Bub wont lie on his tummy

[JorBai]

Hi,

My bub is 12 weeks now and I cant seem to get him to lie on his tummy without him getting really frustrated and ending up screaming.

Anyone else had this problem and if so how did you overcome it?

I have been told its important for tummy time so they get strength in thier head and neck? Is this correct?

Hope someone can help!

Leanne

[drewid]

Hi there

Most bub don't like tummy time in the beginning. So don't despair. It IS frustrating for them, but I guess that is the point - to motivate them to learn to use their own bodies.

We made a habit of whenever we changed his nappy, we would then roll him onto his tummy while on the change table, facing us, and he would try to lift his head up and look at us. We also gave him tummy time on the floor, with one of us lying on the floor in front or beside him to try to catch his interest.

Eventually your bub will get the knack. And then will learn to roll, and will refuse tummy time altogether! It will all pass so quickly you'll wonder why you ever worried at all. :)

[jembelina]

I wouldn't worry at all! I don't think any young bubbies love it.......but here are a few things you could try to mke it a bit more fun for bubs......

put bubs on your bed with his head near the edge and kneel on the floor so your face meets his (iykwim) or lay down on the floor with him.
lay bub son your chest (not 'proper' tummy time, but better than nothing!!).
after a bath I used to gently massage in some oil and bub loved being on his tummy then, while i stroked his back and legs (could have just been the pattern on the change table taht had his attention though!!)

Also, keep in mind that tummy time only needs to be for a couple of mins, so when he gets upset just roll him back over.

[Jenko]

My DD didn't enjoy tummy time either. She could hold her head up around 4 weeks old so it didn't hinder her progress. I still put her on her tummy from time to time, but it would only last a minute or two.

Try rolling up a towel and propping his arms over it. This helped my DD last a little longer as she could see a bit more.


Just keep trying him, but don't stress too much about it. :)

[~Chick79~]

Ryan didn't like tummy time either...used to scream everytime but we persisted!

At the 12 week mark we did the lying him on our chest for a few minutes at a time and over a two week period he started to want to sleep on his tummy (he had great head control from the day his was born).

Good luck!

[jarrahsmumma]

Carrying him upright in a sling may help use the same muscle group, and get him used to it slowly. Like the others said, I think they all hate it!

[Abi'smum]

I just tried a rolled up towel under her chest and it worked a treat, yesterday she had enuff by 1 min, today 10 mins. Love it:)

[Chickadee]

laying down on your back with them on your chest is a good alternative to putting them on their tummy on the floor. Another one is to carry them around on their tummy. To do this you lay them along your forearm, with your hand supporting their chest & head and their legs draped either side of your elbow, keeping them tucked in close to your body. For bigger bubs you might need to use your other hand to help suppport their head. At first they will just lay with their head sideways & resting on your hand but after a few goes they will start to lift it up to see the world from such a new viewpoint.

[hayleylea]

Cooper hates it too but i tried the towel thing and it worked for a little longer then normal maybe you could give it ago:)

[Kirstlea]

Paige hated it too.

We round that a triangle pillow worked for us.:)

[JnA]

Jade was another one who hated it.. everything I tired would end in cries after a minute or two.. though she was getting head control from being upright and her neck muscles were obviously strengthing. Then one day she just rolled onto her tummy and stayed there, holding her head up, now she does it all the time and loves being on her tummy *shrug* little packages of mystery they are.


I guess my point is, don't stress about it.. just yet. :)

[Mum2Lucas]

DS went through the exact thing at that age, i ended up holding him alot or trying to keep him occupied on the floor. It didnt last long thank goodness and now at 5 months he's happy on the floor playing with his toys because he's almost crawling but can move around in circles and go backwards and roll everywhere.

[JorBai]

Thank you all so much for your advice and reassurance! I will keep trying everyday for short periods of time and see how that goes! also triangle pillow is something I havent tried!

Was getting a bit worried but now I know that other bubs are the same then I feel alot better!

Thanks again!

Leanne and Bailey:p