Maybe IM the bad Mum...

Nicole - posted on 02/26/2010

each baby is different. My 1st HATED tummy time, so I didn't push it. She loved when she finally was able to sit up. my 2nd doesn't mind tummy time, so she has more time on it. Really, do what feels right for your child. Having them on their tummies screaming is not a positive experience for you or them!

Amanda - posted on 02/25/2010

You are not a bad mom. If you feel like your child is doing things that he should be doing, then it really shouldn't matter. My son has hated tummy time. He is more tolerant of it now, but I think he does a fine job of holding himself up when he wants to. Additionally, I use the Boppy, and I put it underneath him. He seems to prefer that much better and will wiggle-crawl over it. It's really cute. I think my son just likes to be able to see, and if he's lazy at tummy time, he really can't.

Beck - posted on 02/25/2010

No you definatley are not a bad mum. with my 1st child i gave her tummy time every day. with my second i havent given her as much time but i have found that a towel rolled up and put under their chest to help prop them up a bit can help keep them happier for longer while on their tummy. good luck

Stephanie - posted on 02/24/2010

i personally never crawled... my son scoots backwards... hes already interested in trying to walk... born sept 2nd...

Jodie - posted on 02/23/2010

My daughter HATES being on her tummy and she has walkers both at home and at my parents. She will only be on her tummy if someones with her or the cats in reach or she wants to get to something. She much prefurs being upright in her walkers or bouncerchairs. Not all babies crawl my mum said that i just rolled everywhere and then walked. It differs. I put my daughter on her belly for 5 mins at a time or she gets frustrated and it seems to help her learn to crawl. She just prefurs her walkers.

Natasha - posted on 02/23/2010

My first son, LIVED on his stomache...This one, HATES it, and I mean put him down, he screams, he can roll over, but only through his little "tempertantrum" kicking his feet, and rolling over. But if I hold his hands and have him standing, he holds his head amazing, but on the floor he just wants to rub his face on the floor lol. But I still do it 10 minutes every day, even if he screams, Im sure he will get over his hate of being on his tummy. But yeah, never too late, slowly and surely they will start to at least tolerate it :)

Sarah - posted on 02/23/2010

no way! lots of babies, including mine dont like it at first. this week mine is finally tolerating it, and he is 5.5 months. and he still only stays on his elbows for a short time. something new within the past day or two now, he rolls to his back just so he doesnt have to be on his belly, lol. dont worry yourself! this is only the beginning, lol, there are alot more times you'll feel like your a bad mom. But no one is perfect, you just keep being the best mom you can be! Good Luck To Us Parents :)

Becky - posted on 02/23/2010

No, you're not a bad mom! Tummy time is good for them and is recommended, but in the long run, I don't really think it makes that big of a difference to their development, as long as they are getting exercise in other ways. By that, I mean, not just sitting in a swing or carrier all the time, where they can't move around much. If you use a bumbo at all, that will help strengthen his back and neck muscles. So will tummy time on your chest and even just carrying him upright, which is how most babies prefer to be carried by this age.
Also, lie him down on his back on the floor, on a playmat or with toys around them and he will try to get the toys. This will eventually lead to him rolling on to his tummy on his own, and once he does, he may decide he likes it!
He will crawl! Don't get stressed about when, because there is no magic age when they are "supposed" to crawl. And if he skips crawling and goes straight to pulling up and walking, well, that's the ultimate goal anyways! But babies want to get around and get in on the action, so tummy time or no, as long as he is down on the floor sometimes, he's going to figure out how to get around!

Amanda - posted on 02/23/2010

i was really bad about giving my son tummy time.. he didn;t roll over until he was about 5 months. at 8.5 months he took his first steps. he only crawled for a few weeks at around 6 months and then was crusing at 7 months. so don't worry to much about him not being able to crawl.

my daughter has tummy time every day and shes not rolling over yet either and im not worried. she turned 5 months on the 18th.

Tessa - posted on 02/23/2010

Ever since DS could sit up by himself ( a few weeks now) he really hasn't gotten any tummy time. I put him on his tummy yesterday, and it was almost like he forgot to roll over. He has NO interest in being on his belly, hands and knees, or crawling. He wants to stand, grab onto things, and try to walk, adn sit up. I think he's going to entirely skip the crawling stage.

Karalyn - posted on 02/22/2010

Of course he will still be able to crawl eventually. All babies learn at different paces. I dont give my babu tummy time everyday either, she hates it and im not going to make her miserable to make the health nurses happy. I know that she will learn to sit up and crawl soon and at her own time, and im happy with that. I would rather have my baby happy than to force her to learn sooner than she needs to. She knows when she is ready and thats when ill know shes ready!
GOOD LUCK

Sarah - posted on 02/22/2010

No Julie, you are not a bad mom at all!! I started my son on tummy time later than most people probably do, and he HATED it at first. He would cry and scream only after a few minutes & he also had problems spitting up while on his tummy for some reason. I have been putting him on his tummy more and more each day & he seems to be getting more used to it. He just started propping himself up on his elbows recently & he just turned 5 months, but he's not very consistent with it. And he's not rolling over consistently either. Don't worry...it's definitely not too late to start. Our boys will learn to roll, crawl, and everything else in due time! :)

Louise - posted on 02/22/2010

My son hated tummy time too, our chriopractor asked if she could work an him and ajusted his sacrum. That sme night put him on his tummy and he loved it, If you have a chiro you trust and who is qualified to work on infants I say go for it.

Julie - posted on 02/21/2010

It really does Dina. Very reassuring. Thanks :)

Dina - posted on 02/21/2010

Mine didn't like tummy time in the beginning. It is never to late to do that. Every baby is different. I give mine tummy time ever day and she can't prop herself up on her elbows and she is about to turn 5 months. Mine likes to stand with support. Some babies go straight to walking and avoid crawling. I made mine do tummy time even if she cried about it. Start off with a couple minutes then work your way up. I usually do mine on the bed and I sit on the floor so she is eye level with me and we coo at each other. Hope that helps

Julienne - posted on 01/27/2010

Don't feel bad. It's definately not too late. You should try making it fun for both of you!! I lay my little girl on my chest and then we lay on the bed together every time she gets up from her naps and I use it for us to be close together and also with practising kisses and rubbing noses.. It's so lovely. but my little one has always loved being on her tummy. She mostly only rolls back to front...

I am a physiotherapist - the more practice he gets now will get stronger. You definately haven't let him down. So what if he crawls a little later, in the scheme of things it's not a bad thing. Your defnately not a bad mum. good luck

Melissa - posted on 01/27/2010

my son was a bit ridiculous with it as well.i started putting a rolled up towel under his chest area with his arms in front of it. This really helped as i think he was finding it to much hard work. He is now able to do tummy time without it and hold his head up for a long time. Although he is now rolling over all of the time, so whenever i put him on his tummy he just rolls over. lol

Deb - posted on 01/27/2010

I have also been really bad about giving my girl tummy time. My daughet didnt like it at all. Some days she isnt put on her tummy at all. But lately I have been doing better and to my suprise she will now go about 10mins without fussing.

It is not too late to start...he will still be able to crawl (being on the tummy does help with muscle devlopment though). Try diffrent things to keep him entertained and try it for only a few min at a time several times a day. Maybe he will like it now.