PSA: For those who hate tummy time

gutsymama · September 2013

Luke has been pretty strong since early on, but tummy time has been difficult for us since he had the ostomy and surgeries and just general abdominal craziness. So I've been working with a PT, and now we're doing this:

Put LO in an upright sitting position on your lap, facing out so LO's back is against your belly. Put one of LO's forearms in each of your hands (Luke likes to grab a finger while we're doing this), keeping their arms midline and slightly in front of LO's body. Then slowly lean forward until LO's arms are bearing some weight - go as far forward as LO will tolerate.

This replicates the tummy time position as far as strength and muscle development, but without the actual tummy time part, and I think it's actually a lot easier to do it a few times throughout the day since it doesn't require a mat or blanket or floor space, you can just do it wherever you're holding your baby.

Hope that helps somebody!

Dani428 · September 2013

This is awesome thank you so much for sharing!

valstulas · September 2013

I love this idea. LO doesn't have much tummy time right now simply bc it's not always safe for him to be on the floor with all his brothers wrestling around him. I think he'd also be more tolerant of tummy time if he was able to maintain that much contact with me.

[Deleted User] · September 2013

Thanks! I'm going to try this as soon ad my LO wakes up

he strongly dislikes tummy time and just inch worms around the blanket.

arlingirl · September 2013

Oliver just chews his first..."FU tummy time!!"

RumbleLina · September 2013

We never did tummy time with DS due to his reflux and haven't much for DD for same reasons . I'm assuming because of that is the reason he pulled himself along the floor army crawling versus crawling at first. He didn't full out crawl until 9 months. Although he was walking at 10 months then so it didn't screw him up or anything. I think we will try this though instead as it will be less stress on her tummy and she will freak out less(which also makes her freak out).

sonflower1427 · September 2013

Totally trying this. DD hates being on her tummy for long. Thank you!

rondokye · September 2013

Thank you so much - great advice! Ema hates tummy time and usually uses it as an excuse to watch tv (PIP).

Erinm278 · September 2013

Thanks for this! El doesn't handle tummy time well for more than a minute!

TheLittleRedM · September 2013

Thanks for sharing! Noah hates tummy time but loves sitting up so I'll have to try this!

pgermain11 · September 2013

arlingirl said:

Oliver just chews his first..."FU tummy time!!"

Haha! Such a cute pic! If I put my LO on the boppy she kicks herself forward and lands on her head!

dinomama13 · September 2013

pgermain11 said:

arlingirl said:

Oliver just chews his first..."FU tummy time!!"

Haha! Such a cute pic! If I put my LO on the boppy she kicks herself forward and lands on her head!

Mine too! Lol he hates tummy time with a passion..

PrimRoseMama · September 2013

Alex tolerates tummy time. He's in a hurry to get up n' go! Look at him!

He gets all pissed if I try a pillow prop, but he does love to look at himself in the mirror, the little stinker!

shara3333 · September 2013

Wow prim that's great!! My LOs head is in 95th percentile so from the floor he does not like to push it up! He does like to suck his fist and even has found his thumb twice and falls asleep.