Tummy Time Tantrums
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Topic: Tummy Time Tantrums
Posted By: NewMummyJade
Subject: Tummy Time Tantrums
Date Posted: 12 May 2011 at 9:22pm
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Ok, so I basically want to know.
Is NO tummy time really that bad for baby? DD is nearly 3 months and REFUSES to be on her tummy, fullstop, even for a second, EVER! I feel like ive tried everything, doesnt matter when shes last eaten, where I try it, she goes from full on happy smiley chatty girl to a deafening scream as soon as shes on her tummy. Ive tried leaving it a whole week in between attempts to try get her to forget that she didnt like it last time lol. Even on DF or I if we recline in a lazy boy she loses the plot and has a total meltdown Plunket keeps telling me to keep trying, well Im getting over making my happy baby scream the house down just to be on her tummy Any hints? Super secret tips? A cure for her total stubborness? Or can someone just reassure me that their baby never had tummy time and it didnt kill them 
Thanks in advance  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Replies:
Posted By: Bexta
Date Posted: 12 May 2011 at 9:33pm
From all I know it is important as it helps with lifting head/neck and builds strength in the arms/shoulders/back. Can't help much though as I have a DD that gets about 16-17 hrs of tummy time a day  . Not sure it counts when most of it she sleeps through.
Do you have a beach ball or swiss ball you could put her on? Or maybe holding her face down (like an aeroplane if that makes sense) so she gets used to the sensation of being face down? Or in the bath? ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
Angel Baby June 2010 
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 12 May 2011 at 9:59pm
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I was discussing this with my Plunket Nurse just the other week. In China the babies are held for the first 3 months, never put on the floor because babies are precious and floors are dirty! And obviously they all eventually learn to hold their heads up. One of my DD's puked every single time we lay her on her back OR her front so I gave up. Placed her in the bouncinette for the first 3ish months of her life. And then she was my earliest crawler at just 5mos!! So I say the whole thing is blown way out of proportion.
I do like to put my babies on their tummies to give them a break from the back of their heads. But I turn them back on their backs when they are getting tired of it and before they get upset. My Bethany is 4 months old and at 2mos she didn't like tummy time at all. But now, she likes to look around from that vantage point so long as she isn't too tired. I say just do it as your child is ready and don't stress if they don't do it right off. -------------  |
Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 12 May 2011 at 10:05pm
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My reflux bub screamed when he was placed on his tummy on the floor but he loved lying on his tummy (on me) when I was sitting on the couch...that too counts as tummy time ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com"> 
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: Jaune
Date Posted: 12 May 2011 at 10:14pm
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My Plunket Nurse said that they are supposed to encourage tummy time as that is what Plunket recommends but that she says if your baby doesn't like it, don't force them to do something that upsets them. She had done some research about babies and how important it was that babies are put in positions that they can get into themselves. For example, placing baby on the floor, on their back...eventually they will move and roll and once they can get on their tummy they will want to be there. All babies will reach the developmental milestones in their own time and just lifting their head from your shoulder is enough to help to develop the neck muscles.
DS HATED tummy time with a passion so I didn't do it very much but his head and neck control is great. He also didn't really like falling asleep on me on his tummy unless I was sitting up. I wouldn't worry too much! Nothing worse than an upset baby either, especially if they don't need to be! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Hopes
Date Posted: 13 May 2011 at 7:17am
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I think it's pretty normal for babies to not think much of it - Jacob was only happy for five mins max, until he learnt to roll, then he preferred it on his tummy.
I reckon just do what you can (as in, keep trying, don't totally give up) and otherwise don't worry about it. -------------   
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Posted By: maya22
Date Posted: 13 May 2011 at 7:33am
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Tummy time doesn't have to be on the floor. Even on your shoulder is ok.
Have you tried lying on your back and placing bubs on their tummy on your bent knees with their bum on your toes - super good for your abs if you then raise your legs carrying bubs as a passenger, and a lot of fun too. I doubt that leaving it a few weeks is going to scar your baby for life! ------------- DS1 July 2007 DS2 Nov 2010 http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: MamaT
Date Posted: 13 May 2011 at 7:37am
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DS would scream the house down if on his tummy, like A&C's mum, I think it was because of the reflux. He would however happily lay on my chest on his tummy and I would occasionally have him on my tummy in the crook of my arm (if that makes sense) and wander round the house.
DS aways had really great head control so I was never too worried about it -------------  
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Posted By: mothermercury
Date Posted: 13 May 2011 at 9:49am
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I was naughty and didn't give Chloe much tummy time because she hated it, and she's always had good head and neck control. She did end up becoming more tolerant of it as she got older and could roll onto her back if she didn't like it. She turned out fine and is now trying to walk around the furniture. However, I did carry her a lot, and I've heard (info from http://www.pollywogbaby.com/tummy-time.html - this site )that if you spend a lot of time wearing baby or carrying her against your chest, this helps develop head and neck control.
I have heard of people rolling up a towel and placing it under the baby's chest so that they're not so flat on the floor and it's not as frustrating for them. |
Posted By: fairy1
Date Posted: 13 May 2011 at 9:55am
There's a similar thing called the RIE philosophy which talks about not putting babies in positions that they can't get into themselves, this includes tummy time. The babies that follow this philosphy (well parents really) don't have any problems and still meet the developmental milestones. Ds has never liked tummy time and is only now tolerating it for short periods of time and only if I place him there. If I place him on his tummy he quickly rolls himself back on. I think don't worry about tummy time if your baby doesn't enjoy it, maybe do it on you until she seems to enjoy it and them try again on the floor. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Mealz79 wrote:Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 13 May 2011 at 10:06am
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Lily hated being on her tummy, she still rolled at 3 months one way and 4 months the other way... I personally never pushed it as she was happy and had strong neck muscles/good head control very early on...
As the above posted mentioned, don't put babies into positions they naturally can't get into or out of themselves, this is what we did/have done/do. No problems, DD had met her milestones at the right time for her. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Plushie
Date Posted: 13 May 2011 at 11:02am
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DS hates/hated it as well. He tolerates it now but you can tell he's not too keen on the idea. He does have tummy time each day though, for maybe 5 minutes. I keep trying in case one day he'll like it but i'm really not too fussed. He gets an extra 5min at the end of the day when i massage him, he is happy to lie on his tummy on a sheepskin on the couch and be pampered. I wondered if the ground was too hard/uncomfy on his tum as he is quite round in the belly.
According to my plunket tummy time includes if they are tummy down on your arm (if that makes sense) or lying down on you (though you say she doesnt like that). Apparently it also still 'counts' if you are sitting and she is upright too but tummy to tummy with you. ETA: I keep trying him on the tummy time even though he's not keen because its genius for getting trapped wind out of him, after a few moments squirming on his tum he will burp/fart or both without fail. |
Posted By: MrsMc
Date Posted: 13 May 2011 at 1:38pm
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Under the Pikler/RIE philosophy they only get placed on their back.
They get tummy time....when they roll to their tummies themselves, if you've ever tried imitating your baby on its back, the moves theyre doing are hard work!! and obviously are developing their core muscles, doesnt pilates etc say that everything comes from the core? My work uses this philosophy and every single baby will eventually roll and get tummy time when theyre ready, and they will enjoy it too because they will be able to control their head and they got there themselves so in short, no its not importanat to put babies on their tummy |
Posted By: FionaO
Date Posted: 13 May 2011 at 7:41pm
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Interesting about the philosophies - like that. Anyway DS1 hated tummy time and cos he was my first this freaked me out, I tried all sorts and nothing made it better, so in the end he hardly got any, he achieved all milestones at the right ages - so this time round since Lachie seems to hate it too, I am not pushing it. When you carry them upright, they are holding their heads up a bit, when you have them over your shoulder they try then too, they just get it, I did used to let him lie on my chest for a few mins, he minded that less. Don't stress - if it makes her miserable don't push it ------------- 
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Posted By: james
Date Posted: 13 May 2011 at 8:30pm
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James was the same right thur till he was 8 months old and he still crawled at one year. It was so stressful listing to him scream, and in hind sight i wish i had just done shorter times. As he would scream the full min he was on his tummy, as that is the time pluket told me to do. ------------- <a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b4.lilypie.com/nLJ5p13.png" alt="Lilypie 4th Birthday Ticker" border="0" /></a> |
Posted By: KatzWtgn
Date Posted: 13 May 2011 at 10:26pm
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DS never liked tummy time until he got much older (I think around 5 months and rolling himself) and I never pushed it.
I took the view that tummy time was another way of saying don't leave your baby on their back for 24 hours, and I carried DS a lot (so he was more upright) which I figured gave him the chance to develop his upper body / neck muscles. And he's perfect -- met all his milestones -- rolled, sat, crawled and is now walking -- all when he's supposed to. I wouldn't worry about it -- I'd go for the happy baby myself. ------------- [IMG]http://lb3f.lilypie.com/rGG7p13.png] |
Posted By: MrsMc
Date Posted: 14 May 2011 at 10:12am
i think this is exactly right! and to eleviate flat spots caused by plunket guidelines to sleep baby on their back (not saying this is a silly recommendation) but considering babies sleep on their back for 18 hrs a day, i dont think 5min of tummy time is going to take away the flat spot, to me it would seem more logical to change sleeping positions if a flat spot started occuring, not have more dreaded tummy time |
Posted By: Marengo
Date Posted: 14 May 2011 at 12:17pm
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emily is the same, but when i have her tummy to tummy with me on the couch and i sit back a wee bit and prop her up on her arms she will lift her head really well, i wouldnt worry about it personally though.. i did hear from another mum she would pop her son on a pillow on his tummy so he was sort of upright but really comfey and cushioned, you could try that maybe?
before you know it she will be rolling there herself! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
Our angel Ella Louise born 13.04.
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Posted By: sarasal
Date Posted: 14 May 2011 at 7:20pm
| Mine hated tummy time too so I didn't force it. He's now 2.5 and perfectly co-ordinated, no developmental problems. He started tolerating it about 6 months when he wanted to start to learn how to crawl, which he did right on 8 months. You don't have to obey plunket - mums know their babies best, I say! |
Posted By: M2K
Date Posted: 14 May 2011 at 7:46pm
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I agree with the posts above, both my girls weren't fussed on tummy time at the start, not until they were about 4 or 5 months old and able to play with toys in front of them. I had them both on my chest and they would lift their heads up, or gave them tummy time on the couch beside me for a short time, while talking to them. Just like everything with Plunket, its not a rule you HAVE to abide by, trust what you feel is right, I personally couldn't sit there while my baby was crying and looking at me like "why would you do this to me" ------------- 
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Posted By: NewMummyJade
Date Posted: 15 May 2011 at 1:30pm
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Thankyou all so much for your replies.
Yup, no more tummy time in this house until miss monkey is happy to do it. Instead ive started getting her to "sit" while i hold her hands out in front of her for 1-2 mins at each nappy change. She LOVES it, coz I kneel on the floor so my face is right at her face height and she sits there smiling and chatting to me. I figure thats helping her neck and back muscles develop just as fast as tummy time would but without the screaming! WINNER!! I know its going off on a different tangent... But does anyone else feel an enormous pressure for their littlies to reach these "Milestones" at exactly the age Plunket says they will? ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Red
Date Posted: 15 May 2011 at 3:46pm
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My bubs didn't like tummy time either and so didn't really force it too much, she doesn't like it much still so hence she is a bottom shuffler. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Marengo
Date Posted: 15 May 2011 at 4:13pm
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i feel pressure with the milestones too, the first visit they asked me if she was smiling and cooing,... uh no not yet! but i felt really guilty when i went to plunket the other week and one of the ladies came up and said now hold old is emily, four/five weeks? i was like NO! eleven! oh my gosh i felt so bad! she is small i guess but still gaining weight.
i might try the sitting with emily too, sounds like it might be enjoyed :) i cant believe soon they will be sitting and rolling.. sheesh.. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
Our angel Ella Louise born 13.04.
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Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 15 May 2011 at 7:43pm
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I never felt the pressure as I was adamant that she would reach the milestones when SHE was ready not when anyone else said.
I didn't sit Lily the way you do but I sat her on my knee looking at me from about 6 weeks which she loved. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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