when to start tummy time?

it's so sad how much I've forgotten from my other 3 kiddos. so when did you start having tummy time w/ your twins? and how did you do it? and how long did you start with?

my boys are still smaller than any of my others were at birth, but they're a month old. however their due date was just on Saturday the 24th. I just don't know what I'd do w/ them on their tummies. they still have little to no head control and think they should be held all the time.

anyway, I need a refresher.
Thanks,
Michelle

 

We started tummy time the first week - ours were 38-weekers, and they were already trying to lift their heads up then. I wouldn't worry, though - anything that gets them off their backs is good for exercising their necks (so holding them "counts" too!).

 

We put ours on their tummies right away. I think they lifted and turned their heads practically from the beginning, but I think that is because I put them on their tummies alot.

 

Absolutely ASAP, the longer you wait, the more they will fight it when you do start!

 

We waited a bit maybe a month or so and then started tummy time, but my babies were also born at 32weeks

 

We started with Becca right away - a little later with Jake (and he likes it less).

 

We started at about one month, although I wish we would have started earlier. The first time they lasted 30 seconds, and now they do about 2-5 minutes (when they get tired they lay their heads down and suck on their fist). I turn them over immediately when they start to cry and distract them with kisses.

 

Ours slept on their tummies in the NICU for the first 10 weeks - so we did tummy time right when they came home - at that point, they were 39 weeks gestation....

 

I was told to start tummy time right away (as long as I was right by them), but I started when they were about a month / month in a half.

 

Tummy time doesn't just have to be on the ground. You can put them across your legs and pat their backs as well, or on your chest to let them look at you. Those were the first kinds of tummy times our boys had. We slowly started adding floor time and flying time to help with their necks. (flying as in over our heads, they hold their bodies out like superman, and it builds muscles)

 

I just wanted to add they don't need neck control for tummy time, they will rest on the side of the head. To build neck control, they will lift their heads.

 

We were advised to start tummy time as soon as their belly buttons had healed. So we started around 2 weeks, and they were doing pretty well at first but then started disliking it and crying alot. I couldn't stand the crying, and they were SO hard to console afterwards that I got lazy about it and kind of gave up for about a month. Big mistake!!

It's taken me 3 weeks to get them back on track. I don't know if you have the baby einstein gym, but there's a little wedge pillow that comes with it that is perfect for tummy time. It takes a little of the "edge" off and helps them lift up more so they don't get quite so frustrated. Start early and keep it at it would be my advice!

 

We started at about 2 weeks old. Their doctor said to to it immediately, but I didn't feel comfortable with it. I started with just a couple of minutes at a time, and increased it as they seemed to enjoy it. My girls never really liked tummy time. Katelyn had torticolis (sp?) so we had to do tummy time very frequently to help strengthen her neck, it was all corrected by 3 months old.

 

I started pretty much after they were born. My twins pedi encouraged it, especially for Peyton who had a tightened neck muscle.