How can I get her to enjoy tummy time more?

Becky - posted on 01/23/2009

My little man hated tummy time as well. I started putting him down pretty much right from 1 week old. He was fine with it at first but then got so frustrated with it which made me frustrated. At about 2 months of trying with nothing but fighting, I bought one of those little mats with the toys on it to use. This one had a mirror on one side. He loved that mirror. After he found that, he loved being on his tummy to look at the "sexy little baby" in the mirror.

Rachel - posted on 01/23/2009

I would put my little one on a change mat & towel and place her on her tummy with no nappy on. Also if bathtime is loved, hold her in the water on her tummy with toys in front of her to try and grab, that may also get her used to the different perspective.

Tam - posted on 01/21/2009

Don't worry, she will reach all the developmental milestones, just on her own schedule.  My 2 kids were behind the curve w/ crawling, walking & talking, but eventually they did it.  

Tummy time is good for strengthening the neck & all, but it's not a necessity.  As long as you try, a little bit should be OK. It's easy to get caught up in "deadlines," esp. when you hear about other babies doing things b/f yours.  Sometimes they skip a milestone, too.  My daughter was a fast, avid crawler until she finally realized walking was even better at 16 mos. Her older brother, now 6, went directly from rolling to crawling backwards (very briefly) to walking, basically bypassing regular crawling altogether.

Try not to worry  :-)  

Tara - posted on 01/21/2009

my daughter hated tummy time. she would have a fit . sometimes she woukd be ok for a bit if we were on the bed, it's softer than the floor. and if it too soon after they eat, it hurts. i didn't give her tummy time everyday , she preferred to play on her back. she eventually started scooting around on her back. once she could roll over on her own, she loved being on her belly. she's 9 months old now and just started crawling. play mats or blankets with pictures and colors help too. boppy's are a wonderful invention too.

Paulette - posted on 01/21/2009

Quoting Becky:

Yeah, it just gets their face off the floor and is a little more comfortable.

Hi Becky, How would they build muscle tone/strength if they are supported by the boppy pillow? Isn't that what tummy time does for them? I am just wondering...

Shani - posted on 01/21/2009

Thanks guys...I was getting so frustrated with what to do. Shes almost 4 months old and can only lift her head. Will she catch up?

Corrine - posted on 01/21/2009

dont worry about it. my son hated tummy time too. i use to use a small pillow, and i would out it under his chest. i also found that the water mat things worked good. its a padded mat, with a pillow that velcros to the top, and above the pillow is a plastic area that you fill up with water, and there are toy fis and stuff in it. he liked that alot. it took him some time to get use to laying on his stomach, but i had no choice because he was starting to flatten one side of his head from laying on his back so much. she'll come around

Alex - posted on 01/21/2009

That's great advice from Becky.  If like me you don't have a boppy, you can roll up a towel for the same effect.  Basically, you place them on their tummy with the boppy or towel under their chest (about armpit level) and that helps them see around while on their tummy.  My son hated tummy time until he learned to roll over himself or unless we used the towel.   So work with her on rolling over too, that will help with liking tummy time more.

Becky - posted on 01/21/2009

Yeah, it just gets their face off the floor and is a little more comfortable.

Paulette - posted on 01/21/2009

Hi Shani, My daughter did not like it either. How I got her to spend at least some time on the floor was to get down there with her. I would interact with her toys and her. Putting the toy just out of her reach and once she moved plus reached it, I would move it a little further away.

Shani - posted on 01/21/2009

Ah no I havent. I have one so I will give it a try...thanks so much!

Becky - posted on 01/21/2009

Do you have a Boppy?  I put my daughter tummy down on the boppy and put toys/books in front of her (whatever she like to play with).  Eventually she was happy to have tummy time without the Boppy!!!  I swear by the Boppy for all kinds of uses.  My daughter is almost 2 and she likes to lay in it and watch TV!!