Tummy time

[AnnaBanana]

1. How much is necessary?

2. What age to start it?

3. What to do if the baby hates it and just fusses / cries the whole time?


Thanks!

[Xax]

At risk of looking dumb, what is tummy time?

[D-Roc]

1. How much is necessary?

2. What age to start it?

3. What to do if the baby hates it and just fusses / cries the whole time?


Thanks!

Tummy time should start immediately (IMO). That is hat we did with our daughter. We would typically do about 2x's per day when she was really young. As for the length of time, we left it up to our daughter. When she started to fuss or appear to become frustrated, we ended tummy time.

If your baby fusses the whole time, I would suggest to keep at it but reduce the time but make it more frequent. They well become accustom to it.

Hope this helps.

[Cyber6]

At risk of looking dumb, what is tummy time?

Don't worry Xax... I waited for 30 minutes until someone would reply, so I could find out what was 'tummy time'.. ;)


C.

[lint]

you can also use those inflatable donuts, or a pillow to make it a little easier on the baby.

Tummy time is time that you put a baby on his/her stomach so that he/she starts to develop the neck muscles to hold their head up.

[Spidey]

At risk of looking dumb, what is tummy time?

I have 3 kids and I dont know either

What is tummy time

[GunnerX]

Daughter hated it from the start. She would just lie down and cry and never stop. She preferred to stand. However, now she gets down on her stomach on her own with no issues. So we just let her have her way. At 7 months she has no problems walking around her crib holding on to the railing. Her balance is getting better too. She can stand up for several seconds now on her own and getting stronger each day. Who needs crawling when they can walk. :D

[Toronto]

At risk of looking dumb, what is tummy time?

Tummy time is when you put your baby on their tummy so they get used to it as most of their early months will be spent on their back.

The class we took said to give your baby about 10 minutes of tummy time a day to begin with. My son hated it at first, but now that he learned how to roll over he prefers to be on his tummy. If I put him on his back now, he almost instantly rolls over to his tummy.

[krobin]

I do tummy time with bare bum time and they do hate it until about 3 months. I always put a couple of toys in front of him and his older sister usually amuses him

[Spidey]

this is new to me. Raising kids has changed I guess the last few years. Didnt know u had to take a class to learn this.

we just out our kids on thier tummys now and then until they got fussy. They learn to roll soon enough and flip back and forth

Whats the advantage to this If someone says it furthers development, I call ********

[kaimui22]

my son is indifferent about tummy time
he'll just either
1) lie there and do nothing
2) sleep (he hates to be put down on his back)
3) try to lift his head maybe once every 1/2 hr..haha

he prefers the "superman" position...where my husband places his hand and arm under my son's neck/body and between his legs (like a monkey on a branch)..weird my sons prefers his arms and legs dangling

[krobin]

there is a tummy time article in Today's parent April edition

[Kranberry]

I also thought another reason was because you don't want the back of his head to be flat too.

[Gaffer]

I also thought another reason was because you don't want the back of his head to be flat too.

This is the most important reason for tummy time. With the new reccomendations about babies sleeping on their backs to prevent SIDS, there has been an increase in babies with flat spots on the backs of thier heads.

The flat spots can be pretty sever to the point that it may require medical intervention to correct.

Gaf

[ai_c]

try putting a mirror in front of them when they go on tummy time.

[Spidey]

This is the most important reason for tummy time. With the new reccomendations about babies sleeping on their backs to prevent SIDS, there has been an increase in babies with flat spots on the backs of thier heads.

The flat spots can be pretty sever to the point that it may require medical intervention to correct.

Gaf

And all the kids that didnt have tummy time on the past 50 years, what happened to them :cheesygri

[bionicbadger]

And all the kids that didnt have tummy time on the past 50 years, what happened to them :cheesygri

It was ok 20 years ago to put your baby to sleep on their front, so no flat spots

[Spidey]

It was ok 20 years ago to put your baby to sleep on their front, so no flat spots

But its not ok now.

We never let them sleep on there tummy because of the fear of SIDS, we mostly let them sleep on there side.

Everythings fine here with no tummy time

[Ayla500]

This is the most important reason for tummy time. With the new reccomendations about babies sleeping on their backs to prevent SIDS, there has been an increase in babies with flat spots on the backs of thier heads.

The flat spots can be pretty sever to the point that it may require medical intervention to correct.

Gaf

Yes, this is correct.
The condition is called Plagiocephaly. Flat heads are caused by many factors, and lack of "tummy time" or lying in the same position for long periods of time is one of the causes.Other causes are in-utero constraints, being a multiple or being in a breech postion.
Medical intervention is sometimes only considered "cosmetic" but in severe cases it is necessary. One intervention is wearing a molding helmet. This helemet shifts the skull into a more rounded position. Frequent trips to the hospital are required(once every 2 weeks) to adjust the helmets tension on the skull and to check for correction. Most babies wear these helmet 24hours a day and have to do so for many months (10-12)
I speak from experience. My daughter, who is now 6, wore a helmet for 10 months when she was 7 months old. She had severe Plagio as a result of being in a breech position in-utero. After comprehensive evaluation at Sick kids, she was fitted for her helmet and wore it for about 10 months. We had to go back to Sick kids every 2 weeks for adjustments. What fun!!
Her skull was corrected about 75%, but at her 5 year check up(they do followup for 4 years after) they noted that her skull had gone back to being somewhat flat(back to about 50% corrected)
She has now be diagnosed with ADHD and I have to wonder if hte 2 are related at all. Kepp doing research, but to no avail.
There is also another condtion which is far more serious that can cause a babies head to appear flat. Craniosyntosis and that is the pre-mature fusion of the sutures in the skull. This requires surgery to correct and is very serious.!!! The brain canot grow if hte sutures are not corrcted. Our daughter had to have this condition ruled out and we were EXTREMELY lucky this was not her condition!!

[BlueMax]

Scary stuff there!


Our 5-month old son gets some tummy time - nothing scheduled. One of the big things is for baby to "cobra", where he can lift his head up in the air while on his tummy. Good for muscle development & all that. ;) That said, our boy likes standing best. Has for quite some time now... of course, with help. :)

[getmail99]

Tummy time :!: , Honestly, when I first look at the title, I originally think this is the time to put the baby on the mother's or father's tummy :lol:

Sorry, I don't know you need tummy time, too late, you know how to flip around already. :lol:

Although I am a new parent but I think I belong to the 'very old school' that the baby will flip around when he is ready and he will do it naturally.

Funny that when I was a kid, was it 20 to 30 years ago? When I read the newspaper about 'doctors recommending parents to sleep their babies on stomach', I though it was a stupid idea, it is a very un-natural position. Gee, I was right a long time ago.

[kaimui22]

Tummy time :!: , Honestly, when I first look at the title, I originally think this is the time to put the baby on the mother's or father's tummy :lol:



that's one way to do tummy time too! Just put the baby on the parent's chest/tummy area and let him/her lift their head..

usually my son just lies there sleeping/resting or gets frustrated when he can't lift his head more than once or twice (he's a month old now)

[Gaffer]

And all the kids that didnt have tummy time on the past 50 years, what happened to them :cheesygri

They slept on thier stomachs so they had plent of tummy time. Now babies are not supposed to sleep on their tummies as it may contribute to SIDS.

We have a couple of friends who's kids have pretty sever flat spot, some even had to go to the flat head clinic to help correct the problem.

Andrew

[brendonp]

1. How much is necessary?

2. What age to start it?

3. What to do if the baby hates it and just fusses / cries the whole time?


Thanks!


We started around 3 weeks; also did the bare-bottom thing at the same time. Our daughter (our first) seems to have liked it; she would sometimes fuss after a few minutes (10 or so), so we'd flip her back. The bare-bottom seemed to work out - only 1 diaper rash since birth which was cleared with a bit of ointment. I'm not sure if this was due to the bare-bottom, but it seems to have some correlation - we're also pretty quick to change wet diapers, which may help -talked to a daycare worker who said she keeps the baby's on timers for changing diapers, since they are "good" for up to 2 hours of wetness - never heard this before. Hasn't change our view either; it seems to work, and frankly the extra diapers are probably worth it for our sanity!

Back to tummy time; since this is our first child, we can't be sure, but she started rolling over around 5 mos to get on her stomach and crawling actively at 6.5 mos - obviously this is always individual to the child, but we wonder if perhaps it was helped by tummy-time? That being said, I'd be just as happy if she wasn't crawling right now!

Brendon

[Spidey]

They slept on thier stomachs so they had plent of tummy time. Now babies are not supposed to sleep on their tummies as it may contribute to SIDS.

We have a couple of friends who's kids have pretty sever flat spot, some even had to go to the flat head clinic to help correct the problem.

Andrew

So whats better when your an adult, have a big question mark head or basically on curve at all.

Ive seen both, and I dont think its from tummy time or not, I thinks its just the way you are. Certain nationalities have certain shaped heads I think. seen lots of people with a head that just turns into a neck

progression in child care and different things is always coming up.

Hence kids used to be in walkers all the time, now they dont exist

My favorite, lead based paint on cribs. MMMMMM good

[BlueMax]

My favorite, lead based paint on cribs. MMMMMM good

You get 10 points for that one! [drum fill] ;)

[Spidey]

You get 10 points for that one! [drum fill] ;)

I think I got it from those "if you were raised in the 80;s" jokes

[Bullseye]

My two week old spends lots of time on his tummy, when he's on my tummy. If I'm not playing with my other baby, then I've usually got new baby somewhere on me, on my tummy, in the crook of my thighs, on my arm, etc. I'm always shifting him around, partly just for my own comfort, but also because just changing his position helps him burp.

[getmail99]

And all the kids that didnt have tummy time on the past 50 years, what happened to them :cheesygri

I don't think tummy time is necessary. The kids now become parents.:cheesygri

[getmail99]

But its not ok now.

We never let them sleep on there tummy because of the fear of SIDS, we mostly let them sleep on there side.

Everythings fine here with no tummy time

Same for my baby, no tummy time and he is fine.

I think tummy time is the time the babies are awake so that they can train the back of the neck, so they are not sleep on tummy. But I don't think this is necessary, as you say, what happen to the babies without tummy time 30 to 50 years ago? I am one of them :cheesygri

[Gaffer]

Ive seen both, and I dont think its from tummy time or not, I thinks its just the way you are. Certain nationalities have certain shaped heads I think. seen lots of people with a head that just turns into a neck

Have you seen a baby with severe Plagiocephaly? If you have you would recognize that this is not a natural condition caused by nationality or genetic. It is a terrible condition, and not something I would wish upon anyone's children.

If it can be prevented by 15 minutes a day on thier tummy I think it is worth it. Besides, there are other benefits like allowing the baby to exercise different muscles.

Gaf

[paullyn59]

IMO, any baby that develops flat spots because of being on their back (not from any medical condition) has been neglected. How long are these babies on their backs instead of in their parents arms? And why wouldn't the parents and doctor notice before it needed correction? Just the natural nurturing of the baby should keep them safe from developing this. Even this "tummy time" is just a natural process of taking care of baby. It is not something that needs to be planned. It just naturally happens during normal interaction with the baby.

[numommie]

My 7-month-old son has a flat spot, and I don't think my husband and I neglected him! My son prefers to sleep with his head facing slightly to the right. I would turn his head to the left after he falls asleep and my son would still turn it to the right. My son has daily tummy time and is held in my arms often. Our doctor noticed his flat spot when my son was 2 months old. The doctor keeps encouraging more tummy time, but I can't help it if my son prefers to sleep in a certain position. I feel offended that you think his flat spot is a result of my neglect!

[paullyn59]

My 7-month-old son has a flat spot, and I don't think my husband and I neglected him! My son prefers to sleep with his head facing slightly to the right. I would turn his head to the left after he falls asleep and my son would still turn it to the right. My son has daily tummy time and is held in my arms often. Our doctor noticed his flat spot when my son was 2 months old. The doctor keeps encouraging more tummy time, but I can't help it if my son prefers to sleep in a certain position. I feel offended that you think his flat spot is a result of my neglect!


Maybe you could have tried propping him up so he slept on his side and alternating sides. He would have worked his way back to being on his back but at least he would have had less time that way.

Your saying that your Dr. is encouraging you, No! he's telling you to do something about it. "I can't help it if my son prefers to sleep in a certain position." That is a ridiculous thing to say, IMO. Yes, you can do something about your son preferring to sleep in a certain position. Are you getting up at night and changing his position? Are you giving him extra tummy time during the day like your Dr. recommends? Inconvenient and tiring, yes but anything less is neglectful. Is this not better than the pain and stress he may have to go through in the future to correct his flat head if it becomes necessary?

[getmail99]

If there is study showing tummy time really helps or prevents flat head, then go ahead. If it is just for "baby development", I will just skip it.

I agree this article, "Babyhood is not a race".
http://www.parenting.com/parenting/baby/article/0,19840,646777,00.html

The question is, do doctors exactly know the source of flat head? If they don't know, as numommie tried, does tummy time really help or prevent flat head?

As pointed out by Spidey, "And all the kids that didnt have tummy time on the past 50 years, what happened to them?", they all have flat head?

[gemstone]

does tummy time really helps or can prevent flat head?

Has it been proven to lower SIDS?

[getmail99]

Has it been proven to lower SIDS?

"Do not sleep on tummy" proven to lower SIDs. Stupid idea to sleep on tummy in the first place.

Tummy time has nothing to do with lowering SIDs.

[canadiankorean]

Honestly I don't think tummy time prevents or helps reduce flat head.
My baby is on her back more than her tummy...
But overall she's in my arms or my wife's arms a lot too.

Tummy time is mainly for strengthening the neck muscles so the baby can hold his/her head up themselves without the parent having to hold the baby's head.

We started a little late.. maybe 6 weeks.
Our girl cried when going in tummy time in the 2nd week so we forgot to do it again until 6 weeks.

[gorf]

I didn't know having a child now could be so complicated. :eek: Tummy time? Flat head syndrome?? Geez, how can a parent keep up?

My kids slept on their sides when they were babies, mainly to prevent swallowing of spitup and choking. Is sleeping on their sides not recommended any more? The babes also rolled over, maybe around 3 months if I remember right. I don't ever recall the babies putting up a fuss when on their tummies, they just went with the flow.

So it seems that there's a relationship between not crawling and babies not spending enough time on their bellies. Do some babies no longer get on all fours and rock, and then before you know it, they're off to the races crawling all over the place? Usually around the 5-6 mth range?

I've never heard of babies having flat heads because of not being on their bellies. This thread has been quite the eye opener.