Tummy Time

mhwood · January 2014

How old was your infant when you started tummy time?

Our 4 week old lays on our chest and she lifts her head like a champ. One of my RL mommy friends said it is too early to set her down for tummy time, but she really is showing a lot of interest in it.

MommyEllenSue · January 2014

We started tummy time at around a week old. We do it a couple of times a day for short periods of time. As she's gotten older she likes to do tummy time for longer periods of time. She is 3 weeks now and is a champ at rolling from her tummy to her back but not so great at lifting her head.

CJS2011 · January 2014

We started it the day we got home from the hospital. As PP said, it is never too early.

*Mrs*Rohrbaugh* · January 2014

We started tummy time when DD was around 2.5 - 3 weeks old.

Kaymee · January 2014

You can definitely start it right away! Also, tummy time counts when they're lying on your chest! But you should also put them on the floor as well

tisunge602 · January 2014

My doc said as long as their umbilical stump has fallen off, tummy time is a great idea. We started our LO on our chests as well and now he is usually on the Boppy for tummy time. He's 6 weeks old and isn't quite strong enough to do it on the floor yet -- either that or he's content leaving his head on the ground, lol.

mhwood · January 2014

Apparently, as a newborn, she should be held all the time in order to help her feel secure.

We did some tummy time this morning, it was hilarious. She spent 4-5 minutes lifting her head and turning it from left to right, then she cuddled up a bit and fell asleep lol. I would say she is feeling pretty secure.

lba0614 · January 2014

The baby's nurse at the hospital had told us to definitely NOT start tummy time until a couple months old...

The more I read about people saying it's ok though, the more I think she has misinformed us.

I'm disappointed we didn't start it earlier with our LO.

Zimger · January 2014

Tummy time is important. It will not make your baby feel less secure.

Our DS started tummy time as soon as the umbilical cord fell off and healed up a bit. Probably at the 1.5-2 week mark (I can't remember exactly).

ranaverde · January 2014

It took our baby a while before she tolerated tummy time; before then we mostly just held her upright or on our chests to build up her neck strength.

She used to just scream during actual tummy time, but then we learned three tricks that have helped: 1) do it when she's in a good mood and not yet tired; 2) put a small rolled up towel under her chest and arms to make it a bit easier; and 3) gently press her bottom down so she doesn't end up doing that thing where they teeter-totter back and forth and push their heads into the floor (she's now able to hold her own bottom down). We also got a mirror for her to look at.

ranaverde · January 2014

Sing2phins said:

ranaverde said:

It took our baby a while before she tolerated tummy time; before then we mostly just held her upright or on our chests to build up her neck strength.

She used to just scream during actual tummy time, but then we learned three tricks that have helped: 1) do it when she's in a good mood and not yet tired; 2) put a small rolled up towel under her chest and arms to make it a bit easier; and 3) gently press her bottom down so she doesn't end up doing that thing where they teeter-totter back and forth and push their heads into the floor (she's now able to hold her own bottom down). We also got a mirror for her to look at.

Maggie hates tummy time for the most part, even in the best of moods, so we just basically tough out 5 minutes of fussing and screaming. I'm going to try that towel thing and see if that helps.

Here's where I learned that trick: https://mamaot.com/2012/03/25/tips-for-making-tummy-time-a-little-less-um-miserable/

cheverian87 · January 2014

From my knowledge it is never to early to start tummy time. We started around the first week. I try to do it a few times a day.

I found the rolled up towel trick has really helped. We also bought a tummy time mat that came with a little cushion that you can prop baby up on. I found placing a mirror in front of my DS has helped cause he does enjoy looking at himself. I also read him a book with large pictures so it gives him something to look at, and I guess the sound of my voice helps sooth him.

tisunge602 · January 2014

Sing2phins said:

tisunge602 said:

My doc said as long as their umbilical stump has fallen off, tummy time is a great idea. We started our LO on our chests as well and now he is usually on the Boppy for tummy time. He's 6 weeks old and isn't quite strong enough to do it on the floor yet -- either that or he's content leaving his head on the ground, lol.

You need to put him on the floor so he can get stronger. How else is he supposed to get better at it?

We're working on it. I did put him on the floor the other day and he will hold his head up for a few seconds at a time. I figure Boppy tummy time is better than no tummy time. He does really well on the Boppy but I will keep working him towards the floor.

tisunge602 · January 2014

ranaverde said:

It took our baby a while before she tolerated tummy time; before then we mostly just held her upright or on our chests to build up her neck strength.

She used to just scream during actual tummy time, but then we learned three tricks that have helped: 1) do it when she's in a good mood and not yet tired; 2) put a small rolled up towel under her chest and arms to make it a bit easier; and 3) gently press her bottom down so she doesn't end up doing that thing where they teeter-totter back and forth and push their heads into the floor (she's now able to hold her own bottom down). We also got a mirror for her to look at.

Good reminder -- I will have to try that the next time I have him on the floor.

Marchmellow2 · January 2014

Tummy time started the day after birth in the NICU and my LO was 6 weeks early. So you're fine

CherryHolly · January 2014

I don't think there is a "too early" for tummy time. Most don't really like it. We do a lot of on our chest tummy time. She goes on the mat at least once a day. I usually let her kick and play on her back then roll her over to her tummy. she hates it overall and would rather face plant and drool everywhere, but we keep doing it. She usually gets a few good "baby push ups" in and then gets cranky. then I roll her back over to her back and if she is still fussy we stop, if not we play some more.

she is 3 months old....my ticker wont change!

synergy_gd · January 2014

We've been doing it since the first week too. Started with just a minute on the change mat then 4wks we started with the activity mat and he like it. He'll do a good 10-15mins pushing with his back legs ready for crawling and he easily lifts his head. Just missing the arm push ups, I think once he masters that he'll be off

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