Tummy Time - Glenside,PA

My ped had recommended tummy time in short burts several times a day if my kids fussed about it. It's been a few years but if I remember corrctly he said that 3-5 minutes was sufficient for each episode. Good luck!

Hello! i had the same problem with my daughter!! I was so worried that she would always hate it and never strengthen her neck/shoulders, learn to crawl, etc. etc.. (panicky first time mom! haha!)
After we realized how much she hated it, my husband and I would put her belly down on our belly and sing or talk with her to distract her! I think this helped because each day she got better and better with "tummy time" on the floor..(i also used a boppy pillow).
i think short intervals at that age is fine...just try a little bit each day, but don't force her to stay there if she is unhappy!
my daughter is 5 months old now and is on her tummy a lot playing and rolling!

Do you have a boppy pillow? You could try putting her on her stomach with her chest/shoulders over the pillow so it props her up. Put toys in front of the boppy...ones that make sounds,etc. She's only 3 months old. I'd make sure to give her HER tummy time several times per day, but for shorter lengths of time so she won't hate it so much!

My babies hated it also! I used to have to get down there with them. I would set up some interesting toys in their view and definetly a mirror. The mirror would give us a couple of minutes. It is good to see that it was not just my kids who hated it! She will like it eventually though...don't worry.

Hi

I just wanted to try to reassure you that even though you think you are neglecting tummy time she still has plenty of time to learn her skills. My youngest son is 6 months old and because of the older 2 I rarely thought to give him tummy time. In fact, when I did put him on the floor it was on one of those activity mats with dangling toys and he started rolling from back to belly and I let nature take it's course from there. He would get mad being on his belly and I would leave him on his belly a little bit before rolling him back over. He eventually tolerated longer time on his belly and then started rolling back and forth on his own. Don't fret too much!

Hi! My son is 2 now, but I had the same issue with him. He was 9 1/2 lbs. when he was born and had kind of a bigger head, (not freakishly large or anything!!!), he was a BIG boy!! Anyway, he didn't like to be on his tummy either. So, I would give him tummy time a couple times a day, but I would be RIGHT there to "rescue" him as soon as he didn't like it anymore. And I would comfort him as soon as I picked him up. I also used a "Boppy", that way he wouldn't be on his face and struggling to lift up every time we did tummy time. Also you could try rolling her over when she decides she's had enough of the tummy, and make it into a game rolling back and forth. If she's anything like my son cause of their size, extra practice rolling isn't going to hurt!!! Hope this helps, GOOD LUCK!

Hi
I'm sure you'll get plenty of advice - but just to reassure you.... My 1st daughter was very physical and did everything just as the "books" dictated. My 2nd daughter hated tummy time and therefore took a lot longer to roll over, sit up etc... She was happier to study her toys rather than move around. Don't worry, she'll do it when she's ready. Temperament does play a part in it.
One idea is to put her on her belly when she's in an optimal mood and lay down in front of her so she can see your face which is her favorite thing anyway. It will motivate to stay there longer. She'll fuss eventually, don't force it - she'll develop on her own schedule according to her own strengths and abilities.
-H.

Before and after diaper changes is an easy time. Also, do a couple minutes after bath time, while you put lotion on baby. Put a little mirror in front of her face for her to look at and chat with her, then scoop her up when she starts to get tired. It's really not a big deal and she's going to get stronger eventually anyway, whether you concentrate on this or not. Also, if you are reclining and letting baby lie on you on her belly, she'll look up at you--that works--anything that let's baby be in a position other than lying flat on her back. Carrying her around upright in your arms works her muscles, too---she has to use her tummy and back and neck muscles to stay upright. It's not like you have lie her on her tummy and just watch her cry for 30 minutes a day--don't stress over it. Good luck!

hello! try putting a mirror in front of her. my little one loved tummy time when she could watch herself in the mirror!!
good luck~

I bought that baby einstein play arch thing and it worked nicely. It has glitter in the little pockets of water that the babies can move around and it fascinates them. It might work or she might not like it at all. It cost a lot, so I would not run right out and get one! Maybe something at a second hand store, or any kind of pad with bright colors and things she can manipulate. She will do better gradually!

Try lying your baby on a blanket in a fairly dark room then get a flashlight and move the beam of light from near your child's head all the way up the wall onto the ceiling. This captivated my daughter who also did not like tummy time. Good luck!

Have you tried propping her arms over a small pillow? If she can hold her head up pretty good, using the pillow can help her look around and see what is going on a little better. You can get down on the floor with her, too, to make her feel a little happier about it.

Both my kids hated it too. I just had them do it briefly a few times a day and dealt with the screaming. We made up for it afterwords with something fun. Good luck!

My son disliked tummy time also... cried and cried. The best advice I have is to make sure that you are on the same level. Don't just lay your little one down and expect her to entertain herself on one of those little mats. That comes later, after she feels comfortable on her belly. Until then, make sure you're face is right down there with hers.

And, with my son, we did 5 minutes here, 5 minutes there for quite some time, before he actually started to enjoy it. 5 minutes 5 times a day is better than none. Just keep trying.

Good luck! This is not a developmental delay... she is just uncomfortable... she'll still go to prom and get grass stains just fine when she gets older. :)

With my triplets, I used to lay back and put one of them on my chest to get them used to being on their tummy. I'd slowly scoot them further from my face down to my tummy so they wouldn't see me anymore and would get used playing on their tummy. They'd start playing with my shirt and buttons. Play mats can help, and lots of rattles and such. Try playing soft music.

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets

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I suspect this has nothing to do with your child's weight, and everything to do with the fact that they tell you not to let your child sleep on his/her tummy these days. When my kids were little the lingo was to put them ON their tummies to sleep because that way, if they burped up and liquids, they wouldn't choke.

So, in this new world where kids have to sleep on their backs, we now have to round them out a little by puttin them on their tummies, and expecting them to enjoy being in a position that prevents them from playing with "stuff"?

It's ironic, isn't it ? 13 years ago, every child slept on their tummies, unless they rolled over, and I don't think the incidence of SIDS was any higher. It's just what's fashionable and in vogue. (worse yet, at that age my children slept on their tummies on a water bed, with us -- and they are all still alive)

When your child is a little older and more mobile, you can also enroll in a mom/tot swim class the YMCA. They have some wonderful programs, the goal is to HAVE FUN with your child, and playing in the water is a wonderful way to use muscles without gravity holding you down. the range of motion in swim class will help to strengthen any of crawling/walking muscles that didn't get well used because she didn't lay around on her tummy.

And then, on the weight issue. I include this only because you included her weight in your question, and I suspect you are worried about it.

My eldest was in the 90th percentile, and slept on her tummy all the time. I think it's a whole lot easier to sleep on your tummy that it is to play on your tummy, but the suggestions from the younger moms are wonderful !

My eldest was chubby most of her life, but we never used that as an excuse not to do things. She swam, she roller skated, we dragged her up mountains and down the other side of them. She skied, she hiked, she biked, she walked places. She is still overweight, but she isn't a slouch. I think she got "fat genes" from her ancestors, but she is strong, and she has fantastic balance. She is licensed as a merchant mariner, is trained and certified as a wilderness first responder, she has her "inland masters" license which allows her to captain a 100 foot boat. She is an educator on a tall ship, and she can haul lines to hoist HEAVY sails with the best of the men. (hoisting sail on a tall ship also involves hoisting huge and heavy lengths of wood -- spars -- aloft, sometimes 100 feet up before you are done) She is also a Red Cross certified Lifeguard and Lifeguarding and CPR instructor.

I have always lived by the philosophy that being chubby doesn't mean you have to be out of shape. You can tone your muscles and use them well regardless of whether you own a layer of fat as well. And it has worked for her. She's very healthy, other than inheriting her grandfather's allergies, and she leads an incredibly active and fulfilling life. Try not to worry too much about your daughter being chubby.

the best thing you can do for her weight is to live a healthy lifestyle yourself. Eat appropriately, exercise appropriately, and as your daughter matures, have her join you in your activities. Do things YOU like, because it's a whole lot easier to encourage your child to do something if you actually ENJOY it. :-)

Good luck ! And have a wonderful time being a parent and witnessing your child's growth and curiosity. It's such a joy to be able to experience life through the eyes of a wondering and awe-filled child !!

Try putting bright objects in front of her that she can see. Maybe rub her back.

My kids hated laying on their tummies and I think that encouraged them to roll over sooner, so they wouldn't be on their stomachs!

My youngest hated tummy time so much he learned to turn over right away. Of course the only time he turned was when I put him down for tummy time and usually while having a fit. When he was 4-5 months old, he would spend time on his tummy. Just try it a little each day, eventually she'll be okay with it.

When my son was a baby, we went to a mommy and me class given by the hospital he was born in. What they suggested, and we did in the class, was to take a small beach ball and roll the baby back and forth on the beach ball. He actually started crawling at 4 months. I don't know if that had anything to do with it, but that was his first and only real taste of tummy time.

One of the easiest ways to have tummy time is to lay on the floor and play with her, face to face. You can also lay on your back and hold her to your chest or hold her above you...lean back in the chair/couch and hold her like that too. You'll have great arms as a bonus! Good Luck! ____@____.com

I put my son on his tummy for a minute or two right after diaper changes up on the changing table. I just turned him right over after each change; it's an easy way to remember to do it multiple times a day. Once he got accustomed to that, I'd put him on his playmat a few times instead of the changing table; once he started fussing, I'd let him fuss for maybe another minute, then we'd end the session. Gradually, they got longer and he really enjoyed being on his tummy.

I am not sure what tummy time is, but it sounds like you need to think of your childs health. I will recommend this site to learn more about how you can get your daughters weight down and give her the healthy foods she needs to grow healthy and happy. www.pcrm.org Best wishes.

You can lay on your back and put your legs up, then put the baby on your legs. (like an airplane) If you put her head above your knees she will have to hold it up herself. It doesn't help with her tummy muscles as much as regular tummy time, but it will get her more used to just being on her belly while feeling secure because she's playing a game with you. I would sing songs and gently bounce my kids like that. Now my two-year old still asks me to do it.

Maybe you should try and get down on the floor w/ her...I know that worked good w/ my two girls...also if you have a boppy pillow lay her across that...hope it helps