Too Much Back Time and Not Enough Tummy Time?

Updated on March 25, 2011
M.S. asks from Brandenburg, KY
10 answers

My baby Emma has rolled over only one ti me and i was lucky enough to catch it on camera, otherwise she would have made me out to be a liar. LOL. Because now, she won't do it anymore. Every time i put her on her tummy for tummy time, she tries and tries to roll over, but gets frustrated and puts her face into the blanket and cries. She is only nine weeks old. She loves to be on her back to kick around in her little play gym mat, but i have heard that it is harder for babies to roll over from back to front. I just want to make it as easy as possible for her to learn to roll over, but i feel like i am giving her too much time on her back and not enough time on her tummy because i just can't stand to let her lay there and cry with her face in the blanket with frustration. Help!!!

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K.N.

answers from Cleveland on

wow, she's 9 weeks old, she shouldn't be rolling over yet to begin with. Slow down and don't push her, she will get it.

5 moms found this helpful

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P.G.

answers from Dallas on

WAY too early for rolling over. Hit your library or bookstore for "what to expect the first year" - it'll give a general idea of milestones so your expectations are not to high or too low. You can also google "developmental milestones" - http://www.babycenter.com/0_milestone-chart-1-to-6-months... is a site that came up.

3 moms found this helpful

S.J.

answers from St. Louis on

My little ones hated tummy time, too. Just try to do it in small increments each day, 5 minutes here and there. They will start to enjoy it more the older and stronger they get. And Kari is right, you shouldn't be worried about her rolling over already. The earliest one of mine rolled over was 3 months and the latest was 3.5 months and they are all just fine and exceeding all milestones.

3 moms found this helpful
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H.W.

answers from Portland on

Don't sweat it. My son really disliked tummy time for a while, esp. when he was dealing with gas/spitting up.You know what, though? Once he became interested in crawling and rolling over, he inititiated it all on his own, because he was ready. Nine weeks, their GI systems are still getting online too, and so the gas can be plenty uncomfortable.

If you have any floor toys, like a child-safe mirror, to put in front of her, that might help a little. Some children just have to grow into these things. (as a nanny, too, I saw lots of babies who didn't care for Tummy time at some time or another. I can reassure you they are all walking, running, highly mobile children now!)

And don't sweat the 'milestones' too much either. I think both the medical establishment and the parenting community get a little too worked up about this. My son was late (at least a month and a half to two months) late for just about everything: sitting up, rolling over, crawling, walking, etc. It would have been maddening if I'd tried to keep up with what the children of my peer mothers were doing. This is just who my little guy is and part of his temperament. All that to say, there's a broad spectrum of development...

she'll learn to roll over when she's ready!:) Have fun with your baby!

2 moms found this helpful
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P.M.

answers from Portland on

Tummy time is important for strengthening the neck and back muscles so she can develop normally. Every baby I've ever known has LOVED having tummy time on Mommy's or Daddy's chest and tummy. Plenty of snuggly contact, talking and cooing, laughter, connection. The baby has plenty of incentive to stay on her tummy!

See if you can find time in your busy days to put your feet up and interact with your daughter in this way. I predict you'll both enjoy the time. She'll be rolling over in a couple more months.

2 moms found this helpful
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A.S.

answers from Reading on

9 weeks old is really early to be rolling over. My son is 5 months and he still only rolls over every once in awhile. At her age, she should just be working on strengthing her neck muscles, so that she can lay on her tummy and hold her head up for a longer amount of time. After she masters that, then she will roll over.

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M.M.

answers from Chicago on

Oh boy! My DD didn't roll over for the first time until 5.5 mos!
She's 7mos now, and she's started crawling. Kids take their time with things.
And 9 weeks is pretty early to be rolling over regularly.

Do tummy time several times every day. I will help with everything she needs to learn. That was my "default" position for my kids when I put them down. When they start crying move them - give them a break - and then back to the tummy a little while later. Make it an all day thing.
They don't need to sit there and scream with their face in the floor. They just need regular exposure to it.
And again, 9 weeks is really little, so give her some time.

1 mom found this helpful

D.B.

answers from Memphis on

My grandson, who just turned 1 last month, hated tummy time. He would do the same thing, cry & bury his face in the blanket. We would only do it for between 5-10 minutes OR we would lay down & put him on our tummy. That helped a little. But he too preferred being on his back because they can see so much more there & it requires little effort :) It took him a couple of more months to start fully enjoying it & understanding to push up on his arms and he did roll over eventually.

She's only 9 weeks, give her tummy time in small doses, tears and all. It helps build up her strength and it wont hurt her (as much as is it does you). I know as her Mommy you want to make it easier on her, but it's part of her development and she will get it soon.

Good luck to you

1 mom found this helpful

L.F.

answers from Dallas on

My DD was the same way. I would only make her do it in 10 minute increments since she hated it so much. I would try giving her tummy time on your lap throughout the day as well.

My DD rolled over once just like yours and then it took her months after that. Maybe around 5-6 month mark.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.P.

answers from Raleigh on

Dont worry about it so much. She is fine! My first child never had tummy time because she would just cry the whole time. So I stopped trying - now she's 4 and healthy. My second child rolled over when he was a young baby, now at 10 months old, he doesnt roll anymore. He does do tummy time but only rolled from front to back a couple times his whole life. They will develop differently and at individual rates. Dont stress.

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