tummy time on floor vs. tummy time on bed

Delby

Anyone have any opinions?

I have heard that the floor on a blanket/tummy time mat is better than the bed because the soft surface of the bed doesnt help really help to build muscle control/strength. It was explained to me to be like doing sit ups on a bed... the bed has so much give you dont really have to use as much muscle control, strength or balance to do things. Not that the bed is bad (if you keep them from falling off obviously), just that the floor is better for those reasons.

Has anyone heard anything like this or otherwise????

I bring this up because MIL keeps DD during the day and I think she is afraid to put her down on the floor and does EVERYTHING on the bed. This makes me worry in the future she'll rely too much on things like the exersaucer instead of letting DD be on the floor to learn to crawl...

MrsLeslie030405

I don't think it matters cause they're still using those muscles but your LO will have an easier time completing a roll over on the floor.  Maybe putting a thick blanket down on the floor will help?  We do tummy time on her play mat which has some cushion plus we have carpet which softens and head bumps.

Delby

we do it on the floor at home on a mat or blanket, and we have carpet and DD seems to be happier on the floor than a bed and seems to be better at maneuvering on the floor.

MIL puts the tummy time mat on a quilt over the regular blankets on the bed. she has hardwood floors but they are 90% covered by rugs. so i dont know if she's concerned about the hard floors or what?

ToyLes0922

oh my gosh I just posted about this earlier! I'm a plus size mom and it's hard for me to get up from the floor and such, so I had the same question, and people responded that the floor might be better for LO to kick off and move around on, as long as they're on a blanket. I have a 3 month old and have never done tummy time on the floor. He has great neck control but will start doing it on the floor at times too since I am not really sure if it's good or bad. Hope this helps!

Tonya_G

I guess I never even thought about doing tummy time on the bed- we always do it on her play gym mat on the floor. But, I agree, it makes sense that the floor is a better place to do it. Guess that's why I do it that way!

Delby

thanks guys... it does makes sense to me too. i'm going to have to tell MIL to try it once in a while that way. she has cats though and i think that might be part of the problem. i think she's worried that the cats will bother her. we have 2 though as well and its really no big deal.