My baby hates tummy time. :(

Kari - posted on 03/10/2010

My son also hated tummy time, he would stay there for about 5 minutes and then cry. I would put him on top of me so we were tummy to tummy, he seemed to enjoy that, plus they try to lift their heads up to look at your face. One day around 6 months, my son realized he loved tummy time, and now I can't keep him on his back long enough to even change his diaper...you can't win...lol! Good luck!

Brianna - posted on 03/10/2010

my daughter is almost 4 months and hated tummy time last week i bought a tummy time playmat that has the pillow the goes under her chest and SHE LOVES IT. she hasn'tcried during tummy time since

Melissa - posted on 03/10/2010

My son wouldn't have it! After about 2 1/2-3 months he started rolling over. Eventually they will build up the muscles. One of the bigger concerns is flattening on the back of the head from being down all the time. If your son can hold his head up, try holding him upright more often. You could also do an exersaucer or a jumperoo. If you have a bumbo you could also put him in that and play with him. Hope some of this helps.

Chatty - posted on 03/10/2010

My daughter will be 18 months tomorrow.......as a baby she intially HATED tummy time so I would never leave her more than a few minutes at a time because she would start to fuss or cry! Instead of leaving her for long periods of time I just shortened the time but increased the number of times I would put her on her tummy! I would get down on the floor and lay with her, talking and encouraging her with toys and eventually the time she would spend on her tummy got longer and longer.....I wouldn't say she ever learned to LOVE it but every baby is different so definitely don't be worried that she isn't gettin enuff time!



As for alternatives? Hmmm......not my area of expertise!! I found a link but it's not working so I've copied and pasted the article here......I know it's a lot to read but further down it offers alternative positions.....hope this helps!?





Why is Tummy Time So Important?

Ever since studies showed that tummy sleeping could increase the risk of SIDS, parents have been told to put their babies to sleep on their backs, rather than on their stomachs. An excellent idea, and one which has reduced the incidence of SIDS by over 50%, thereby saving babies’ lives. At the same time, there are two inevitable side effects that come along with increased back sleeping:



· Babies who sleep on their backs are at a higher risk of positional plagiocephaly, or baby flat-head syndrome. The sleeping surface can apply pressure to the soft backs of their heads, creating a misshapen head.



· Babies who sleep on their backs meet certain developmental milestones more slowly, such as pushing up, turning over, crawling, and walking. This makes sense, because babies who spend less time on their tummies get less practice using their chest and arm muscles and have fewer opportunities to try out these skills.



Giving babies tummy time while they are awake reduces the risk of developing positional plagiocephaly, and it also gives them a chance to use the muscles that they will need for crawling.



When to Start

Many parents wonder when they should start giving their babies tummy time. The answer? As soon as possible. The earlier you start them on tummy time, the earlier they’ll get used to it and view it as a normal part of life. If you can, begin giving your baby tummy time while you’re still in the hospital. It could be that your baby will never have tummy time problems to begin with!



Timing

Before you decide to introduce tummy time, check to see if the timing is right. Did your baby just eat? If so, being on his stomach might be uncomfortable. Is he tired or hungry? If so, make sure he’s comfortable before you begin.



At the beginning, place your baby on his stomach for very short intervals. When your baby starts crying, pick him up and try again later. If that means picking him up after ten seconds, so be it.



Entertainment

How would you feel if someone left you in an uncomfortable position to stare at a blank wall? During tummy time, your baby needs some entertainment. Get down on the floor and join her! Put your face close to hers and make funny faces or play peek-a-boo. Introduce a brightly-colored toy, or softly shake a rattle near her head. These distractions will keep her more willing to endure longer stretches of tummy time, and eventually she may even connect tummy time with enjoyable play.



Alternative Positions

There’s no rule that tummy time only “counts” if the baby is flat on the floor. Try laying your baby on your stomach, tummy to tummy. Carrying her over your shoulder is another alternative that takes the pressure off the back of her head. Even laying her tummy-down across your linked arms is better than putting her on her back.



If your baby cannot yet hold up her head, try laying her across a nursing pillow or on a rolled up blanket. The change in position may spark her interest. Better yet, my mother said that she spent years eating her meals with one of us lying face down across her knees (I’m one of four siblings). Although that idea never worked for my baby, I’ve heard other parents maintain that it was the only way they could eat in peace.



So if your baby seems to hate tummy time, take heart! Others have been there before, and we’ve persevered. And in no time, your doctor will be telling you that your child should be sitting for twenty minutes on the potty, and you’ll think “twenty minutes? Try twenty seconds!” Time flies, so enjoy your baby while it lasts.







Read more: http://www.brighthub.com/education/early...