In the beginning I said things like, "Adelyn loves tummy time." Hilarious. Soon I realized it wasn't so much a character trait--more like she was a newborn who could fall asleep anytime, anywhere. On her tummy, on her back, on her side, on my lap, on my chest, on the floor, on a roller coaster, at a Metallica concert.
Around the one month mark tummy time became a chore around here. I knew I had to do it, to avoid the dreaded flat head and to work her arm and neck muscles. But I could only stomach it for a few minutes, until the crying started to totally unravel my nerves.
So I kind of gave up. I know, I know. I'm a terrible person. We replaced floor tummy time with sitting her up on our laps, helping her stand, letting her work out in her jumperoo. Because I do not like to listen to my baby cry, especially when I know how to make it stop. (Flip her over.)
Adelyn will be four months in a couple of days and she has yet to roll over. When I put her flat on her back, which isn't that often--I'm terrified of the possibility of that gargantuan baby helmet if her flat spot persists so I try to keep her off of it as much as possible--she has no interest in seeing what else her little body can do.
It's mostly my fault. I stopped doing tummy time as much and, therefore, she's no longer used to it. I try to do it at least once a day, and she can push herself up onto her elbows, but then the crying ensues, and I give in.
Yesterday while changing her I flipped her over on her front and--viola!--no crying. I have a new plan. Tummy time after every. single. diaper change. Except now when she decides to roll over I'm gonna have to be at the ready, because otherwise the results might be a tad bit disastrous.
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