why wont my son lay on his stomach?

Question

My son is 4 mo old. The first few weeks of his life he loved to lay on his stomach. Now at 4 months old, he will lay there for about 5 minnutes before he starts crying. He will cry until someone picks him up.I have tried just letting his cry...for ten minutes... but he wouldn't stop crying. when I picked him up, he just gave me dirty looks and acted like i had abondoned him (well thats how it seemed anyway) Does anyone have any Ideas?

my son doesn't sleep on his stomach. I am talking about tummy-time...supervised play.

Answer 1

"Tummy time" is very important for infant development, but it can sometimes be uncomfortable for them. I got a boppy (one of those u-shaped pillows that you can get at Toys R Us) and would place my son on his tummy, with his armpits draped over the curved part of the pillow, which also allowed him to rest his head on the pillow when he got tired of lifting it. He still got tummy time, but his face was not mushed on the floor and there was a little less pressure on his belly. Also, I would put bright colored toys in front of him to encourage him to lift his head up and keep him preoccupied for a time. Start doing this with him a few minutes at a time, increasing each successful tummy time by a minute or two until you get to about 15 minutes (that's really all they need at this stage). Once he becomes happy and comfortable this way, you could try it without the boppy....eventually he will start rolling over, raising himself to his knees, creeping, crawling and then walking....it is all part of growing up.

Answer 2

Make sure your baby isn't hungry or tired when you set him tummy-down. On the other hand, don't place him on a full belly, which might be uncomfortable. When he starts to cry — even if it's only been a minute — try to coax him a bit longer by talking with him or playing with him. When he's had enough, pick him up and try again later. His tolerance for tummy time is likely to increase gradually with experience and a bit of coaxing. And many babies are more content on their tummy once they can roll over and it becomes a matter of choice.



One mom-tested strategy is to distract your baby from the unfamiliar feeling of being face-down until he gets used to it. The best thing you can do, says Glassy, is join your baby on the floor. Encourage him, talk with him, shake his rattle, make funny faces, play peekaboo. He might even enjoy watching you do your leg lifts or crunches (he's working hard after all). Another option is to lay your baby tummy-down on your tummy, either on the floor, in a recliner, or even in the bath.

Provide entertainment
Prop a board book open in front of your baby, or place a favorite toy within reach. Invest in a tummy-time toy or gym, designed especially for babies to play with while on their belly. Some have lights, mirrors, moving pictures, music and/or squeaky toys attached. Or place him on a colorful quilt or an activity mat designed just for babies. Some mats have prop-up toys or mirrors, and others are filled with water, for added fun. Take your baby's socks off so he can get good traction on the mat.

Tip: Have your baby's sibling(s) play nearby when he's on his tummy. (You may want to use a play yard so he won't get stepped on.) Watching a brother or sister — or even a family pet — may just keep him happily distracted for a bit.

Prop your baby up
Some parents find that giving their baby a new perspective — by propping him on a rolled towel or nursing pillow, for example — makes all the difference. If your child has some neck strength and head control (by age 3 or 4 months) but can't get up on his forearms, simply place the towel or pillow under his chest and armpits, with his arms in front of it. (If he tends to roll forward, keep your hand on his bottom.) When he can get up on his forearms independently, remove the pillow and let him work on his motor skills without it.

Tip: Some babies enjoy rolling on a big exercise ball. Hold him on it tummy-down while you gently rock the ball back and forth.

Answer 3

My son didn't and still doesn't like his stomach very much....he's 8 months old now. Of course, if I tried laying him on his stomach now, he'd just get up and crawl away....just don't worry about it too much. Keep trying tummy time with him, but let him be his own person. Give it a try each day and then pick him up when he cried...don't make it a negative experience. He'll eventually come around...or start crawling. :)

Good Luck!

Answer 4

Hi Kali! I have worked with children for 15 years and usually at that age most of them cry when they are on their tummy. I think it is because they are getting to start rolling to their backs. Children usually master rolling to their tummies first and then they roll to their backs. I would keep giving him tummy time and even let him fuss a little, but if he seems to get too upset go ahead and pick him up. I hope this helps!

Answer 5

At four months, your son won't be able to stay on his stomach for very long. It will become uncomfortable for him breath. However, tummy time is necessary for babies to learn how to roll over. They get mad and cry, but it doesn't hurt them--they just don't like what's not easy. Who does? ^_^ Just keep tummy time to 10-15 minutes at a time for the time being and gradually increase the time if necessary. Your baby will tell you when he's had enough.

And yes, laying your baby on its stomach can increase the chances of SIDS--if the baby's sleeping. Not laying your baby on its stomach while awake is robbing it of precious and important development.

Answer 6

My four-month-old gets bored easily during tummy time, so I'm literally lying on the floor in his face, talking to him the whole time to keep him entertained. Tummy time is necessary for proper development of a baby's muscles, particularly his neck muscles though, so do keep trying. Just try to keep him entertained. Make funny sounds, set colorful toys in front of him just out of reach, so he has to stretch, play peek-a-boo, etc, etc.
And, of course, always be closely supervising him. Someone mentioned tummy time causes SIDS--and that is true, but ONLY if you let them sleep on their tummies. It's perfectly safe, and even doctor-recommended, to let babies have 10-15 minutes of sueprvised tummy time per day.

Answer 7

It could be that his arms are not strong enough to push himself up. Some babies develop the muscles that pull the arms back faster than the muscles needed to push the arms forward. If your baby's arms tend to snap backwards, and he has difficulty hugging you or grabbing objects, then he may be developing in that way. My daughter had the same issue. Most babies will develop out of it, but it is helpful if you make him exercise moving his arms forward, for example by holding objects in front of him so that he has to reach forward to grab them. And he doesn't have to lay on his stomach. In fact it may be safer for him to lay on his back. So why would you make him stay on his stomach and cry for ten minutes? Pick the kid up please, and let him sleep on his back!

Answer 8

Just keep giving him some "tummy-time", at least until he starts crying. Each day should get a little longer. It's good for his development, and will help with his muscles for when he starts to roll over and sit up.

Answer 9

Keep having him lay on his belly, he will get used to it. They need tummy time. You may want the dr. to check him out to make sure that he is alright. He may have gas bubbles too.

Answer 10

some babies merely hate to be placed on their stomachs for tummy time. i understand docs and professionals advise this plenty for his or her muscle tissue and such yet some babies merely wont do it. my infant is likewise 3 months previous and shes by no potential cherished to be placed on her abdomen. presently shes been beginning to roll over onto her sides and from time to time even on her abdomen, while she does it she doesnt look to ideas, shes somewhat extra tolerant of it so i enable her stay like that and get her tummy time to artwork her arm muscle tissue on her own till she starts fussing.