Tummy Time - Timeline?

3 months is really too young for "progress." The point of tummy time at this age is to get him comfortable in this position, so he can start to be mobile between 5 and 8 months. If anything, use tummy time as social time. Lie down face-to-face and silly-talk to him. Have his toys "wave" to him. But don't expect anything FROM him for another 2-5 months at least.

He'll only get to be a teeny-tiny infant once. Let him have that time. The next phase -- when he's mobile, when you have to childproof everything, when he's putting anything and everything in his mouth -- that'll come in due time. No point, and no value, in rushing it.

I think waaaaay too much emphasis is placed on tummy time, actually. My oldest HATED tummy time. She would scream until she threw up. Eventually we stopped trying, because it was so miserable for all of us. She also never crawled (and if we tried to make her, she would collapse on the ground and scream angrily as if this activity was totally beneath her). Long story short, she's now 11 and is in a pre-professional ballet program, so her early hatred of tummy time and crawling was no indicator of coordination or muscle strength! Try not to worry too much. Just do other activities with your son that will help him develop strength (our daughter really enjoyed her Exersaucer starting around 4 months, and she enjoyed it when we would hold her under her arms so she could "stand" up in our laps).

Mine rolled over on his own at 2 weeks. Never got that infant honeymoon where I could put him down on the floor and figure he'd safely be put for a moment. What I am about to offer, therefore isn't from personal experience.

Try tummy time with fun objects within reach, then just out of reach. it incentivizes them to reach and stretch. Try lying down on your back and putting him on your tummy, then singing songs, making faces, moving his arms and legs for him.

If you don't see change soon, contact the ped. There might be some gross muscle milestones I am not aware of, that you could get some therapy for, if needed.

Best,
F. B.

You can always contact your pediatrician if you are concerned, but I think you are expecting a bit much at this age. My son hated tummy time, and while he rolled from tummy to back on time, he didn't roll from back to tummy until he started crawling at around 8 months. The ped said he just didn't want to, and that there was nothing unusual about it (he started walking at 13 mos, and has been on time for everything else). Find a good milestones book or website and base things off that. Most of them will list what some, most, and a few babies can do at a particular age, and will also include red flags to look out for. Congratulations!

I don't think you have anything to worry about. It sounds like he is good at lifting his head, which is most important. If he's not pushing up yet with his arms, that's ok. He'll get there in a month or two, probably. Put a mirror in front of him so he can look at himself, and maybe a toy or two, though it's unlikely he will reach for them yet.

A really great tool to track development is the Ages & Stages Questionnaire. Look around online. You may be able to find a sample, but you will probably have to register (free) and have one mailed to you. They do them for 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54 and 60 months (so basically, birth to age 5). Each one has several questions about fine and gross motor skills, personal, social, behavioral, etc. I've done them with both my kids and found them very helpful.

I know most doctors do either a 3 or 4 month well check. If yours does, bring it up then with the doctor, just to be sure. I would not be worried though from what you say.

parentcenter.com

Register and sign up for all the emails. They'll be so much fun, they'll help you know if your kiddo is on time, early, or late.

Research shows that access to things like stairs does not change a child's timeline. They climb when they are developmentally able to climb, not because they have access to stairs. In twin studies, the twin with access to stairs climbed something like a week earlier. Nothing significant. My oldest had tons of tummy time, my second, not so much. He crawled three months sooner. He is just that developmentally advanced physically.

Let your child be. They do what they need to do when they do it, only worry if a doctor appears worried. Otherwise just enjoy your baby! It goes by sooo fast, so get in lots of cuddles, and be thankful for a baby that doesn't move :-)

He is three months old. You are expecting too much. I also do not understand this "tummy time." We always just pug them on belly ex to plsy, then maybe back. Today everything is so over analyzed. Just enjoy your baby!!

My granddaughter never rolled over on hard surfaces. You know how she sat up. She did sit ups!!! Yep. From her back she would sit up. She never crawled. Just sort of scooted. However, she had quotes vocabulary at 15 months. Today she runs, climbs, talks up a storm. Oh she did it walk until 18 months.

So he will do things at his own pace. Don't worry and just have fun with him.