6.5 mo Old and HATES tummy-time!

[Momtotherue]

DH and I are at a loss. Ever since day one, dd has hated tummy time. She would much rather stand and loves to try to walk if you hold her hands. I want her to learn to crawl first though! I want her to learn bilateral movement and I want her brain to benefit from all the stimulation crawling provides. I just have no idea how to get her to not scream her head off!
We lay her down on her tummy, and she will fuss for a bit propped up on her hands and then roll over. If we roll her back she loses it, and starts sucking her fingers while bawling. She gets so mad she has tears and snot and it breaks my heart! No toys hold her interest, and nothing makes her happy.
What am I doing wrong? My mother tells me it's because we held her too much when she was really little, and we never set her down. Any advice is much appreciated!

[newmamalizzy]

I wouldn't worry about it.  DD (14 mos) was just like yours, hated tummy time and loved stand and practice walking from a very early age.  I DID worry about it, but she developed a fantastic cross-crawl at 8 months and started walking at about 12, perfectly fine.  The crawl actually developed from a sitting position, not from lying on her tummy.  Dr. Sears has some really good illustrations of this sitting to crawling progression in The Baby Book.  Try sitting her down and placing toys just beyond her grasp, encouraging her to reach further and further.  At some point she'll learn to support herself on one hand so she can reach further with the other, and she'll move on from there. 

[Momtotherue]

Ya know, I read that book when she was really little, and you just reminded me I need to pull it out and get refreshed now that she's older! Thanks :)

[LittleBirdy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by newmamalizzy 

I wouldn't worry about it.  DD (14 mos) was just like yours, hated tummy time and loved stand and practice walking from a very early age.  I DID worry about it, but she developed a fantastic cross-crawl at 8 months and started walking at about 12, perfectly fine.  The crawl actually developed from a sitting position, not from lying on her tummy.  Dr. Sears has some really good illustrations of this sitting to crawling progression in The Baby Book.  Try sitting her down and placing toys just beyond her grasp, encouraging her to reach further and further.  At some point she'll learn to support herself on one hand so she can reach further with the other, and she'll move on from there. 

Mine hated tummy time too so we didn't do it very often.  He started crawling just a few days after he turned 9 months old and is a champion speed crawler now
 

[samstress]

Originally Posted by Momtotherue 

What am I doing wrong? My mother tells me it's because we held her too much when she was really little, and we never set her down.

well, this is ridiculous.  some babies just don't like it.  dd didn't, ds does (and both of my children are/were both held a ton). 

[ashleybrook]

a great article on baby development and why "tummy time" isn't best...

http://www.regardingbaby.org/2010/09/20/no-tummy-time-necessary/

[wehrli]

Ashley, thanks for sharing that article... very interesting!

[Momtotherue]

Wow, thank you for sharing that! Now I feel like my instincts were validated :) I can relax now!

[jezebelle]

My 4mo is not a fan, either.  We have found that it makes it more acceptable to him to put him propped up, face-down, on our Boppy pillow than to lay him flat.  After having done that enough times, he is now okay on the floor.  Perhaps try working your way down to flat.

[TheDivineMrsM]

Originally Posted by samstress 

well, this is ridiculous.  some babies just don't like it.  dd didn't, ds does (and both of my children are/were both held a ton). 

You can't hold a baby too much!! My DD is six months and HATED tummy time. I think she learned to roll strictly so she could get out of the position, lol. 

Crawling stopped being a formal developmental milestone b/c many babies skip it. Try not to worry!