Tummy time trouble.. Please make suggestion...

Katrina - posted on 12/27/2009

Give him tummy time on your chest, works the same muscles and doesn't get them all worked up. My little girl is only accepting the whole traditional tummy time ie on the floor on her tummy and she is a little over 6 months old. She's developed exactly as she's supposed to, is sitting up and everything. My boys accepted it earlier but in the beginning I did the same thing for them as well. I sit slightly reclined on the couch and put them on my chest on their tummy. It really does the same thing as putting them on the floor. Just get creative. It's all about strenghtening the muscles and getting them working. Not a single one of my children (3 of them) got flat heads and they all physically developed as they should, if not faster without being put on the floor on their tummies until they were older and wanted to try the whole loco motion part of development.

Sue - posted on 12/27/2009

Sounds like he is just being stubborn and taking his time! LOL. Each baby is different, as long as you are working with him and giving him the opportunity, that's what's important.

Sashell - posted on 12/27/2009

My daughter hated it until she was 4 months old. She would cry and protest until you picked her up... I wouldn't worry about it, just keep at it. When he fusses pick him up immediately though.

Brenda - posted on 12/26/2009

3 times a day may be too much on his tummy that young. He's still building his neck muscles and from that angle he has to lift his head to see anything. I used to give my son tummy time for about 20 minutes a day 1-2 times and then put him in his little bouncy seat to let those muscles relax. Plus when he's in the bouncy seat he uses different muscles in both his brain and body to try to play with the toys and see what's going on around him. I think it helps motivate them to want to see more at tummy time too, because now they know just how much they are really missing. in my opinion, bouncy seat time is just as important to baby's development as tummy time. It might help too if you put a small rolled up kitchen towel under his chest, that way he can develope those muscles a little slower rathere than all at once, and he won't miss out on those language skills while you are all talking too him.

Renee - posted on 12/26/2009

Normal. Those spinny tummy toys help. So does laying on the dining table. Stay right with him of course. But that way he can see more and you can lay your face right in front of him to keep his confident.

Lauren - posted on 12/25/2009

If you have a reclining chair, put him on your chest, so he's not quite so flat. That will make it easier and more enjoyable for him. It'll also help those little neck muscles to strengthen and soon when you do tummy time on the floor he'll be lifting his head easily. 10 weeks is still young for some babes to lift their heads... those things are heavy!!!

Tara - posted on 12/25/2009

If it's just his neck muscles you are trying to develop you can do it while holding him as well maybe he won't get so frustrated. Also maybe findsomething he really loves to look at. My daughter loved really shiny things when she was that age and she would do just about anything to look at something shiny. So maybe get soething he's really interested in and when his neck is strong enough it will be worth the effort to look up. Good luck, Tara

Elizabeth - posted on 12/18/2009

My daughter is 7 months old tomorrow and she just now loves to be on her tummy. She has hit all milestones but this one early. She like yours, never liked being on her tummy! But I put her on her tummy just until she got aggravated, then flipped her back over. She prolly didnt spend as much time on her tummy as the drs would have liked, but she still learned how to pick up her head, roll over, and kick her feet normally. She now loves being on her tummy and rolls around on her own. Just do it at their pace. Dont worry if he doesnt like it, he will soon enough!

Traci - posted on 12/18/2009

My daughter is 17 months now, and she didn't start lifting her head for a while. I'm guessing you have other kids that started early, but I read that its not bad if their late. I would give it some time.

Paula - posted on 12/18/2009

Keep up the tummy time... I was very concerned that the kids don't have flat heads...

Ashley - posted on 12/18/2009

When my son was little he had acid reflux, needless to say he hated being on his belly, the doctor said i should use a boppy pillo and tuck it under him and he seemed to like that better so he didnt fuss as much.

Carrie - posted on 12/18/2009

Is he teething? If so he may not care to get up. All he might want to do right now is chew on something. Also, he may never really get up that way. Not all kids do it. That is totally normal too. I have a niece that went straight to walking. She was just never comfortable on her stomach. And some kids just don't like to be on their knees.
Don't worry too much about it. I have twin boys that have done things at different times since they were born. Although they are a lot alike, one will be ahead of the other in physical development and the other in social. Then, it will switch around to other stuff. All kids have their own way.
If you are still really worried about his development, talk to your doctor and ask for your son to be tested.

Melissa - posted on 12/18/2009

Sounds to me like you're doing a fine job! It's normal for them to be like that...usually by 4 months they will be able to hold themselves up with their arms. In the meantime you can try using a breastfeeding pillow or rolled up towel to prop him up.

Rose - posted on 12/18/2009

Remember that for hundreds of years babies were learning to strengthen the muscles in their necks without directed tummy time. I'm not saying tummy time is a bad thing! I do it with my kids. But don't stress out too much just because he doesn't seem to be following the "norms" exactly. relax and let him be an individual. averages are simply that. It means there are plenty of other babies who are not doing exactly this at exactly this time. He'll come around. try holding him over your sholder as if to burp him and just protect his head from flying back. he may take more kindly to that.

Cortney - posted on 12/18/2009

give him time. my daughter hated being on her stomach until she was about 5 months old. now she loves it. try using toys that make noise or the boopy pillow. it might help

Mary - posted on 12/18/2009

Wear your baby in a sling every day and you wont need tummy time.

User - posted on 12/18/2009

my kids had huge heads and hated tummy time too. Let him have tummy time on your tummy or a boppy. This will be over before you know it.

Maggie - posted on 12/18/2009

try laying on your back and putting him on your chest. He might be motivated to get that head up to see your face. We also propped him up on a Boppy pillow (tummy and chest on the pillow) so his head wasn't directly on the floor. Don't worry, he'll get it when he's ready.

Catherine - posted on 12/18/2009

my daughter did that for months when she was little....just keep up and eventually he will get us to it

Rachel - posted on 12/18/2009

Keep doing tummy time, dont stop because he gets a lil frustrated, once he can keep his head up he will love it. Also by doing tummy time all the time it will make his neck stronger. Good Luck and I am sure everything is just fine.

Tabitha - posted on 12/18/2009

i bought a tummy time mat from Big W for $20 which has a padded mat and a little pillow to put under their arms which also has some toys hanging on it. my son had trouble getting into the tummy time thing but now at almost 6.5months he only spends about 5-15mins on it but loves it. it took me a long time but he is now doing really well. i really wouldnt be worried about it at just 10 weeks old...

Dayna - posted on 12/18/2009

Try placing a rolled up towel or receiving blanket under his chest (so if it were long enough it would come out under his arm pits). When he fusses, make sure you pick him up. The time spent on his stomach should increase slowly over the weeks. My little guy didn't like tummy time either. He puts up with it now.

Kathy - posted on 12/18/2009

some babies dont like being on their tummy,, my son sucked his fists too its normal he was more interested in his hands than anything else. Eventually your son will lift his head some babies take longer than others dont worry about it just yet.

Cherie - posted on 12/18/2009

The lady from early intervention just told me that a lot of babies don't like it because they don't have freedom to move around.......they can't just throw their arms up or anything, it's kinda like being up against a wall. My son only wants to be on his belly, I have to make him lay on his back so I'm not speaking from experience but we were talking about it the other day.......

Jessica - posted on 12/18/2009

This is so noraml. Try putting him on a comforter on the floor, my kids always seemed to like that and in no time were lifting their heads. A small pillow or a little rolls of the blanket in front of them helps from bumping their head. I say this because the first time they lift it, it will not be for a long period of time.

Jenny - posted on 12/18/2009

With my daughter, Sylvia, tummy time is done when she is lyin on my chest. She hates being on the floor, and this way I can talk to her and look her in her eyes. She has to pick up her head to look up at me, which strengthens the muscles. I have also heard that the Bobby pillow is a great way to do it, I just don't have one.

Trish - posted on 12/18/2009

That is all normal for this age IMO! just igve him some time and keep up with the playing. If he is getting really annoyed with it, just do it for a couple of minutes at a time so he doesnt come to dislike TT.

Also I had alot of luck with using the Boppy pillow during TT. And try shaking a rattle off to the side of his head, and getting him to atleast track it with his eyes and eventually he will move his head with it.



As always, if you have concerns discuss them with you Pedi.

GL and have fun!!! Th

Sheila - posted on 12/18/2009

Some kids just take longer, I wouldn't get too excited just yet. He will do things when he is ready, not because some book said he should be ready. Give it a little time yet.

Sarah - posted on 12/18/2009

I think ( from experience!) he will any moment....