Tummy Time Fun

My daughter absolutely hated tummy time. We were able to get her to stand it a little longer by my husband sitting on the couch with her laying on her tummy looking out across the living room. I think she liked it because she wasn't doing a face-plant into fabric, and because from that angle she could look at the TV! It helps that my husband is tall, so she had a long lap to stretch out on. I had some success putting her on the Boppy with a book in front of her.

Once she could roll over on her own, that's all she wanted to do. She rolled from her tummy to her back first, and then started rolling from her back to her tummy a few weeks later. As soon as she started rolling onto her tummy, she became obsessed with trying to move.

Don't worry, what he's doing is entirely normal for his age. I think that stuff about them getting an hour a day of tummy time is wishful thinking at that age. My daughter never did an hour of tummy time until she started trying to crawl, and she's crawling and standing up at 8 months. He'll get there in his own time.

put a wide variety of toys infront of him. even a small size mirror so he can see himself. if he has good head control maybe get a bumbo seat and sit him in it infront of hanging toys. theres endless possiblities to do with him. i doubt you let him sleep on his tummy so for the flat head thing try to get him to sleep with his head turned to the side and try to alternate sides each night. good luck!

Hi...it takes a while for them to build up strength, so the more they do it the longer and longer they'll be able to stay. We bought a cute little tummy time mat that is shaped like a surfboard and has a water mat and toys attached to it. It's padded, has a little pillow, and even has markings to measure your baby's length. We got it at Babies 'R Us but I've seen it at Target and online. It costs about $19.

I also would use my changing table for tummy time. My son loved getting the different view from high up and looking at his framed baby picture. Finally, he loved when I would get on the floor and play with him face-to-face.

Good luck. My son is now 6 months and a rolling machine. He's always on his tummy, but gets frustrated because hewants to crawl...it's always something! LOL

My son HATED it too. I used a pillow thing, and also the boppy pillow to put under his chest....keeping his head off the ground. Again, he oculd only stnad that for a little while too. So, I would get down there and play with him during tummy time. I would get stuffed animals and make them go toward him, make funny faces, etc. Then I would let him go on his own. I would put some toys in front of him too....

I would do this whole "tummy torture" routine....2-3 times a day for as long as he would stand it.

Now my son (8 mo) is rambo crawling...loves his tummy. I find him on his tummy in his crib in the morning.

Oh my son also had the slight flat head thing too. His head rounded out and I am sure yours will. Just be aware of it, and rest your baby on his side, work on neck strength, turn his head to the side when he is asleep...it will work out.....GOOD LUCK!

My daughter used to hate it too and now she is the queen of tummy time! I found that stimulating her with toys really helped. She loved watching balls spinning around on the floor in front of her, mirrors for her to look into or me sitting in front of her encouraging her through song and dance if I had to. She had a flat head from months 3-5 and now it is really rounding out thanks to her tummy time! Keep it up!

The things you have mentioned are some of the reasons I never put my babies on their backs unless i was changing their diapers, tummy time is important even if he starts crying, it's not cause he isn't injoying it, it's because he is getting frustrated, but that same frustration is going to lead to him getting up on his hands and knees and eventually crawling, put toys out, and if you are really brave, ut a little shalow dish or pan of water and put some toys in it, most babies love water, put a water proff something dwn first. J.

Just keep doing it for the small amount he will tolerate, and do it as many times a day as possible. Also, lay on your back and put him on your tummy so you can see each other. Put a mirror on the floor in front of him (an unbreakable mirror) or any other toy he is interested in. But just be patient. Most babies don't like to be on their tummies for long because it's a lot more work to look around. Keep doing it!

Also, to help keep his head from becoming too flat, limit the use of those baby things that hold him on his back. He is far better off laying on the floor on his back because of the greater freedom of motion- he will turn his head more, roll over or try to roll over. And rotate which end of the crib you put his head at, especially if he tends to always look the same direction. And baby carriers help a lot, too- you can hold your baby more and still get stuff done. For his age I wouldn't go with the traditional baby bjorn type front carrier- he will do much better with a sling (like the peanut shell or maya wrap), a wrap (like the moby wrap or ultimate baby wrap- great if you have any back or shoulder issues), or a mei tai. Mom4life.com has a lot of these available- I used a sling/ always put my baby on the floor and she never had any flat spots.