Advice!!!'

Myee612 · August 2013

Ok I need advice and thoughts.... First off, my son is 4 months old, he loves to be held... I love holding and cuddling him but he is getting heavy!! I try to set him down either in his swing, rocker, blanket or piano toy etc.. But doesn't last very long before he starts crying! I've tried to let him cry for a couple minutes but I feel so bad because he just starts screaming.... Any suggestions what to do? Also..... Should I be concerned that he still hasn't rolled over? He still hates tummy time too, only lasts about 2 min... Help!

kmama2013 · August 2013

I've heard of a lot of kids hating tummy time. IF you can at least have him lay on your chest he can get it in that way too, of course still try doing it on the floor as well but this way he can work more on his muscles. He isnt rolling over at all or not from his back to his tummy yet ? Either way I think all babies go at different paces, he'll get there when he is ready I'm sure : ) If you are concerned tho talk to your doctor, maybe he/she has some advice for you on that. Do you have a carrier? maybe he will like that and you can be a little more 'hands free'

fireflyz56 · August 2013

I wouldn't be concerned about the rolling. I may be wrong but I'm sure many babies don't roll for another month or so. He will figure it out at his own pace.

DD loves to be held as well. She was SO heavy to me at first and never wanted to be put down, so by the end of the day I thought my arms would fall off! I did buy a sling to carry her in for the days she is really clingy and use it once in a while. Also, and this will sound really funny, but now I lift DD into the air repeatedly several times a day. She loves the "jumping" and I get an upper body strength workout from it, which I desperately needed as I had no arm strength whatsoever when she was born. I've been doing this for over a month now and it has made it MUCH easier to hold her for long periods of time.

Myee612 · August 2013

Thanks ladies! Nope not rolling at all yet, he has rolled from tummy to back once only because he was really mad about tummy time.. But hasn't happened again since! I'm thinking the reflux is making him hate tummy time, even laying on our chests

I think I'll also have to try the arm workouts with him

ClandestineX · August 2013

My son just rolled from back to tummy while I was looking the other way lol. He spends about 30 minutes total a day on his stomach (5 minutes here and there).. I looked on youtube and they have a video on there to show how you can try and stimulate rolling, I have been doing it for a few days.

He still hates tummy time.

fireflyz56 · August 2013

Also, my DD hates tummy time with a passion. On the floor she typically only lasts about a minute. I searched online for tummy time alternatives, and there are some great ideas out there to try, the one that has worked best for us is using a pillow to prop her up on an angle. She seems to prefer this (for about 5 minutes at a time) as she can still look around then, and I think it takes some pressure off her stomach. I just never leave her unsupervised (I don't even really let go of her) in this position for her safety. It's worth a try!

pinottoparenthood · August 2013

My DS isn't rolling yet either and he is four months. Keep working at the tummy time, pp's have made good suggestions.

As for being held, it sounds like your baby isn't very independent and he needs you. I personally wouldn't leave my four month old to cry on the floor. If you really can't hold him anymore, perhaps you should invest in a carrier. When SO is home, have him help with the holding and cuddling if you can. If you think your baby is heavy now, how will you lift and carry him when he's a toddler? (You won't have to do it all the time, but you will sometimes). Keep holding him and your arms will get stronger. Hang in there!