Anyone Else Having Trouble with "Tummy Time"?

Updated on January 28, 2007
A.O. asks from New Milford, NJ
15 answers

My son is now ten weeks old and hates tummy time. I think it might scare him. After a very short time on his stomach, with or without a Boppy, he starts getting hysterical. Even though he can turn his head from side to side since about four weeks he won't. After he starts to cry he stays face down and won't move. I try to leave him there for a few minutes, but it changes nothing, he just keeps on crying. I'm afraid he won't reach his milestones and his head won't "un-flatten". (he was born with a very flat head)

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S.A.

answers from New York on

He is still so young. Tummy time is EXCELLENT for them, but an infant this age will hardly be able to stand it for more than a minute. Try a minute here and there all day. He will absolutely get there!!

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H.D.

answers from Syracuse on

dont worry about milestones! one of the most important things ive learned (my daughter is 2), is to let them go at their own pace when it comes to "milestones". i used to worry about that with my daughter, always comparing what she can do with other babies her age. it will come to him when he is ready to do it, until then just enjoy what he does do now.

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M.F.

answers from New York on

my daughter hated tummy time aswell. We tried it twice a day for up to 10 minutes. That was all she could take. As she got bigger, she did better. She is now 9 months old and rolls right over to her tummy when I put her in the crib. I remember being concerned about it like you, but your son will be fine. Just becareful about his head getting too flat. My daughter's was really flat from sleeping on her back (but they are suppose to sleep this way )but is getting better and will be fine.

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J.D.

answers from New York on

My son HATED tummy time too, which is weird since now he sleeps on his belly on his own. I wouldn't worry too much about milestones, kids will reach them at their own pace.

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M.A.

answers from New York on

hey A....dont worry to much about tummy time see the thing with babies they do thing when their ready...for example i have three girls and my youngest is going on 11 mos.and she started crawling at around 9 mos and started sitting at around 8 mos thier are babies who at her age are walking already at one point i was scared that there was something wrong with her but her doctor told me let her be she will come around...so my advice to to is let your son be he will do his thing when he is ready.to tell you the truth my girls hardly had tummy time themselves.

GOOD LUCK !!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY

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M.K.

answers from Buffalo on

Hi A.. My daughter had the same issue until she was about four months old. Her problem was reflux. It took us a little while to diagnose it, because she wasn't vomiting very much. But my pediatrician said that for young infants with reflux, it can be very painful to be on their tummy. After we got her on some reflux medication, she became a lot better. Hope that helps you out.

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J.M.

answers from New York on

A., my daughter is 7 weeks old, she has had tummy time for two weeks, at first she couldn't lift her head too well and she too would scream. I started doing "baby push ups" with her where I would pick her up around her shoulders and chest so that her arms dangled a little, and I was in front of her, so she could see me. She now will support herself on her arms once I have her up. On days where she wasn't too fond of that, I would lay down on my back and place her tummy side down on me with her head just below my neck, but not quite at my breasts. She loves this the best. She looks up and keeps her head up because she wants to see Mommy. Good luck. Hope it helps!

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K.B.

answers from New York on

When my daughter was smaller (she's 6 mos now) I didn't do a lot of tummy time per se. I would usually lay down & lay her on my tummy. She would look up at me. It was also similar when I would hold her upright on my chest rather than cradle hold. Just a suggestion :) Good luck!

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L.W.

answers from New York on

stupid question? have you tried playing with him..? like lay in front of him or have him on your tummy. looking up at you.. or my fav.. Baby Leg lifts. it will help him get use to bein in that position an eventualy you can start to walk away... he may not like it cause he isnt seeing what it is he wants to see.. let me know. and sorry if uve tried it already its all i can think of.

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S.R.

answers from Utica on

10 weeks is very young to be worried about tummy time. Also his flat little head will even out in time, no rush. My son is 3 and a half months old, and is not really into tummy time yet... He also has a flat little head from sleeping on his back. If your son likes sitting upright, try playing with him on the floor with him sitting in between your legs for support, eventually he will lean forward to grab things, (like his feet) Also, when he is resting try laying him over your lap on his stomach, turn his head and let his legs dangle. If he falls sound asleep this way, you can probably lay him on his own after that. Use a folded towel or some other prop to put under one arm and part of his chest to keep his upper body and face at a small angle.
Wide awake tummy time may take a little longer. Be patient!

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C.B.

answers from Albany on

It is nothing to worry about, My daughter who will be 8 months, used to hate tummy time too..She would do the same thing put her face down and just yell..So i would just put her on her back and keep trying tummy time here and there..until she started to roll over was when she was fine with being on her stomach she would go from tummy to back all the time, Keep your spirits high, In time he will reach all the milestones, every baby is different.TIME is all they need...The flat head part as soon as he is up and about it will start to go to normal.

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L.S.

answers from New York on

My daughter Kathryn, 12 wks hates her tummy time, too. So a few times a day, I have lay on her tummy on my chest. This way I can play with her, make faces, and talk to her. She still has a chance to push up and hold her head up with out all the screaming and crying she does when she's on her play mat on the floor. I firure this way we get extra bonding time, too.

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K.D.

answers from New York on

I am going with the same problem with my just-over two month old daughter Evelyn. Being fanatical about having her sleep on her back, I bought a pad with memory foam pillow designed to keep her head from getting flat. That's all well and good while she's sleeping in the bassinet, but what about all day when she's on and off in the bouncy seat and the swing? During this time, though sitting kind of upright, she's putting pressure on her right side of the back of her head, which is now flat. I didn't even REALISE it till we went to the doc three days ago, and she pointed it out. I thought I was going so well keeping her on that pillow at night, but all day she's on the back of the right side of her head, the side she prefers. Doc said "how's she doing on tummy time" and I said "uh, not good at all. She cries and freaks out, so I cave in". Doc said at least a number of times per day I should put her on her tummy for 15 minute increments. I barely ever even attempt to put her on her tummy knowing how she hates it. But we HAVE to just do it, you and me. Get over the crying, try to ignore it. So the past 3 days I've been doing this and enduring the screaming. It's GOT to be done. I also have started to put her onto the LEFT side of her head, even propping behind her back to keep her tilted in that direction so the pressure is on the left side of her head. If your baby has flat on the BACK side of the head, when he's sitting here and there during the day, or in your arms, make sure the pressure of weight is on either the left or right side, alternate. Watch. Slowly mold that head back into shape, it's NOT TOO LATE! Ten weeks old, (Evelyn was born Oct. 24th, when was your baby born?) is NOT too old. It took two months to get flat, it won't get UNflat overnight, keep that in mind. If you let it go till your baby was 6 months you'd have less of a chance of fixing it. Make every moment of your baby's life a moment where he's in a position to correct the flatness. You CAN fix that head, don't think you cna't at this point! My daughter Gina was getting a flat head by 3 months, that's when I got HER the memory foam pillow, and her head is PERFECTLY round today, at 2 years old! Tilt his head when he's asleep, to the right or the left, and also while he's awake. But you and I have to do tummy time, too... that will help a lot with the head shape and allow it to grow out without pressure on one side, it can grow out into a nice round shape. My doc said to put a baby toy mirror next to baby during tummy time to encourage baby to look up to see their "company" LOL so I have been putting it in front of her, forcing her to look up and lift her head and develop her upper body muscles and neck muscles... that's important. I didn't do much with Gina with tummy time and I swear she did everything except talk really behind schedule! She didn't roll over, crawl, do much of anything physically because I had made that mistake and she got almost no tummy time. I had a friend who's baby, three months behind Gina, was rolling right over like nothing, when Gina would just lay there!

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J.P.

answers from Rochester on

I am having the same issue with my little girl. She hates tummy time. I try to do it a couple of minutes hear and there but she gets fussy and looks extremely uncomfortable. She is going on four months now and still does not like it. She can hold her head up somewhat but she does have a little flat spot as well and I am afraid that it will not fix itself. I am not sure what I should do either.

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A.S.

answers from New York on

As a postpartum doula, I have not seen many babies who liked tummy time at the beginning. I have seen the result of no tummy time.Playing with him during tummy time is a great suggestion. a colorful mat under him might also make it more pleasant as he will be focusing on the colors and less on the discomfort. Keep trying!

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