Help! My son is 4 months old and hates tummy time. What do I do? I'm worried he'll never crawl.

Isabelle - posted on 03/09/2009

they all learn to crawl eventually!! have you ever heard an adult saying 'i cant crawl becasue i didnt when i was a baby'?!

my son only crawled at 9 months, he didnt like behing on his tummy as well, so we just put him on his tummy for a few minuts every day. and now (less then two months later) hes almost walking!

Martina - posted on 03/09/2009

Don't worry, they don't all like tummy time! My son never liked it, and even now at 6 months he will spend a minute or two on his tummy, but usually starts crying or fussing if I don't move him. I just made sure to give him a few minutes on his tummy every day (without letting him get too upset), and gave him lots of toys or played with him. Also, try giving him tummy time on your tummy, he might enjoy seeing your face. My son will try and crawl up my tummy, it's really cute and fun for me too. Good luck!

Kerri - posted on 03/09/2009

My son is 9 months old and still hates being on his tummy! Dont stress - crawling isnt a milestone for babies and not all babies crawl. Mine certainly wont - he sits perfectly and is now starting to walk if you hold his hands - so I think he will go straight to walking. So dont worry and dont push her to do tummy time if she doesnt want to - it will come in time if she wants to or wont come if she doesnt want to!

Shanna - posted on 03/08/2009

My daughter (now almost 8 months) hated tummy time as well! She still rarely ever rolls from her tummy to her back. But she has been rolling from her back to her tummy since 3 months. She moves all around the living room on her tummy. She is not crawling yet but tries to get up on her hands and knees. I think your son will start to like it soon. My daughter hated it until about 5 months and no she enjoys it. She loves sitting up too.

Veronica - posted on 03/08/2009

Go down there with him.  My daughter didnt like it until I started going on the floor with her.  But once she got used to it she was rolling and scooting all over the place.  Try putting a mirror near him while hes on his tummy he may like that.

Jessica - posted on 02/28/2009

My son is 17 months and he hated tummy time as well. He would just cry and cry and cry. I let him do that for about 7 mins just so he could get used to it. Once we started working on rolling over, he enjoyed it. He never really fully got the hang of that either. he didnt really crawl the right either but he got around. Tummy time really is over-rated anyway. Some kids dont even crawl even if they had tummy time. My daughter had plenty of it and she never crawled. My son crawled for maybe a month and then he was walking by 9 months. Your baby will find what works and go with it. Good luck

Melody - posted on 02/26/2009

My son (now 9 months) hated it as well but if I put him on his tummy on me while I was lying down then he was happy. And slowly he got used to it. He also wasn't big on rolling over and didn't do that regularly till about 6 months. Give your son time he'll be fine don't spend all your time comparing it will drive you crazy!

Nicole - posted on 02/25/2009

My daughter was the same way! She HATED being on her stomach. When she was four months old and was just starting to roll over she would just roll right back to her back. She is 6 months old now and she will play on her stomach a lot more because she can prop up onto her arms so she doesn't mind it as much. I bet he will start to tolerate it more once he can prop up and roll over and he has more control.....Also, try using a mirror so he can see himself or proping him on a Boppy shaped pillow so his face isn't just lying flat on the floor or wherever you put him. He'll be fine!

Chivell - posted on 02/24/2009

Hey Alexandra,

  Dont be worried my lil mans only just taken to his belly in the last 3/4weeks he's now 5mth 3wks old. If he likes he back and is starting to roll then he'll do it in his own time. I know exectly how u feel i was worried but he screamed everytime i put him on his belly so i stopped doing it. But he could sit up with out help instead of belly time, now io cant keep him off his belly he plays on it and now even sleeps on it. He's now slowly starting to gain the power in his legs and might start crawling soonish. Goodluck and dont be too worried about it! :D

Rebecca - posted on 02/23/2009

my daughter hated it but now at 6 1/2 months she plants herself there from sitting. Don't stress tummy time is overrated when they are ready they will.

Alison - posted on 02/23/2009

My 6 month old daughter hates tummy time also! I attend a moms group and found that the only time I can get her to do it is there, she loves to look at everything around her. Don't worry at all if your son does not like tummy time that does not mean a thing. He will crawl when he is ready and maybe just start walking altogether!



Good luck

Kimberly - posted on 02/23/2009

I talked to a mom of a beautiful little girl at a birthday party for my nephew this weekend. I would guess her to be about 4 yrs old. Her mom said she never crawled...she scooted on her butt. And she was running around with the other kids just fine! Every kid finds their own way. Owen is 4 mos as of 2 days ago and is not rolling over with out a little nudge...he tolerates tummy time, but won't get his arms under him, but in every other area he is right on track. He was late holding his head up, and still rarely sleeps through the night (which is b/c he is a tiny kid...his stomache can't hold enough) He had some other medical probs @ birth, so we have a social worker we see regularly, and she says he is doing fine, no reason for concern. So that would go for your son too! If that is the only concern, I woldn't worry about it. If there are other milestones he is not hitting, ask your doctor. They will know whether you should be concerned.  :-)

Kelly - posted on 02/23/2009

when you lay him on the floor for tummy time you or someone else lay with him and interact with him. see if that will help