Re: I need to do SOOOO much more tummy time

Ouch! I think you had another post that asked which activity mat you have - we have the tiny love activiytot mat with the water theme. Jeffrey does not love the mat but it really stimulates him. I am able to get him to use it for a few minutes each day and I use it multiple times a day to increase his over all time on the mat. The other thing DH and I do is have Jeffrey on our tummy for about an hour each day. He loves hearing our hearbeats and it is a great way to sneak in tummy time for him.
I also get down on the floor with him to show him what to do. i.e. put my arms in front of me and lift my head.

Re: I need to do SOOOO much more tummy time

The Lamaze Spin & Explore might be good for him Donna. It looks fun, and has good reviews. BRU and Target both have it.

I pointed out the flat head to the doctor today before she could say anything to me about it. I explained that I really try to put her on her belly when she is awake, but she sleeps soooo much and on her back. She said it's really more of a cosmetic issue and it's not affecting her brain and that even when she sits up more, etc. that it still will probably never be totally round. I really thought I would get the tummy time lecture since that's what I got 3 months ago.

She made a good point that later in life no one sees the back of your head unless you are bald

With that said, I'm sure there are extreme cases where the forehead is being pushed out (I think someone on here has a DC that this was happening to). I don't think I would worry to much about it, do what you can and don't beat yourself up about it! I also think your doc. needs a lesson in tact!

Re: I need to do SOOOO much more tummy time

My only advice is to try tummy time while he's lying on you or DH. My DD likes to raise her head mostly while on our shoulders (burping position) and we are slowly trying to introduce tummy time to her. She does seem to respond more happily when she's lying on her Daddy skin-to-skin

Re: I need to do SOOOO much more tummy time

My DS was starting to get a flat head and I bought the noggin nest.. that thing rocked! I even used it in his crib at night which they say not to, but he was swaddled in the miracle blanket so he couldnt move. It worked like a charm!

Re: I need to do SOOOO much more tummy time

My son had flat head too. He hated tummy time and is just starting (at 5 months) to lay on his tummy but still not longer than 15 min at a time. At 3 months I started propping him in the exosaucer. That definitely helped. At 5 1/2 months, it is much better.

My nephew had issues with his head from birth complications. His head was cone shaped and then as he grew it started to look almost football like. Well his ped and a neuroligist kept saying it would fix itself, etc... At 10 months my brother became so concerend he said I want a helmet, so they relucatnatly referred him to a helmet specialist. The helmet doctor immedicately told him that it was too late for ahelmet. It turned out the skull had already fused and he had craniosentosis (sp?). Anyway he wound up having to get surgery and now his head is perfect. But had they waited any longer the outcome would not have been that good. The moral of the story is if you are concerned I would go see a doctor that specializes in helmets or get a second opinion right away I don't want to scare you and I am not saying that Noah has this at all. I just thought you might want to know because pediatrician's are not experts in all areas (although many like to think they are) and telling you to keep your baby on his tummy all day is not realistic.

Message edited 9/2/2007 9:12:10 AM.

Re: I need to do SOOOO much more tummy time

the boppy really helped my dd who HATED tummy time too....so did my laying flat and putting her on me...she loved that (clearly you don't want to have to do it all day as suggested by your ped but....) - don't let the ped make you feel bad...you are a super mom!

Re: I need to do SOOOO much more tummy time

Posted by lullabella

My son had flat head too. He hated tummy time and is just starting (at 5 months) to lay on his tummy but still not longer than 15 min at a time. At 3 months I started propping him in the exosaucer. That definitely helped. At 5 1/2 months, it is much better.

My nephew had issues with his head from birth complications. His head was cone shaped and then as he grew it started to look almost football like. Well his ped and a neuroligist kept saying it would fix itself, etc... At 10 months my brother became so concerend he said I want a helmet, so they relucatnatly referred him to a helmet specialist. The helmet doctor immedicately told him that it was too late for ahelmet. It turned out the skull had already fused and he had craniosentosis (sp?). Anyway he wound up having to get surgery and now his head is perfect. But had they waited any longer the outcome would not have been that good. The moral of the story is if you are concerned I would go see a doctor that specializes in helmets or get a second opinion right away I don't want to scare you and I am not saying that Noah has this at all. I just thought you might want to know because pediatrician's are not experts in all areas (although many like to think they are) and telling you to keep your baby on his tummy all day is not realistic.

Re: I need to do SOOOO much more tummy time

have you considered letting him sleep on his tummy - maybe just during the day so that you are awake and can keep a close eye on him. It has to something you are comfortable with before you can try but I thought I'd throw it out there.

Re: I need to do SOOOO much more tummy time

I cant believe your ped was so harsh. Yuck!!! Ryan also hated hated hated tummy time. Propping him over the boppy helped a little.