[Phoebe]

I have not been very good about tummy time for my 2 month old son. Everytime I think about it he has just finished nursing and he's got a full tummy and then I forget other times. How much time should he spend? He doesn't seem to like it much. Are there ways I can make it more enjoyable for him?

Thanks,
Amy

 

[linnea]

I think we don't give our 3 month old enough... I try to put her on her tummy at least once a day, but sometimes it just doesn't happen. I was really worried that she'd never learn to roll from her tummy to her back, but just yesterday we were having tummy playtime at her nana's house and she rolled over half a dozen times, every time we put her on her tummy.

She enjoys looking in mirrors when she's on her tummy. Before she was able to hold her head up very well, she really hated tummy time. It helps if I make sure when I put her down that her arms are in a position to help prop her up.

 

[LDSmomma6]

Tummy time cracks me up.

: My babies have all slept on their tummies from day 1, so I guess in my case, my kids need back time.

 

[3 Little Monkeys]

Mine is almost 7 months old and has hated tummy time from the beginning! The funny part about it is she prefers to sleep on her tummy, but the second she wakes up she starts fussing for someone to roll her back over (she seems to have forgotten how to roll back to her back lately) I've tried making it more fun, i get down with her and play, mirrors, toys, big sis - she just hates it. She'll go days without being on her tummy - she's right on target however as far as holding her head up, pushing up on her arms, trying to get her legs under her, etc. I'm little to no help, aren't I?

 

[beaconlighthero]

I put dd on tummy until she either got fussy or she fell asleep (always scared me to have her sleep on her tummy). She flips over now and get's frustrated because she wants to crawl so bad, but can't figure out what to do with her arms. It's so cute watching her little tushey wiggle about. She can sort of turn over on her back, but still get's frustrated.Then once you turn her over she is back on her tummy again. Yesterday I went in to check on her while she was napping and she was sleeping on her tummy. She was mad when she woke up

. I did the same with ds only once he figured out how to roll over completely he just rolled to wherever he wanted to be. :LOL

 

[stafl]

I never forced my baby (either of them, actually) to play on her tummy if she didn't want to, I think that's just not right. "Tummy time" is highly over-rated, IMO. Baby will learn to crawl when baby is ready to crawl, just like with everything else.

Now that she is more skilled at rolling over, she loves to play on the floor, on her tummy or on her back, scooting around and trying to crawl, and spends lots of time every day like that.

 

[Penguinlady]

dd hated tummy time with a passion so i would use a pillow. aw heck it is fun to get on my tummy too and see the world the way they see it. i used to be right next to her as we stared at the sky or ceiling when on our backs. talking to her helped,besides the pillow.

ds has to wait close to 1.5 hrs after eating due to his reflux. he really doesn't mind tummy time and holds his upper torso way up high while doing it. for him we do it in the morning and midday. 10 minutes at a time and i put the bright quilt his grandma made for him underneath. i join him and we chuckle.

 

[Welovedante]

Our ds is now 9 months old, but back before he could roll himself over, he HATED tummy time. So, we just let it be. We figured that cave-moms wouldn't put their kids on their tummies if it made the cave-babies scream, so we didn't force it. He still hit all his developmental milestones (actually, he was early), so I don't think it "hindered" him in any way to miss it.

 

[Beansmom]

I only did it a few times a week and she would start crying after about 5 minutes. I would get down on the floor with her and try to play with her. She rolled over at 3 months and since then she roles over on to her back shortly after I put her on her tummy.

 

[matts_mamamama]

We did tummy time all the time with our son when he was very little- his neck was stronger faster (compared to playgroup babies born at same time), and he crawled and rolled over sooner than the rest of them as well. Not saying that's true for all babies, but my son loved being on his tummy (we NEVER let him get to the point of screaming or being unhappy).

 

[AppleOrangePear]

HI from an OT ( therapist) and now mommy of 7.5 momma view:

I beleive tummy time is important since it is stressed to decrease SIDS to have babies sleep on there back babies these days are actually hitting milestones later. When most newborns were put to sleep on there bellys when they woke up it gave them more insentive to roll over and manuever about. Now that most babies ( as its safer to put them on there back) sstart out anyway sleeping on there back they already have a view and dont have to work to look around/ Does that make sense?....
As for tummy time itself it is recommended if they are awake adn you are not holding htem it is good to place them on there tummy. A few minutes off and on through he day is good. 2 toys i highly recommend ( even though i prefere old fashion wood toys lol) is playschool tummy time picture show and tummy time plus.. i havent seen a baby that hasnt enjoyed it.
Another way to help baby enjoy tummy time over all is when you are holding them play air plane ( hold them belly down in the air or lay them over oyur lap belly down so they have to lift there head) now im not saying you have to give them 'therapy;if this is how its coming across lol there just suggestions.
Bobby pillows are great for helping strength however you dont wnat ot use it to long cause then tend to compensate.
Slings are also great for increasing neck and trunk control along with improving a babies vestibular input.
I had a friend ( no longer as we reallyl got into it) her son is 7.5 months old and still cant push up on his amrs when on his tummy along with other things he cant do.. Ive stressed to her the importance of floor time etc she kept him in a swing all darn day.. well not all day but alot of the time)
She swore my son seemed ahead cause I do 'therapy' on him lol that im magical lol NO its called a naturally developing child.. My son Kai develops because of his own curiosity and WILL.. OH YES WILL! LOL
As of today my son,Kai is 7.5 months old he crawls EVERYWHERE and if you hold his hands he can RUN LOL we are soooo in for it lol.... today he pulled him self up and opend all my dresser drawers so he could TRY to climb them..
If anyone has any kind of play ??? let me know and ill be more then happy to give you fun ideas

Michele
WWW.NaturalFamilyLiving.net
(updated site mid June)

 

[sagira]

My ds hated being on his tummy. He would cry and complain (he would get red in the face and I felt so sorry for him). So he hardly got any tummy time at all in the early months. I kept trying once a week or so to see if he'd acquiesce.

At 4 months he thought it was grand (he could also hold his head up nicely since 3 months) and even rolled over a couple of times. Then he stopped rolling over and just stayed there on his tummy (all this until he was 8 months old). Ds started sitting up (and very well, mind you) at 6.5 months, stood up at 7 months, started crawling at 8, and is now (9 months) rolling over like crazy, crawling all over the place, standing up straight with or without stuff in his hands for a minute or more at a time, starting to cruise a bit, and walks really well when he hold him by his hands.

 

[beaconlighthero]

:

 

[Ex Libris]

Hi Amy, like you I often forget to give my 3 mo. old tummy time. Maybe it's because he hates it! everytime I put him there he gets frustrated in about 2 minutes. I figure I shouldn't force him. So we just do it until I see he's getting upset and then flip him over. I've tried to get down at his level and interact with him, but he just ignores me and continues getting frustrated. Must take after his dad--hates not being able to do something!

But ds's head is pretty strong already so i'm not going to worry about it. So far he doesn't seem to show any readiness to flip over himself. Fine with me. He's growing up way to fast!

 

[mthomas]

my guy is just now starting to be okay w/tummy time, but not more than 10 min or so at a time. I didnt really start him on tummytime until he was maybe 3 -3.5 months old. He's 5 mo now and has only rolled over once. Lack of time on his belly may have something to do w/that...or maybe not. I figure he'll roll and crawl when he wants

.

 

[Boobiemama]

I wasnt giving my baby any tummy time. he didnt like it at all. He would just wiggle and fuss then spit up and rub his face in it.

Besides he was mostly being carried around or in the sling. When he wasnt in my arms, he was content to sit in his little chair.

Well, in the past few days, he has gained alot of neck strength. I put him on his tummy today and he looks like a big baby! It is amazing what he can do now! So now, in the past few days, he has about 20 minutes on the floor with me sitting by him. I cant leave him alone on the floor like I did with ,my older kids, because its too crazy in the house now, someone will step on him!

I think if they dont like it, dont do it, they will eventually like it and be able to spend more tummy time like mine. He is 16 weeks this week.