https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 23 May 2026 11:49:37 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-do-when-baby-hates-tummy-time#post-1857421 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 03:51:58 +0000 night cheese 1857421@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also, our play mat comes with a little pillow (looks like a mini Boppy) to prop her up on, but the ped said that the flat floor was best. But whatever, I'm just going to use it n </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-do-when-baby-hates-tummy-time#post-1857420 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 03:50:44 +0000 night cheese 1857420@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maybe my pediatrician is just an alarmist? I don't know. She had me convinced that my daughter would have a flat head and no neck strength unless we did floor tummy time for like an hour a day. </p> <p>But I feel better after reading your responses. Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-do-when-baby-hates-tummy-time#post-1857256 Wed, 10 Sep 2014 21:16:48 +0000 Jess1483 1857256@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@night cheese: Huh. My ped said tummy time on me was a great alternative. </p> <p>Mirrors? Boppy? toys? </p> <p>I also put DH in charge of tummy time. He was a new face and kept his interest better than I did. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-do-when-baby-hates-tummy-time#post-1857224 Wed, 10 Sep 2014 20:56:48 +0000 singingbee 1857224@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine liked it when she could look at herself in a mirror. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-do-when-baby-hates-tummy-time#post-1857199 Wed, 10 Sep 2014 20:36:48 +0000 ILoveLettie 1857199@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't give her regular tummy time. Would put her on for short intervals but as soon as she was upset, I turned her over. Eventually, around 3 months, she learned how to roll from her back to her tummy but couldn't roll the other way yet, and she was MAD when she got to her tummy! Well, then, once she learned to roll the other way, suddenly her muscles/coordination on her tummy was way better and suddenly she loved being on her tummy--at 8 months, she even sleeps on her tummy now and is almost always rolling to it. She crawls and sits up no problem. I don't think her early hatred of tummy time set her back at all and her dislike of it was probably because of the reasons @Vegmama mentioned.</p> <p>Also, all peds must be different on this, because ours didn't even ever MENTION tummy time--not when we talked, or on any of the milestone/help sheets they give out after every well visit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-do-when-baby-hates-tummy-time#post-1857026 Wed, 10 Sep 2014 18:34:09 +0000 NurseDMB 1857026@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yup, DS hated tummy time. I tried everything and nothing helped. He still acted like I was torturing him every time; though for him I think it had to do with his reflux and torticollis. Also his 100th percentile head was probably hard for him to hold up, poor guy! </p> <p>I just kept at it and did it in short intervals a few times a day. He probably didn't get as much as other babies, but it in no way affected his physical ability - he sat up on his own at 5ish months and crawled around 8 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-do-when-baby-hates-tummy-time#post-1856997 Wed, 10 Sep 2014 17:51:42 +0000 Mrs. Tiger 1856997@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our OT recommended tummy time on a firm couch, since you can then be at LO's eye level distracting them. We used bubbles, loud obnoxious electronic toys, etc. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-do-when-baby-hates-tummy-time#post-1856394 Wed, 10 Sep 2014 12:32:56 +0000 Vegmama 1856394@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've seen mixed opinions on tummy time. Our ped said we could do it if baby tolerated it (which she would, but for like 20 seconds), but otherwise, it's not a big deal at all. There's a reason babies hate it ... they can't hold their heads and chests up, and it's uncomfortable for some. Eventually, they will roll onto their bellies, and we used that as a marker for when she was ready for more tummy time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-do-when-baby-hates-tummy-time#post-1856153 Wed, 10 Sep 2014 10:57:05 +0000 kes18 1856153@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ours wasn't a fan for a long time. I'd just do it until she started crying and turn her back over. Sometimes she only lasted a few minutes. I'm pretty sure it counts if it's done on you though...</p> <p>We just did it as often as she'd let us, I'd try to do it at least 2 or 3 times a day.</p> <p>Once she could roll and then shortly after that she could remain pushed up on her arms for long periods with good head control she didn't hate tummy time as much. Now she spends long time periods on her tummy because she can look around and it's more interesting than when they can't lift their heads up much. I imagine it's really boring and uncomfortable to be on your tummy with your face implanted in the floor! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-do-when-baby-hates-tummy-time#post-1856152 Wed, 10 Sep 2014 10:56:58 +0000 Mae 1856152@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO doesn't really like it either. I'd just do it until she got upset, but like 4-6 times/day (even if only for a minute). Also the tummy time on me, on the boppy, and I wear her a lot which I feel like has helped her head/neck control. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-do-when-baby-hates-tummy-time#post-1856146 Wed, 10 Sep 2014 10:54:03 +0000 regberadaisy 1856146@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO 1 hated tummy time with a passion. Instant freak out!!! So her tummy time was very minimal. </p> <p>Some other ideas when LO is a bit older is using the boppy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-do-when-baby-hates-tummy-time#post-1856046 Wed, 10 Sep 2014 10:00:25 +0000 ellewoods84 1856046@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just like everyone else said....I would let her do it on me, on the boppy, we would do it for like 30 sec or so. It didn't see it helping her if the whole time she just face planted and cried. Now that she's 4 months old, she doesn't mind it as much (but doesn't love it!) and us not doing it too much when she was younger didn't seem to have a negative effect. She has great neck and head control/strength and is very close to rolling both directions. My pediatrician said he same thing as yours. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-do-when-baby-hates-tummy-time#post-1856040 Wed, 10 Sep 2014 09:57:05 +0000 Rockies11 1856040@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>mine hated tummy time, but the doctors and public health said it "counted" when they were on you, or in a sling. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-do-when-baby-hates-tummy-time#post-1856026 Wed, 10 Sep 2014 09:53:13 +0000 looch 1856026@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@oliviaoblivia: yes to the boppy, I thought I was so smart when I stumbled on using it for tummy time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-do-when-baby-hates-tummy-time#post-1855985 Wed, 10 Sep 2014 09:39:48 +0000 oliviaoblivia 1855985@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used the boppy on my bed while folding laundry. DD was really interested in watching what I was doing and somehow tolerated much more tummy time on my bed than on the floor. The extra height from the boppy helped too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-do-when-baby-hates-tummy-time#post-1855949 Wed, 10 Sep 2014 09:23:19 +0000 Mamasig 1855949@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Same as others. DS2 is 4 months old and has never liked it. If he doesn't cry, he just basically lays there with his face smashed to the floor. I try every so often but I don't stress about it. I don't think it's really a big deal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-do-when-baby-hates-tummy-time#post-1855945 Wed, 10 Sep 2014 09:20:08 +0000 Little Misters Mom 1855945@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS hated it and we weren't great about it at the beginning but just kept trying a few times a day. He is better about it now, but only for a little while. We used a bobby under his chest to prop him up, which he liked better. I will say his head is pretty flat on one side, and even though the doctor says it'll go away and he isn't a candidate for a helmet, I feel really guilty about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-do-when-baby-hates-tummy-time#post-1855937 Wed, 10 Sep 2014 09:17:48 +0000 mrs.shinerbock 1855937@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO hated it too, so we just did what we could for as long as we could. Sometimes that meant 30 seconds, sometimes it meant on us. When she was maybe 3 months, she would do it if we propped her on her stomach on the boppy and played with her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-do-when-baby-hates-tummy-time#post-1855934 Wed, 10 Sep 2014 09:16:40 +0000 Dandelion 1855934@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: Same. M hated it, but now that he can roll, his favorite thing to do is roll back and forth. </p> <p>I'd just put her down until LO is angry, then call it done. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-do-when-baby-hates-tummy-time#post-1855925 Wed, 10 Sep 2014 09:08:56 +0000 Adira 1855925@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Xander hated tummy time until he could roll. I'd just do it for maybe a minute (and sometimes skip it altogether)! I don't think skipping it had any negative effects.</p> <p>I would just keep doing it on you or trying on the floor, but not worry about it too much! &lt;3 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-do-when-baby-hates-tummy-time#post-1855923 Wed, 10 Sep 2014 09:07:20 +0000 loveisstrange 1855923@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>C HATED tummy time. It was a sure way to cause an inconsolable crying fit. You know what? We just did it for as long as she would do it (like... less than 30 seconds) and didnt push it. Not doing it didnt really set her back any, to be honest. Dont stress about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-do-when-baby-hates-tummy-time#post-1855918 Wed, 10 Sep 2014 09:04:44 +0000 night cheese 1855918@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My little girl is 7 weeks and hates tummy time. As soon as I turn her over on her play mat, she starts screaming. </p> <p>To compensate, I've been doing tummy time on me. I'll lie back and put her on my chest or place her across my knees. She'll tolerate those positions but she doesn't really like them. </p> <p>Our pediatrician is adamant that she gets regular tummy time on a firm surface, other than my body, but how am I supposed to let her scream on the floor?</p> <p>Did anyone else's baby hate tummy time? What did you do? </p>