Big babies and tummy time

This is mostly for the ladies with the bigger babies (born 8lb+) I guess.

Caitlin was born 9lb 7.5oz and has always hated being on her tummy but has had good head control from birth (held head up when carried etc). I persevered and she started to hold her head and shoulders up when she was about 10 weeks old.

She started to sit unaided about a month ago and prefers to be sitting when playing. I’ll be honest I’ve been a bit slack with the tummy time.
Anyways, we put her on her tummy yesterday to play and she just lay there, face to the floor with her arms behind her (she actually looked like she was flying). Anyone who didn’t know her would think she had no control over her upper body at all.

I guess what I’m asking is, does it matter that she doesn’t get tummy time and doesn’t learn how to crawl? She gets really upset when she’s on her tummy no matter what surface she is on (wooden floor, carpet, tri pillow, support under her arms etc) and I don’t like forcing her to do something that she is obviously not happy about.

My Mum said that both my sis and I were born over 8lb and mostly bum shuffled but occassionally crawled and that Caitlin makes all the right moves to start bum shuffling once she is more confident about sitting up.

I wouldn't bother too much either Toni.

Amelia was 8lb 4oz at birth, and like Caitlin had good head control from the start. She also hated tummy time and like you, I didn't bother to enforce it.
One of my friends in my coffee group, her son was 9lb born and has also not liked tummy time. He is holding himself up really well now. As we both said the other day, they get to liking (or not) tummy time in their own time.

Amelia can now sit by herself unsupported too, and gets really frustrated if I lie her on her back for too long. She did have a good go on her tummy yesterday and even managed to shuffle herself around easily 180 degs. However, I don't necessarily put her on her tummy every day, and when I do she is only down there for a short time as she tends to get upset quickly.

Sorry for the ramble ... short end of the stick .. don't worry about it - all babies are different (contrary to Plunket's 'one for all' system/theory).

Has she rolled over from her back to her tummy or the other way? If she hasn't I would put her down for 2 minutes of tummy time an hour or so just so she can get used to it. Andrew was born 8' 4" and had a bit of tummy time every hour or so and was rolling from his tummy to his back to get off his tummy as he didn't like it sometimes. Being on their tummy can strengthen their arms which is good for them as well.

wow - how about that for some different view points! Thanks heaps ladies (this place is the best!). I agree with the Plunket "one rule for all" being cr@p (is on most things I've found).

She has only ever rolled the one time from back to tummy and from tummy to back (on different occassions). She's very active with her legs/feet and when on her back she slides around on the wooden floor like that (digs her heels in and moves across the floor on her back).

Just a question though - If she's able to sit up, has really good motor skills and can pull toys off her mobile (if we let her, they are meant to be removed for play), should I be worried about lack of neck and arm strength?

Haleigh was 9lb 13oz and loved tummy time from day one. She was crawling at 4 months sitting at 5 months and walking unassisted at 9 1/2 months. my friends girl hated tummy time and started crawling at 13months and walking at 15months. But I knwo of babies who loved tummy time and didnt move till later, so it jsut depends on baby. All babies move at different ages whether they ahve tummy time or not.
There are games you can play with ehr that help strengthen those parts of the body your karitane nurse should be able to help you or try SPARC I have a load of booklets from SPARC from my pepe group.

Toni if she's sitting (yay for babies who just sit and play with toys! ) then there's nothing wrong with her neck/head muscles so basically no concern at all. How do you feel about her arm muscles because that's probably the difference between her liking and not liking tummy time then. If you don't think she's underdeveloped, no worries.

Havent read all the other replies, so hopefully dont repeat...

Han was 8lb 5 born and she hated tummy time too, so never really pushed it much. She sat at 4 months, rolled (but not a lot at about 7 months), then crawled and walked in the same week at 11 months! She rolls around a lot night (esp at nappy change time!) and although she only crawled for a few days she now does a bit when she is playing.

My opinion, doesnt stress both of you out over it - she will do it sometime anyway.

I recently did the active movement class at Plunket and even if you don't give Caitlin Tummy Time I personally think it well worth doing the class and learning some exercises to do with her.

We watched a video with a boy who had always sat as infant, didn't have much tummy time and never learned to crawl. At 5 years old he was not a good learner, restless, could not crawl and had pretty bad co-ordination when it came to cross movement exercises. For example the kids were asked to to touch left hand to right foot...all those who had not learned to crawl could not do it.

As I say, just my personal opinion but I think it is worthwhile doing some exercises to develop the cross movement skills and even just a few minutes of tummy time...I noticed the world of difference with Maddie when we started them.

Piper was just under 5lb born and hated her tummy time and did not get it daily as recommended and she had her first crawl on xmas day she still hates tummytime now not sure why she never took to it but at least now she can roll herself over and doesnt just lie there and scream like she used to

Paws - thats what the SPARC books covered. I was told to do things like airoplanes to help with balance, and rocking Haleigh back and forth helped ehr learn to balance herself while sitting.
I was always on the floor doing some type of exercise with her.
My KAritane nurse in Motueka gave me the books and they had exercises for 0 - 5yrs I still ahve them somewhere in a cupboard should probably get them out lol.

But In saying that too, my cousin (now 16) neevr crawled she bum shuffled then walked (she had 4 older sibling carting her round) and she developed mentally fine, my sister walked before she crawled and she's brighter than me and I crawled at 4months and walked at 10 months. So the professionals can only really guess.