummy on mummy time until it was obvious that they would like it on the floor. All my kids have crawled at or before 6 months, with Anelise (my most recent) crawling at 5 months.