development question...

Vine07

Hi all....so I have a 34 weeker who is finally beginning to have some better head/neck control. She is holding her head up pretty well on her own; a little floppy sometimes but pretty good otherwise. We give her tummy time but she really doesnt like it and fights it. I feel like she is very weak on her arms. When she is on her tummy, she lifts her head slightly but not fully up like I have seen other babies, even at her adjusted age do. I am starting to get concerned (like about everything else lol b/c that's what I do). When did all of your babies really lift their head up all the way when on their tummy? I'm wondering if she needs some physical therapy?

TIA

Jaime

BabyG_

I had similar concerns with my 29 weeker.  Our development doctor just suggested that I give her tummy time of 15-20 minutes at a time three or four times a day.  My LO didn't like it either, but eventually, she got the idea of using her arms to push herself up.  She still doesn't like it much, but she's pretty caught up with other babies as far as that goes. 

She's now rolling over and sitting up on her own for a few minutes at a time. It'll just take a little time, but she'll get there!

At1stsight

DS hated tummy time with a passion from about 2.5 mo. until he could really roll both ways (6.5 mo.). He was a lot like you describe here: could pick his head up sort of but not in a very steady way. He took awhile to roll (6 mo. for back to tummy, a week or two later, from tummy to back) and even then, he wasn't doing the "push up" that they talk about. He would use his legs/hips to get rolling as opposed to his arms. His arm strength came last from the supported sitting (tripoding) during late the 6th month.

In short, I wouldn't worry yet. Just keep doing tt and split it into 5 min. intervals if doing the whole 20 min. at one time is too frustrating for her. I started doing song time along with tt, since he likes music, and I'd roll him from back to tummy and then tummy to back after he started fussing (usually only tolerating being on the tummy for like 1 min.). Little by little though he got stronger. Just hang in there! DS is crawling already now - I remember back at your DD's age, I felt like he was never going to push up or even hold his head up at 90 degrees.

mommamorris

we also had similar concerns... pt couldn't hurt. if you can get it through early intervention it's free, and they can evaluate/give you exercises to do at home as well.

i think our lo was about 5-6 months-ish adjusted when she could roll both ways (belly to back) and hold her head up pretty well. but we had been in PT twice a week too. she can only roll one way back to belly, and she has to really want something to make her do that!

as an alternative to actually putting her on her belly for belly time (because she HATED it, and still does. now that she can roll, she just rolls onto her back as soon as we put her on her belly) we do "superman" time... where we hold her up and let her "fly". this makes her work her neck muscles the same as lifting it if she were on her belly. but, it doesn't do anything for her arm strength. we're still working on her pushing up all the way (and now she's 7 months adjusted). we also do belly time with her on our chests. she doesn't seem to mind that as much, and will push up to see our faces pretty happily.

Vine07

Thanks for all the support/advice. I will bring it up at her 5 month appointment in a week and see what they say. I definitely need to do more tummy time with her even if it is only for 2 mins at a time since that is all she can tolerate. Thanks again!!!