A question about tummy time?

Question

my 8 week old daughter hates it. she cries everytime i put her on her belly. so i pick her up and she stops immediately. i know it's not a belly ache or anything, because if i were to lay down on my back, and put her on my stomach, she'd just fall asleep, but she doesnt like to 'play' on her tummy. her neck seems like it's developing pretty well though, even without the tummy time she can hold her head up without being too wobbley, and when my husband holds her up on his shoulder, she pushes herself up with her arms to look around. so i'm juts wondering if i should keep trying to make her do something she clearly doesnt like, just because everyone says tummy time is so important. please help.

Answer 1

Maybe its not comfortable for her, you can put her on your bed on her tummy and lay beside her and see if she likes that better, or you can buy a matt for the floor just for tummy time, they dont cost much and have some toys attatched to them, maybe she just gets bored on the floor lol..but she does need the time to be on her tummy :)

Answer 2

my son used to hate being on his belly, he is now 5 months and still hates being on his belly. i just put him on his belly till he complains and then i will either roll him or he will do it himself. im not sure why, but i guess some babies enjoy belly time and some dont

Answer 3

well we do it, mainly just for fun and exercise, but my ped said that even if we didn't do it that babies catch up fast anyway; so if you really don't want to do  it , don't worry about it; however, my little gal hated it at first, but as she has gotten stronger and can look around better, she now likes it...we almost always use a boppy too...good luck and don't worry too much,main thing is keep her from always lying on her back, so other things can help with that, holding her, a bumbo when she is strong enough, even a noggin nest that i got at babies r us ( i am a little paranoid when it comes to my gal) and the minky one is very soft.....this is the one i have...they also make a denim one..you put it under babies head in bouncer, swing, anywhere they will be lying on the back of their head, except in bed, it also helps a little with support if she needs it....my gal has gotten to where she now turns her head back and forth when sleeping, in the swing , etc,, so i don't worry so much, and believe it or not, ppl are always commenting on how symmetrical her face and head is.....maybe a supermodel one day? LOL

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp...

Answer 4

why don't you try having her tummy time on your stomach at a sort of incline so she's not completely flat, maybe after you've done that some she will have strengthened her neck enough that she won't hate it so much when she's on her tummy.  

my daughter hated tummy time too, i think it's common.  part of being a parent is having your kids do things they don't like (eating vegetables, doing homework, cleaning their rooms). Remember that strengthening these muscles is necessary before she can sit up, crawl, and walk.  A couple minutes of tummy time here and there will be very beneficial, and she'll eventually get used to it.

Answer 5

My baby was the same, I did just as you said and laid on my back and put her on my tummy, my childhood nurse said thats fine, even if she does end up falling asleep a little time is better than no time.  As my daughter got older she slowly started tolerating it but I never forced the issue and she has developed fine.  I would not worry considering she is holding her head and developing fine.  Make sure you change wich side she sleeps on cause they can develop flat spots onthere head and tummy time is suppose to help this as well but if you continue to put her to sleep on different sides then there should not be a problem.  Good luck, there a alot of fanatical mums out there that like to do things by the book however parenting for me has been alot about gut instinct and what feels right for me and baby.  

Answer 6

every baby hated tummy time, but if your persistant you could possibly have a early crawler. Babies need tummy time.  

Answer 7

My son hated tummy time as well. Just put her on her belly a few times a day until she starts crying. Try putting her on the bed or on your tummy is fine. Try distracting her with something interesting like a toy. As soon as my son rolled over at about 4 months I can't keep him on his back. Keep working on it it is important but I always picked my son up as soon as he cried even if only a minute.  

Answer 8

Tummy time is important. Keep trying and if she gets upset pick her up but try a few times a day. In a couple weeks she may like tummy time. My boys hated it at first now they love tummy time and when they are sick of it they just roll over! Keep trying and good luck