Toddlers who didn't get much tummy time as babies...?

Amanda - posted on 02/26/2010

My daughter wouldn't do tummy time at all. She didnt crawl till she was 8 months. She took her first steps just before she turned one. She is now 22 months, walks, runs. She talks alot and is making sentences now. She learns very quickly. I wouldnt worry too much about tummy time. My doctor told me it does help the upper body muscles but you can let the child pull itself up with your fingers and it will do the same. I never put her to bed on her tummy cause she wouldnt go to sleep and if i tried to put her on her tummy when she was sleeping she would wake.

Marionette - posted on 02/26/2010

My sisters baby had a lot of tummy time every day and it did not do him any good he ended up not walking till he was like 19 months old and did not crawl till he was 10 months. He has been diagnosed as developmentally delayed. So like every one has said listen to your baby not the "experts" Enjoy your child for as long as she/he will let you.

Kay - posted on 02/26/2010

both my daughters hated tummy time, first time around I persisted & tried to force her to do tummy time, but second time around I listened to my child instead of the "experts'. They both crawled around 10 months and were walking around 16 months. They will be 4 & 2 in May & both have great speech (even #2 who loves her dummy - despite what the "experts" say about that!)

Jessi - posted on 02/26/2010

My daughter hated tummy time. she did less than what you put in your post. She didnt' crawl, she scooted on her butt, then crawled for a week or two and then walked. She was a late walker, didn't walk until 15 months. She is four years old and from reports from her preschool teachers, she's pretty smart!

Erin - posted on 02/25/2010

My daughter also HATED tummy time, she would scream like I was murdering her the second she was put on her tummy. She crawled at 8 1/2 months and started walking at 11 months, it certainly didn't affect her speech or reading, she started talking at 5 months and now at 26 months is starting to read phonetically and can write some letters. I did hear about the issues with babies walking before they crawled and we were really worried about that as well since it seemed she was going to walk before crawling but fortunately it just clicked one day for her.

Jackie - posted on 02/25/2010

i also wanted to add that I have also heard the line of how my daughter will have developmental issues b/c she didn't crawl, and i had to force her to crawl (which by the way is more or less impossible!). one thing i have noticed is alot of people with this theory are in the same age bracket, so my thought is at one time back then maybe this was what the professional community believed? Like I said, the doctors I've talked to haven't been concerned...i find it hard to see the connection with speech, but time will tell i guess.

Kim - posted on 02/25/2010

Hi my daughter hated tummy time 2mins was enough! She didnt crawl till she was 8mth old but she could already stand and cruise by 7mth,she started walking at 9mth10days she is 2 in 3wks she is very active and lively,and her speech is jst starting to come we can understand a few words but she tries her hardest to copy wot we say,i wouldnt worry about wot uve heard jst do lots of talking and reading.

Jackie - posted on 02/25/2010

my daughter is 14 mos, hated tummy time and never crawled. Her doctor said it didn't matter. she scooted on her but and just started walking yesterday. she is too young to assess her speaking,but I can say she is already trying to talk and has been for a while.

Delaney - posted on 02/25/2010

My daughter is just about 22 months old now.

Amanda - posted on 02/25/2010

My oldest child, didnt do tummy time, she didnt really crawl, she was walking on her own by 7-8 months, walking holding on to things at 5-6 months. She is an amazing reader, in grade 3 she was tested for gifted. Now in grade 6 she is an A student, her reading lvl is above grade 8.



My son who was just dignosed as a learning disorder in school (caused by not being able to read well), crawled from age 6 months to one year. At a year he learned how to walk. His reading is way behide his grade lvl.



Their father is extremely dyslexic, he also crawled for plenty of time, and started walking around 12 months. I dont hold much weight to that no crawl no good reading skills.

Mia - posted on 02/25/2010

Thanks for all your reassurance.
The dyslexia thing - I read that 70% of dyslexics never crawled. So walking early is great, but the problem is that they *skipped crawling*.
Anyway, not much I can do except try and persist, and see what happens.

Caitie - posted on 02/25/2010

My daughter maybe had 1 hr of tummy time her entire life up to 5 months when she started crawling, she crawled from 5 months to 10 months and the she started walking. My daughter always slept on her side but sometimes on her back, NEVER on her tummy. My daughter is 19 months old and she RUNS everywhere like a maniac. Lol.

Meghan - posted on 02/24/2010

my son hated tummy time aswell. The nurses where actually getting concerned by the bald spot when he was 5 months old. Then one day (around 6 months) he flipped over and started to pull himself, by 6 1/2 months he was crawling and pulling himself up to stand. Now at 16 months he is climbing, running and skipping all over the place. He says over 25 words and is start to put small sentances together. I would put him on his back to sleep b/c that is what you are told to do to prevent SIDS but he slept on his back if he wasn't attached to me lol. I think there is way too much put into tummy time. Just encourage it, get down and play while the baby is on their tummy and they will do what they need to when they are ready!

Mia - posted on 02/24/2010

Thanks Delaney. How old is your daughter now?

Michelle - posted on 02/24/2010

My son is now 17 months and runs me ragged... literally! He HATED tummy time as an infant. I mean he would howl and roll over onto his back as fast as he could figure out how. He took his first real step at 12 months and certainly isn't having any problems now. Cameron crawled from about 7 months or maybe a little earlier but was going sonic speed crawling at 9. lol As for the langauge/learning impediments-- I'm not sure I buy that. My son is not behind developmentally in any way as of right now. My older brother who is dyslexic was apparently walking long before a yr and liked being on his tummy as a baby. So I'd try not to worry too much. I believe those issues develop more for children who are left lying on their backs, staring at the ceiling. If you sit your child up and interact with them, letting them see the world and test their bodies limits on their own daily (which is how they progress) then they'll be fine. imho anyway. good luck and enjoy your baby right where they're at! :-)

Delaney - posted on 02/24/2010

Well my daughter didn't have much tummy time because she hated it. She did however take her time to crawl. She would do the army shuffle as I called it. She would use her hands and pull herself a long. Then one day, she crawled. She then realized that she could walk on her knees, and did that for what seemed like forever! She didn't start walking on her own until she was 17 months. All the dr's told me there was something wrong with her. I never believe what dr's say. I believe children will do what they want to do. Babies do have their own minds even when they are infants. My daughter at times didn't want to be held, and would cry until we put her down. Now my daughter is very creative, has a great imagination, and gets along well with others. She is very helpful. She likes to help with the laundry, and put things in the garbage. She is getting into talking, and making full words. Don't worry about the "experts" say. I never have and my daughter is thriving!