Tummy Time

Anyone else feel mean making DC do tummy time? I know he needs it and he doesnt cry but hearing his struggling noises to lift his head make me feel so bad I'm such a freak.

ETA: Do you just put DC down or do you play down there with them?

Message edited 1/15/2008 10:08:16 AM.

Re: Tummy Time

Im so bad at this and posted several times on help for lol.. Shes good at first now, then after a few mins. she wants no more. I tried a few things, her flat on tummy, my boppy pillow under arms, and a playmat that comes with a small boppy pillow for her, all of them she just sticks her face on.

I go on the floor with her and try and cheer her on and play with her with toys.

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I always felt bad b/c DD hated it so much. I did it in small snippets to try and make it more manageable. We started with 1 minute like 5x a day. I always got on the floor with her but she still hated it.

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I feel the same way. My DD doesnt really like tummy time and she does cry when we put her on her tummy. But even for the minute or two that she doesnt cry I feel so bad watching her bump her little nose.....when I have her on my chest she lifts her head up alot though....so I guess thats similar to tummy time since she uses her neck.

Re: Tummy Time

Everyone feels bad making their kids do tummy time when they clearly are struggling and flailing about with their face in the blanket so you're normal. I use to put a boppy under them, sort of under the armpits. And a mirror or toy in front to keep the focus there. You can get down there too, he'd probably love to look at you in front of him too. As was mentioned, do it in small spurts. He will strengthen his neck eventually and protest less.

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DS HATES tummy time...therefore, I don't force him...occassionally I put him on his tummy but flip him when he starts to fuss...I'd rather put him in his excersaucer to sit up on his own and practice strengthening his neck muscles that way.

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I hate tummy time! So does Angelina. We do it occasionally but not nearly as much as her doctor would like. I think her jumperoo and exersaucer help her alot with her neck muscles.

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DD didn't really like tummy time when she was younger...I used to do a little here and a little there.

At 4 months she started rolling over and now I just let her have belly time when she feels like laying on her belly - and she plays and doesn't mind it...

So I guess I'd say don't worry if they dont' like it too much - even without too much of it, DD was rolling early and is headed for crawling / sitting up

Re: Tummy Time

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i do so i lay him on my chest and lean back just a little, hes only 3 weeks

Re: Tummy Time

In the beginning we put a thick blanket on the dining room table and put a play mat on that. This way we could be at her eye level which helped her enjoy it more.

Once she started pushing up and scooching we moved tummy time to the floor sometimes I get down there with her and talk to her or animate a toy for her or just lay next to her as she tries to get to me. Other times I'll just sit nearby and let her do her thing.

I don't feel mean, even when she gets frustrated because she can't reach something or is grunting with effort. This is how she learns and more importantly builds strength. The only time I feel mean is when she spits up and plants her face in it before I notice (bad mommy). If she starts to truly cry I pick her up right away.

Re: Tummy Time

at 1st ds didnt like ti so I put him on his tummy for a few min ( or untill he started to wine)
and every day jusy add more time. eventualy they will get used to it

Re: Tummy Time

I feel bad but I know its good for him. Trust me, once he can hold his head up, he will like it much more. Did you try using a Boppy or something under him? It helped mine get more comfortable on his tummy.

Re: Tummy Time

DS naps on his belly and has awesome control of his head. He turned over last week and has about 5x since then. He doesn't love to just hang out on his belly for long periods but I think the napping on the belly has helped his strength a lot.

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When we do tummy time (which is not as often as we should) I lay on the floor and face him. We talk and smile at eachother. If I don't he gets fussy fast.

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Caden has actually always liked tummy time...I always tried to do it more often for little amounts of time..maybe that's why???? Basically each time I changed his diaper we did tummy time...(I change him on a towel on the floor-6th babys doesnt ever see a changing table!) Even now when Im done changing him he'll simply roll away and hang out on his tummy and watch the TV.

Re: Tummy Time

Parker is not a fan of tummy time at all. so we put him on the bed, then he could see me really easy, it was enough to build up those muscles, and now he actually likes it on the floor with his toys, until he rolls over of course, HEHE

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i know its sad, mine struggles...

Re: Tummy Time

Just saw this was bumped and thought I'd say, stick with it to those who are frustrated! A month and a half later, DS now laughs when he's put on his belly

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Some days I can get a solid 10 minutes out of her, other days, not even a minute. If she crys I pick her up. I figure it does no good if she just puts her head down.

No matter how long she does it, Ia m on the floor with her. Cheering her on and talking to her.

Re: Tummy Time

We started it on the dining room table so it was easy to be at eye level with her. She didn't love it at first but didn't complain much either. When she started to scooch we moved it to the floor and most of the time get down there with her.

She likes it now (at 6 months). She goes after toys and moves to get to me. I put a play mat with arches and a few of her favorite toys at one end of a blanket and she scooches her way to it and then rolls over to play with the toys. Usually I'm right there with her.