Peter seems to think tummy time is akin to torture! He either cries loudly or, when he can work out how, rolls over onto his back. We have other ways of getting him exercise of his neck/head muscles, and he's very good at that and has great head control.
But I was just wondering, if he won't spend any time on his tummy, how will he learn to crawl? lol Maybe this is a silly question!! Any ways I can encourage tummy time? He is a bit young yet to reach for toys, and I am hoping once he is old enough that will make tummy time happier.
I wouldn't worry too much just yet.
Keep up with the tummy time, but when he gets frusterated its ok. As he gets older he will handle it better. Eventually he will be interested in toys & will roll onto his tummy.
My DS is 5 months & gets sick of it after a while.
It's not so much the crawling you need to worry about. I think tummy time is more to strengthen their back muscles for sitting.
He's only little. A few minutes at a time is ok. Gradually get longer as he gets stronger in the neck & back.
Heaps of babies (including mine) HATE tummy time with a passion - and who can blame them really, stuck flat on their faces unable to move.
Once they start getting better head and upper body control tummy time becomes more enjoyable, but there's no point in forcing the issue if he hates it.
Lying down or leaning back with him on your chest encourages him to lift his head, and once he is getting better head control, rolling up a small towel or terry nappy and placing it under his chest will allow him to hold his head up with less effort. If you put favourite toys in front of him (or move them from side to side, encouraging him to turn his head) this will provide a bit of entertainment.
But keep it nice and short, and don't continue if he gets upset. And don't worry about it - he will crawl!! Then walk, then run... My bub hated tummy time with a passion so I never really bothered with it (and worried that he would be delayed in crawling), at 8 months he is crawling like a demon.
DD1 hated tummy time so i never bothered forcing the issue (much to everyones disgust) and she began crawling not long before she turned 6 months old.....was rolling heaps from 4 months....so for her no tummy time didnt stop crawling.
DD2 hated it so i never forced the issue and never wanted to roll until 7/8 months and now at 9 months has jsut began trying to crawl.
Both my kids are very different and no tummy time had no impact in my opinion.
Aww lots of babies don't like it hun - as the other posters have mentioned, and at his age he will probably only tolerate a few mins max at a time. I found Izzy was the same and I would just put her on her tummy for sometimes only a minute at a time a few times a day and as she got older she got stronger and liked it more and more. Just keep at it, as he gets older toys in front of him might distract him a bit before he cracks it and you will find he will be just fine!
Last edited by Beach Mama; August 9th, 2008 at 06:47 PM.
My DS was another who hated tummy time. Like Tan, I used to do it for a minute at a time, which was about his limit until he learnt to roll over himself. The towel under the chest was good for us from about 6 months, but still only for short periods. I also used to be on the floor with him a lot, talking to him and telling him how many seconds left until it was over. And whilst he wasn't an early roller/crawler/walker, he has got there in his own time and been very proud of himself when he mastered a new skill (well, except the walking, that hasn't started yet, but he's not far off it) . Sometimes I think it's really easy to feel like your baby is the "only" one who isn't rolling/crawling/sleeping/eating etc, but there's usually lots of others out there that aren't either, it's just that people don't always talk about it IYKWIM.
My DD hated tummy time, is 7 months old and doesn't mind it much now. It's only recent that she is crawling...but backwards! Try not to worry, seems they all protest
I ended up giving up on tummy time and just nodded and said yes to the MCHN cos he seriously hated it that much that he'd be really upset. He actually never crawled, he bum shuffled He's just started walking about a month or so ago. I don't think that it will affect his crawling at all.
none of my boys liked tummy time and I didn't push the issue.. For tummy time I used to lay them on my chest and recline in the chair.. I never bothered with the floor.. they hated it and would scream.. the CHN used to comment but pfft to them..
they all crawled and walked within the normal time frame...
DD#1 hated it too. Her only tummy time was when she was on my shoulder. In contrast to Nic's CHN, mine said that was fine instead of floor tummy time. It certainy didn't slow her down either - she was crawling by 5 months and walking at 10.
Try a mirror under bubs face so that they can 'see' whats going. OR you could try tummy time on the change table or bed and sitting under them so that bubs can see your face.
Otherwise, I wouldn't worry too much either. Mine would crack a nana everytime I tried, just perserve and know that it all happens in good time.
In some cultures, babies never spend time on their tummies - they are carried around on their relatives' backs all day long. And they develop normally...
Natty wasn't a fan of tummy time. She really only did it in my arms or on my legs (ie when we were playing). And she was a late crawler, but she still crawled Crawling at 10.5 months, cruising at 11.5mo and walking at 14mo.
i dont think he will be affected if tummy time is give the flick , there are plenty of ways to stimulate him and to keep him happy , its not directly related to crawling so dont stress if he doesnt like it , find something he does and relish his smiles .... i didnt really bother tt with DS but boy did he love a jolly jumper , he crawled at 5.5 months and walked at 15
Toby hated tummy time too. He learnt to crawl from sitting up. He held his own head up from 1 week old so i was never really worried about it. He just learnt to crawl without the tummy time. He never rolled much, but i guess that doesn't matter all that much in the end!
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No tummy time... how will he crawl?!
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