Tummy time

I've been trying to do tummy time with the boys and they totally hate it. They usually start crying and wigging out within a couple of minutes. Will it stunt them horribly if they don't get much tummy time right now? Will they eventually start to like it? I hope so, they have to learn to role over and crawl at some point right?

 

Both of mine did not like tummy time a whole lot at first. I would do it a couple of minutes at a time (like 1-2 minutes) and eventually we also had them do tummy time on our chests and since our couch is buy the front window, we would lay them on the back on the couch on their tummies (with us holding them) so they could look out the window. It took a few months before they would even find tummy time tolerable. Good luck!

 

Our DD's also didn't tolerate tummy time that much at first. They too cried after only a couple of minutes no matter how many silly faces were made or toys rattled at them. They really didn't like it until they got good at holding up their head pretty high from the ground as their necks grew stronger (I think it was around 3 mos?).

Just keep trying a few times a day and they'll eventually come to enjoy it.

 

I think most babies do not like it. I know none of mine did. I would still stick to it though. I would sit beside them or lay down in front of them and soothingly talk to them. Encourage them as best I could. Once they started to role over was when it got easier for us. Its just the first of many "hard love" moments you will have. Just wait tell they start wanting to walk and they have to learn how to fall.

 

We brought this up to our pedi at the 4-mo visit, and he had a couple of points. 1) 10 - 15 min of crying isn't going to hurt them. 2) If they dislike it that much, they will learn to roll over sooner to get out of that position. He really encouraged it for us. I know I'm not good at putting them on their tummies enough, so my oldest was a bit of a late crawler, and my youngest DS has a bit of flat head.

 

Mine just started "enjoying" tummy time about 3 weeks ago...but here are some other things that you can try...

1) Tummy time on your chest helps them get used to being on their tummies...and helps strengthen their necks
2) Try them on a boppy pillow - my little girl loves this...she is propped up a bit, and it is soft
3) Lay them over your lap
4) I change diapers on our bed, so sometimes I put one on their tummy while I am changing the other

We started in small increments of time since they did not really like it...at about 4 months they rolled from front to back, and now they enjoy tummy time more - but still not for huge amounts of time.

Hope that helps!

 

No, it will not stunt them horribly if you dont do it now. I used a Boppy to help support them on their tummies and that seemed to help keep their interest.

 

Mine have just recently, in the last month or so, started tolerating tummy time more, and i think that is mainly because they are napping on their stomachs, but they HATED, even dispised tummy time for a LONG time..