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I need some suggestions. DS doesn't like being on his tummy. The longest I can keep him on his tummy is about 5 mins. I have him 'proped' up on a tri-pillow as if I put him straight onto the floor on his tummy he cries.
Any suggestions on how I could keep him there longer without tears??
My CHN suggested putting a rolled up tea towel underneath DD's chest and that helped heaps!
I wouldn't worry too much, he's still only very new :)
5 mins at a time is a really good start just so you know. My DD would scream as soon as I put her down on her tummy so she didnt get much tummy time at all but wasn't delayed in sitting up, crawling, walking etc
The only thing I can think of at the moment (having a mental blank right now!) is to lay down on your tummy infront of him & talk to him so he can hear your voice there & it will encourage him to lift his head too.
I hope that helps.
Like Danielle said, he is still only new and 5 mins is a great start! My DS is 5.5months and STILL hates being on his tummy! With my others, they liked it if I put toys on front of them, it kept them amused and less aware of being on their tummy!! :)
5 mins is great hun! James lasts about 2! Izzy was the same but I jsut persist and put him on his belly for as long as he will allow a few times a day. I've been a bit slack =- with Izzy I didn't have to worry about someone stepping on her and smothering her with love so I need to do it more frequently but you will probably find as he gets older he will like it more and more. Also once they are more aware I found that putting a toy or soft cloth book in front of them helps distract and keep their attention. You are doing a great job!
My daughter absolutely hated it too! So all we could do was small bursts of tummy time. She was able to roll over and pull herself up and all that jazz at the "normal" time that a baby should be able to do those things. I also found it helped a little bit if I got down on the floor as well and talked to her, or if I put her down on my bed and I sat on the floor so my face was level with her face and she could see me.
Don't put him on his tummy at all!! Don't do it until he can fully hold his head up and can put himself there by rolling over. Babies DON'T need "Tummy time" to make their necks stronger. The human body does that by itself. I looked back on video of my son (on his tummy) at the same age as your baby and was horrified. He was NOT comfortable he was crying all the time and kept hitting his poor little face on the floor(playmat or padded blanket) I definatly WON'T be putting my second baby on his/her tummy until she/he does it by rolling over!!!
Tummy time is such a stress for new mums. We are made to think that if we don't do it they won't be able to do this or that. My son hated it too so I quickly stopped torturing him! Now he is nearly walking and was doing all the thing he was supposed to do at all the 'right' times! If he is happy to be on his tummy cool, if it stresses him out and consequently stresses you or makes you feel bad don't do it. He will be fine :)
HTH :hugs:
Just looked back on my post and I think I was a bit harsh. I just get annoyed with all the unnecessary worry that gets put on us as new mothers, as if having a baby isn't enough!?!?!?! Hope you don't take offence at my post?
Rustygirl and catherinemoses - it is tough to see them fuss and cry when they are on their tummies, and nobody is saying that you have to leave them there if they are crying. Having said that though, it is important that they develop strength in their necks and backs but experiencing tummy time, even at a young age IS really important. You can do this by putting them on your tummy and lying down or across your legs etc, but it can assist with reducing flat head syndrome and also assists in core stability and balance later on. SIDS and Early Childhood Australia as well as many physiotherapists have made these recommmendations for good reason.
As I mentioned in my PP hippiemummy - it doesn't matter how long you put him there for, even if it is for a minute at a time but he will get used to it and love it. Izzy used to hate it too but by the time she was 3-4 months old she would spend 10-15 mins at a time playing on her mat on her tummy.
I stopped giving Cohen tummy time at 2.5mths cause of all the hullabaloo and he doesn't have any flatspots in fact the Pediatrician at Royal Childrens Hospital here in Brisbane said that his head is beautifully symmetrical. I suppose people will just do what they feel is right for their baby and follow their own instincts.
No offence taken! And I agree with the unnecessary worry :rolleyes::
Tan-He does like it a bit more when he is on his tummy across my knees so maybe I'll keep doing that!
Thank-you for your help everyone! Good to know I'm just a normal paranoid parent!! :lol:
My suggestion is dont bother. DS hated tummy time so i didnt bother. He rolled, crawled, walked and did everything else at the same time everyone else his age did. DD was the same and she is actually doing everything earlier than those her own age. So i think it just causes unnecessary stress if they dont like it IMO.
Yeah, i agree, don't worry about it too much. Cameron didn't like tummy time either, I'd only occassionally put him on his tummy, as he would cry after a couple of minutes. I use to worry that I was 'depriving' him of this so 'valued tummy time thing' and had it in my mind he'd never strenghten like they're suppose to. I did the laying down with him too, but that never helped. He did last a few more minutes longer if I put him on his tummy on my tummy while I was laying down. Funnily enough though he actually liked sleeping on his tummy (and still does), but he had to be almost asleep when I put him down like this. Eventually when he learnt to roll at 3months he would constantly roll onto his tummy and didn't seem to mind it then. Now I look back, I wouldn't have stressed about it as much as I did - he still learnt to hold his head, roll, crawl etc with hardly any tummy time at the beginning.
My first ds hated being on his tummy and would cry every time so when i used to pick him up we would play superman and i would hold him above my head and look up at him and he would love this and he would keep his head up and legs out and hold him self and got very strong and started rolling over quite early, once he could rool over on to his back he would be happy
I don't worry about it too much (seeing as I now have 4!!) but DS3 lies on his back, lifting his head up (like aerobic "crunches") He holds his head up when sitting on my lap or in his swing (or generally being held) so I figure his neck is being strengthened and his abs are getting a really good workout!! LOL!