3Month Old Hates Being on Tummy

Every baby is different. I wouldn't worry about his refusal to be on his tummy. If he can sit up already by himself, he is ahead of where my girls were at that age :) PS, you might want to update your "a little about me" it is sooo hard to remember to do that lol

1 mom found this helpful

Hi A.! My baby hated it too! She would much prefer to be sitting in a bouncy chair or swin, or propped up on the couch. I guess some kids just don't like that position. It's not exactly a comfortable position if you get down on the floor and try it. If he is holding his head up well and has some control, I'm sure he is just fine. I wouldn't worry about it. May be he just plain isn't comfortable that way. Have a great day!

I have twin girls who are currently 7 months old and up until a couple months ago they HATED tummy time! I was so worried that they would not build up their muscles to develope properly.

There are alot of other ways you can make tummy time better rather than just laying him on his tummy. You already stated he sits up and hold his head up with asistance. While holding him in your lap lay him tummy down across your legs. While laying back in a reclined postion, place him on your chest or stomach. While carrying him, hold him tummy down on one of your arms with his head by your elbow and your hand between his legs.

Don't try to lay him down on his stomach after he has just eaten, that can be uncomfortable. The best time to try is right after a diaper change (so there is no bladder discomfort either). If he is on the ground, get down on his level and talk to him. Despite his protest, keep trying for very short intervals from day to day (do not force him though if he starts crying). Evetually you will find him tolerating it and then even liking it. It might take months, but you'll get there.

My girls now love tummy time and it even helps sooth them at times nothing else seems to work. They are strong and have not been effected by the early tummy time they missed.

Good luck!

My daughter was not big on being on her tummy either. She eventually grew out of this as I would position her on the boppy pillow . She is big for laying on her left side. Is it too close to finishing from getting fed?

J. R.

Mine hated it. It helped to let him do a little tummy time on my tummy and to do it in short spurts. He grew out of it but you have to keep practicing so they can build those baby muscles for crawling and squirming.

My 4 1/2-month-old granddaughter hated it a month ago, too; but now I just caught her sleeping on her tummy, and when I lay her down on her back, she immediately rolls over, and likes her tummy now. It's fun to watch the changes.

My son was the same way. He held his head up with no problems but absolutely hated tummy time. Just be sure to give him time several times daily, even if it's for just a few minutes each time. Get down with him and engage him. My son got over this around four months and now at 5 months prefers to be on his belly and is even trying his hardest to start crawling.

Hi, A. -

Well, we considered "tummy time" our own personal punishment because our daughter HATED it! It's important for them to have to build their strength, using those arm and leg muscles, and experience different kinds of stimuli, so we were disciplined about making sure she got tummy time at least once a day. But it was definitely no fun for anyone. Take heart... by around 6 months, he'll be starting to sit and all this will be a thing of the past. For now, though, I think it's still important to do for him.

Take care!
H.

My doc told me 3mo is too early to really be worried about tummy time. One of my twins hated it and the other loved it. We didn't force it on the one who hated it and he crawled and walked sooner than the other one and has much more upper body strength. I wouldn't force it. By him screaming he's trying to tell you it's something he's not comfortable with or ready to do. Would you enjoy being face down on the floor and not able to move? I'd try again in another month or so.

OMG, my son absolutely hated being on his tummy!! He would scream and scream until I would turn him back over!! It made it really hard to get tummy time in for him. But he's crawling and starting to walk now, so he's just fine. I made him do it about 15 minutes a day anyways, to strengthen his arms. Oh, my, he hated it though! Good luck!!

Both of my kids HATED HATED HATED tummy time. They wailed and carried on the whole time, and it was just 5 min at a time, several times a day. Don't give up, eventually, they learn to like it, and it develops the muscles needed to crawl and turn over. I got down with them, so they could see me and tried to make that time a bit easier.

My kids hated their tummy. Like someone else said, once they could roll it wasn't as big of a deal any more.

My oldest daughter HATED tummy time horribly. At 6 mons the DR figured out it was because she was lactose intolerant and had acid reflux, she was medicated for that but never got into tummy time, she never crawled, she started walking at 10 mons and 1 wk of age.

Keep trying the tummy time, even if it is only like 2 minutes at a time. As you probably know, tummy time is a great way to build the muscles in the neck, shoulders, and chest. You might also try doing tummy time with him on your chest. Try using a mirror on the floor, or toys placed in front of him.

If you haven't already. try lying on your back and putting him on your tummy. My baby liked that (or I should say tolerated it) for a few minutes at a time. I think it helps comfort them. Good luck!

My oldest loved tummy time and my youngest hated it. I think it depends on each baby. Just keep working on it. Do it for only a few minutes at a time, several times a day, instead of say, one big block of time. Ease baby into it. Put objects in front of baby that will interest him. Use a play-mat, too, that has colors or animals on it, so he can look at those beneath him. If he gets fussy and angry, even after a minute or two, pick him up and try again later.

I have 3 children who are now older but I had the same type of problem with my younger daughter. I always gave her gas medicine a few minutes before laying her on her stomache, It seemed to help her out alot sometimes it can be the tiniest trapped gas bubble in there tummy and what we normally wouldn't notice with ourselves to a baby it can feel like a basket ball. Hope this helps good luck and many helpfull replies. Cherie SAH mother of 3

My son hated it too. I left him until he cried and then flipped him over. Over time, he spent more and more time on his tummy until he finally crawled. Make sure he's got something to occupy his interest, he'll get over it eventually.

Hi A.!

My almost 8 month old daughter hated to be on her tummy as well. It didnt matter when or where I would put her there, she would just cry and cry. Once she was able to roll over, being on her tummy was no big deal. As a matter of fact, she likes to sleep on belly now!

Tummy time is important so just maybe a few mintues here and there, Try putting different toys out in front. Don't give up, keep trying if you find in a month or so he still hates it ask your doctor for some advice.

Don't get discouraged - once he starts realizing he can move around from being on his tummy he might start liking it a bit more.

We also had this experience with our son. Three things to try:
- tummy time on your chest while you are laying down
- tummy time with a propped pillow. If you dont have the mats that include this U shaped pillow, a boppy will work
-TV or baby einsteen video's on tv, with boppy and pillows propped in front should be the focus of tummy time. This is something that 'distracts' their attention.