United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Samantha is five weeks old, and she hates tummy time. Im guessing its because of her arm, but even when I play with her she just can not stand being on her stomach. Ive all but given up on tummy time, fun play tummy time is nothing but a crying fest with her. Does anyone have any suggestions on making tummy time more tolerable for her?

When our daughter was one year we wanted to stimulate her to crawl. We used a towel under breast to lift her a little bit from the ground. We stood above her and pulled a little on each side of the towel. Maybe your daughter is now to young for this. It helped certainly our daughter to make her crawl.



John

Hi Melissa,

Funny you should ask this today...

Our daughter, Aria (10 mo.) still hates tummy time. In fact, her therapist had to cut her session short this morning because Aria got FURIOUS with her for putting her on her belly.

I've never had any luck with it at all. When Samantha gets a bit older, you'll be able to "cheat" a bit, by getting her interested in a toy, then positioning her on stairs or big stuffed animals or over your outstretched legs...

Our therapist encourages us to continue to try tummy time in the conventional sense, but to play with her in the "pseudo tummy time" positions if she simply will not tolerate being on her belly.

Wooooooo! She was MAD!!!

mica

I have a 6 month old who hates it also! We are in a constant battle with the therapist about what she should be doing and what she is doing. I started putting Kayla on her tummy for about 10 minutes a night when she was about 4 weeks old. She screamed the whole time. I kept pushing her until about 12 weeks when she still hated it and still screamed. Now she will tolerate it if there is something interesting in front of her but she has only been doing that since she was 5 mos. After about 5 minutes she gets frustrated and "loses it". I don't push her but it is good exercise for her affected arm. The best way I can get her to stay on her tummy content is in my lap on the couch. An exercise ball is good to she doesn't mind it as much as the floor. Hope this helps.

Ashley
Kayla's Mom, 6 mos, ROBPI

It is not uncommon for babies to not like tummy time at first but as a child development teacher it is important for them to get it. Even though she is only 5 weeks old you can still get on the floor with her, shake a rattle, read a book to her, hold up different color objects. She will probably still cry for awhile but if you pat her back, talk to her in soothing voice she will learn to love her tummy time.

Best of luck and hang in there it will get better. My baby is now 11 so it's been along time since I have had to experience those screaming cries of anger.

Angie

I think tummy time is one of those issues that is more complicated than it appears at first.

My older kids were put in their cribs to sleep on their bellies. It was a comfortable and comforting position for them. When kids were put to bed on their bellies, their development was different than it is for all kids these days (since kids are put in bed on their backs or sides). In the "old" days, kids learned quickly to use their arms to push themselves up, so they could move their head around. They also strengthened their neck and upper back muscles to move their head around before they figured out the arm pushup. In the "old" days, we didn't need "tummy time" as kids had it all the time!

It isn't just bpi kids who struggle now with being on their bellies. Lots of kids have a hard time with it. It seems harder for our kids because WE know that they can't push up.

Juliana was uncomfortable in a lot of positions. She had a flaccid arm and I think it was jostled a lot. She had to have it supported when she slept or she would nap for 5 minutes and then cry incessantly.

Perhaps tummy time is uncomfortable because of arm positioning. Or because the mat or carpet feels weird to her. She is only 5 weeks old, so don't get frustrated yet! You only need a few minutes a day and make it an enjoyable experience. Lie down in front of her and make funny faces, sing songs, play with her stuffed animals. She might be feeling some of your tension too.

BTW, Juliana knew the difference between "therapy tummy time" and "play tummy time". She would be sooooooooo tough at ot or pt when they tried to get her on her belly, but if her sibs came by and played with her, she was okay with it.

Keep at it. You'll find what works.

good luck,
claudia