my 5 month old hates tummy time n wont lift up his head

Shweta - posted on 06/05/2012

Megan i m going thru the same prob.with my baby , Please share how u helped your baby .

Connie - posted on 01/28/2010

Two articles on why tummy time is so important:
http://early-childhood-development.suite...

http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?Sect...

Connie - posted on 01/28/2010

Tummy time is SO important to their muscle development!!! There is research showing that a lack of tummy time in the first 6 months leads to decreased balance, hand strength for writing around kindergarten age, and many other muscle issues. That is why it is so often touted as something you need to do. It's not just a random suggestion. Remember that it doesn't matter if they like it, our job as parents is to do what's best for our children. Babies gain strides through FRUSTRATION! It is the fact that they don't like it that leads to raising their heads, it is reaching for toys beyond their reach (when crying doesn't get you to bring it to them!) that leads to scooting and crawling. It is trying to get to items out of their reach that leads to standing up and cruising and eventually walking! It is when communication through tears and gestures doesn't work effectively that they talk beyond mimicking us. As parents, it is up to us to let our children be challenged. Throughout history, only NOW do we as parents have the luxury of time to indulge our children. Babies were left on a blanket, on their tummies, to play independently while the mothers worked. (When not in a sling to be carried around.) The more your child is on the tummy, the more they will become accustomed to the position and not fuss.

Tracy - posted on 01/28/2010

please take your baby to a very good chiropractor..sometimes the birthing process is hard on the babies necks...we had two grandchildren that couldnow turn their heads to the left when they were infants and their necks were out of place....

Amanda - posted on 01/27/2010

My son is the same but we keep working on it and he has liked it better and better. I wouldnt worry, like someone else said they develop at their own pace. I also let my son nap on his belly when I am awake and around to keep an eye on him. He seems to be more comfortable with belly time because of that too.

Sabrina - posted on 01/27/2010

GIve this a try: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp...
Don't let the reviews scare you; I'm sure you can find other objects to put under to entertain him.
Incidentally, I had the same experience with Nikki. Don't overly stress too much :)

Chelsea - posted on 01/27/2010

try belly time on your belly to keep him interested, my girl was kinda the same way but she would push up from us, and since she didn't like to lay on her tummy on the groiund we just let her watch tv on her back and she started rolling over and she's 6 months on the 9th

Peta - posted on 01/27/2010

Did your little man suffer from reflux as an early infant, this can sometimes make them not like tummy time as it can trigger the reflux and burning sensation associated with it, if he didnt have it then possibly the reason why he doesnt put his head up is because he doesnt like tummy time and refuses to do it - sort of being stubborn and a catch 22 situation. If there is no reflux the only solution is persistance and to make it more fun and exciting down there for him too.

Holly - posted on 01/27/2010

3 of my 4 kids hated tummy time!!! I never pushed the issue too much. I waited for them to like it. Interestingly enough, my 1st 3 never did like tummy time and none of them ever crawled. They walked at 10, 9, and 12 months respectively. The only one that did like tummy time is my almost 7 month old who just started crawling in the past couple days.

Don't stess about the head thing either. His muscle tone will come. Some kids just seem to have heavy heads (my 3rd seemed to and he is now a healthy happy 3 1/2 year old.

Tricia - posted on 01/27/2010

My son lost a lot of weight after he was born and this caused low muscle tone. He couldn't lift his head and was very floppy. We started going to physiotherapy once a week and some of the excercises included tummy time. I agree that he enjoyed that much more if i would lay in front and talk to him or play with him. hold toys that he loves abouv his head slightly so that he has to lift his head to see them. Another thing was to hold him in the bath on his tummy. Lay him down the length of ur arm to support him. I think Lachlan's favourite one though was on the gym ball - the big excercise balls that u sit on for pilates etc. lay him on top of it on his tummy while u r holding his legs and let it roll forward with him. u can pull him pack and forth gently. Lachlan was well over 6 months b4 he was able to sit up by himself etc. He didn't walk until he was 17 months old but then there was no holding back. The physiotherapist told me when he was 18 months old that he would always be 6 or 12 months behind other kids his age in these skills. I stressed for the next 6 months over how that would effect him. The week he turned 2 he done everything on the checklist that a 2 year old does and over half of what a 3 year old is expected to do so don't worry too much about it. I would recommend that you have it checked out though to rule anything serious out and also to get any treatment or excercise program that will help him. I hope this helps, let me know if you would like any more info or ideas.

Paulette - posted on 01/27/2010

My son hated tummy time. Around 6 months he started rolling over on his tummy himself, then loved it. He didn't mind being on his tummy when Daddy or I held him on our tummy - you can try that for him to practice moving his head up to look at you.

Krista - posted on 01/26/2010

Mine used to hate it, too. What helped was to put my husband's laptop in front of him and play him YouTube videos of puppies playing -- it would keep his attention for at least a few minutes. For the longest time he barely lifted his head, and then it was like overnight he suddenly was able to push himself up half-way, and now he's able to roll over from front to back.

One alternative is for you to lean back and hold him on your chest. So he's not completely horizontal, but he'll still have the opportunity to strengthen his neck and shoulder muscles. And try not to stress about it. They all figure it out eventually.

Amanda - posted on 01/26/2010

when my son was little i would prop him up on his belly on his boppy or a pillow and i would lay in from of his and talk to him or just get some toys to distract him... he also hated it but i didnt push it i just did it until he was upset.

Pauline - posted on 01/26/2010

Hi my little girl too hate tummy time but I put her every day for about 3mins and she start lifting her head up now and roll. She is 6months and half now and still hate it but I try to put her on her tummy to help her muscle stright....

Mel - posted on 01/26/2010

our daughter hates it too dont worry about it he willl do it when hes ready. Try using a V pillow to prop him up

Miranda - posted on 01/26/2010

My son too hated tummy time! He would get upset and grunt, and I would end up picking him up! I agree with the other moms that have suggested placing him on your belly. Placing a favorite toy in front of him may help too? But listen to your instincts and if you truly feel worried about him take him to your pediatrician. There may be absolutely nothing wrong, but it may give you some piece of mind.

Kimberlee - posted on 01/26/2010

a boppy is one of many pillows that support baby when you feed.That also can serve as there favorite seat.my little guy loves ours.Boppys are a little spendy.I got him a comparable one at walmart for half the cost right in the baby section.

Tummy time is a battle.They cry thats what they do. My little guy still crys every now and then.But he def appreciates tummy time now. I would def get down there with him.Milou likes especially when i have a blanket with a picture of something.I have quilts with animals and he loves that.Putting many different things for him to go gaga on the blankie is also wonderful.COLOR is key.They get so stimulated that way well my experience.

Krissy - posted on 01/25/2010

may i ask what a boppy is ? i'm very confuesed to what it is

Melissa - posted on 01/25/2010

my son is now 7 weeks...he was doing what your son does...hated being on his tummy. I started putting him on his boppy on his tummy so that he wasn't flat on his stomach...it wasn't very long after that he started lifting his head and he stopped fussing. Now he lays on the floor and lifts his head, he does get mad after a while but it takes a while. Good luck.

Krissy - posted on 01/25/2010

it's called spin and explore garden from learning curve lamaze

Krissy - posted on 01/25/2010

i have got given a Lamaze lady bird tummy turn around it lays on the ground with a turntable that has a body form in the midle thingamy jig, my girl hadted tumy time and she didnt rally like this but it helped her neak mucles and she figured out how to use it at 4 months she still hates tummy time even though she has just learned to roll over onto it . i hope you can fin it on internet if i do i'll post you the name but it is by lamaze.

Venessa - posted on 01/25/2010

my son had the same proublem so i took his favorite toy and made him work for it

Andrea - posted on 01/25/2010

My son was the same way. I sort of didn't really do tummy time again till he was about 6 1/2 months. That day he rolled over for the first time. Then he was unstoppable. LOL. I think you have to let your kids develop at their own pace. I also took my son to the chiropractor. This helped with head movement.

Nikki - posted on 01/25/2010

My 7 month old son DESPISED tummy time, he would scream so loud anytime we would try to put him on his stomache , we gave up and then when he was 6 months he rolled over onto his tummy, for the first time on his own and LOVED it!!! He now spends more time on his tummy then on his back, he can push himself up but he still burrows his head when he tries to crawl he's got the lifting his bum down pact but no clue what to do with his arms , but can pull himself up onto furniture. This happened really quickly and completely out of the blue.

I really don't think you need to worry your son will enjoy it when he is ready, my friend's son did the same thing.

Jill - posted on 01/25/2010

As Cristy said try and put him on your tummy while your on your back. As for the lifting head i wouldn't worry about it too much. As they all do things in there on time. But if it is making you so worry take him to the doc they will be able to do test and tell you if there is anything to worry about. If it is upsetting you to much to see him upset leave it a couple of days then try again. He will like it when he can start to move around more. best of luck.

Cristy - posted on 01/25/2010

Do tummy time with him laying on top of you or his dad. Get down on the floor with him and talk to him. If you're worried about bubbies head get it checked out. How's his head and neck control while sitting? Can he comfortably turn his head both directions?