My little baby girl is 11 weeks old and I can’t count on one hand how many times I’ve had her do tummy time. Awful, right?! I was the same way with my first. Maybe that’s why she didn’t sit up until 7 months and didn’t walk until 13 months? Who knows. Doctors recommended 10 minutes, twice a day. But both of my girls have hated it! I feel like I’m being mean, just letting baby lie there crying and squirming. What’s the trick to making it more enjoyable for them? Or is it the norm to just let them freak out for 20 minutes a day to gain that much needed neck strength? Help!
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I NEVER did tummy time and my son sat up at 4 months, cruised at 8 months, and walked at 10. I figure that they get so much "tummy time" when they are just laying on your chest and are trying to lift their head up. Try not to worry!
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If you ever have them laying on their tummy on your chest and they try to lift their head around it totally counts!
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1) chest time on you counts
2) you can work your way up to 10 minute sessions (2 mins for a day, then 4, etc. let her get used to it)
3) I’m sure MANY people aren’t doing two 10 minute sessions a day (myself included)
4) make it more enjoyable by getting down on your tummy face to face with her (you can also do this on a changing table so it’s easier and also gives them a new perspective). Also are you propping her up on her elbows? Put her elbows in under her chest so she’s not face down)
5) 7 months to sit up and 13 months to walk aren’t late at all...so I don’t know why you are worried about that. Both are pretty normal. -
I'll be the other side. Both of mine loved tummy time. They were sitting about 4 months, but walking was at 15 and 14 months, respectively. They could crawl so well that they weren't in a hurry to walk.
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My baby has reflux, so tummy time has been hard. Unless he eats super fast (which usually leads to spitting up...) he's hardly awake long enough to digest enough to not spit up if we put him on his tummy.
That said, he's only been able to stand it lately. Sometimes it helps if I put him on the gym/mat on his back (so he can play with the hanging toys) first. Then's he's sort of already in the mode of "playing" and doesn't mind being turned over.
But yeah...we totally count time on our chests, time we "prop" him on the boppy on his tummy.
He's holding his head up and looking around, so I don't think it's hurt him at all.
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My kid didn’t mind tummy time. He sat up at 4 months, crawled at 6 months, but didn’t take his first unassisted steps until 13 months.
In the early days we would do tummy time in front of a floor mirror and I would put some Art Baby cards against the wall for him to look at. We used the breast pillow to prop him up. Later, I would put him on the floor and put toys and a “cotton ball” blanket he liked just out of reach.
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We used to do tummy time on our bed (kingsize, baby in the middle with a boppy) I would use the time to fold laundry or put laundry away. It seemed to help because I was moving around the room, and DD wanted to watch. And I could do something productive for a few minutes.
I also like that I could then sit on the ground and still be eye level with DD, instead of having to be laying flat on the ground. -
My daughter hated tummy time and hated the ergo when she was that age too. Her daycare teacher, whom I loved, finally figured out the only way to get her to do tummy time was to take her outside on the deck. She's always loved the outdoors.
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@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I love this set up.
@CatchAFallingStar: My LO has horrible reflux, tummy time usually leads him to spit up the majority of his meal. So we do very little of it. I know it may be important, but not losing his food is also important, especially since he's on the smaller side, so I try not to worry about it...
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We didn’t meet the recommended tummy time for either kid. I did read an article from a PT with alternative suggestions, and loved one of them. Place baby on an exercise ball, always supporting with your hands, and gently rock it so they go from upright-ish to laying down. It’s fun and achieves the same goals.
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It's fine! I am sure I didn't do much tummy time for #2. And echoing what others have said, laying on you counts too; anything where they have to work on their neck muscles is fine! Don't beat yourself up!
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@CatchAFallingStar: my baby and most of my friends babies absolutely hated tummy time and frankly I think babies are a lot smarter than doctors with their research. Would you want to be face down if you could barely lift your head?
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