How do I get my 2 1/2 month old to get use to tummy time?

Deanne - posted on 01/30/2010

tummy time is highly over rated I didn't do this with my babies and they all (3) developed just fine when they are ready to start rolling around on their own that is plenty soon enough

Laura - posted on 01/29/2010

i think it's fair to say that almost every child dislikes tummy time! i expressed to my daughters Dr that she hates tummy time, just like my son did! he reassured me there are other forms of 'tummy' time! one of them being...Lay on your back, slightly reclined and have your baby lay on your chest tummy down and talk to him, he will want to look at you and that way it will get him his tummy time and you and him get more bonding time! the dads can also do this too and that way they can get their close bonding time in too! just a little warning though, babies that are not used to a lot of tummy time tend to spit up the first few times they do this, i put a burp rag on my chest before putting my daughter on my chest just to be on the safe side :)

Erica - posted on 01/29/2010

Thanks everyone for the help!

Theresa - posted on 01/29/2010

My children never liked tummy time either. None of them did very much of it because they hated it. They all developed just fine. But here are a couple suggestioins to get some time any way. 1) Lay on your tummy facing him so that he can see you and interact with you 2) Lay on your back and put him on your tummy (tummy to tummy) that way he can also see you and interact with you. Just make sure he's down far enough the drool lands on your chest, not your face. :) These two things helped my kids get a little tummy time in anyway.

Make sure he's spending time upright so he's not laying on his back all the time so his head doesn't flatten in the back. My kids loved their swing and the excersauser. I would tuck a blanket in by their tummies to help them sit up in the excersauser. As long as he can hold his head up it works.

Lacey - posted on 01/29/2010

have you tried using a nursing pillow..lay it on the floor and put him on his stomach in the middle of it...my son was the same way until i started using a nursing pillow..i would put him on it and put some toys in front of him..

Monica - posted on 01/29/2010

Alot of babies dont like tummy time, especially ones with alot of gas. Try to give him tummy time befor feedings, and interact with him with his favourite toys during tummy time. I put on baby einstein while mine had tummy time, they loved it and it encouraged them to lift up their head .

Helen - posted on 01/29/2010

Tummy time might be useful but your baby will learn these things in his own time. A panicked and upset baby will not use tummy time productively, let him do it at his own pace. My daughter is 5 months and she will only now be happy to go on her front.Because I didn't force her, she is very happy doing it now and laughs and giggles at it. Don't let other people's ideas guide you into doing something that doesn't work for you both.

Angel - posted on 01/29/2010

I had the same problem with my son. I would use a boppy for tummy time, and get down in the floor with him. I would shake his toys, anything to get his mind off being on his stomach. I would work little by little on time. first 2 mins then 3 so on... another thing I would do to help him on is lean back, and hold him on my chest so he would lift his head up and try to look around. He'll get it. :D

Caryn - posted on 01/29/2010

Also..if you are putting toys down for him. Only do one toy. More than that will just over stimulate him and will end up scaring him.

Caryn - posted on 01/29/2010

get down on the floor with him. I never left my babies on the floor for tummy time by themselves. Think about how they feel, they are little bitty and being left on a floor unattended in a room that to them is HUGE. Its scary. 2months is too young to be leaving alone anyways, even if you arent actually leaving the room-he doesn't know your not coming back.

Jean - posted on 01/29/2010

If you prop him on a boppy (or something similar) on his tummy it helps.. that way his head isnt right at the floor because I can see how that would be stressful for a little one.

Kristina - posted on 01/29/2010

All I can say is keep putting him on his stomach. They gradually get used to it, right now they just arent sure what to do because they cant really lift their head and look around yet. Just keep putting him on his tummy my son would freak out when I put him on his stomach to. Hes gonna cry and be upset but if you want him to build his muscles and crawl sooner than tummy time, tummy time, tummy time!

Roxanne - posted on 01/28/2010

if you roll up a wrap or something and put it in line with his nipples to hold that part of him up he may be more ok with it, worked for me.

Chantel - posted on 01/28/2010

my son hated tummy time also..but i didnt force him to do it or i didnt let him cry..i just held him like he was standing with hands support on the back of his neck and thats how his muscles got stronger..then every so often place him on his tummy an see what he does because babies are different..

Liane - posted on 01/28/2010

My son absolutely hated tummy time. I just stopped trying to force it with him. I figured he would get over it eventually. I did let the doc know he hated it and I wasn't pushing it with him. He didn't seem concerned in the least. My son is now almost 7 months old and still doesn't love it but he's strong and doesn't freak out on his tummy anymore. He just rolls over! Once in a while something will hold his attention and he'll stay that way for a few minutes but there is much more to look at when he's on his back or trying to sit up! If your son is developing fine, I wouldn't worry about it. He'll do it in his own time. Good luck to you and your son!

ASHLEY - posted on 01/28/2010

my son absolutely hated it too. he will start to like it as he gets stronger just try it everyday and eventually he will surprise you. :) he is six months now and rolling all over the floor and trying to crawl. So the limited tummy time in the begining didnt seem to hurt him at all. starting around 4 or 5 months he really seemed to like it more.

Nikki - posted on 01/28/2010

just wait til they are ready forcing it isnt going to help.

My son hated it then one day around 6 months he rolled over onto his tummy and now he loves it , he learned how to crawl very soon after and now is pulling himself up on everything

Now he sleeps on his tummy and Im so glad he only started that after 6 months b/c the risk of SIDS is sooo much lower

my son is extrenely strong and he had absolutely no tummy time, so it's not something you need to worry or stress about when he is ready he will do it

Kristen - posted on 01/28/2010

my daughter hated being on her tummy until she was like 6 months old. I didnt worry about it too much. I held her up like she was standing a lot because she liked it. Shes 8 months now and doing fine. He'll get used to it and start rolling on his own when he wants.

Heather - posted on 01/28/2010

1. Let him cry for a little bit. I know it is hard. 2. do only 2-3 min. at a time. My son hated it too. I hated hearing him cry so I skimped on it. Now he has a helmet to reshape his head. Maybe if he had more tummy time he wouldn't have kept his head in the same spot so much. No matter what though you need to do it at least 15 min per day. more you can do is better.