ever since i brought him home my son has hated being put on his stomach. he just lays there and cries, making no attempts to raise his head. at his two month check up my doctor said not to worry because he holds his head up well when held upright. she said to just keep trying for 5 minute periods and he would get used to it. now he's 3 months and there's no improvement. all the other babies at our prenatal class reunion were happily holding their heads up at 90 degrees when on their bellies. how will he learn to crawl if he won't even try to lift his head while on his stomach? am i worrying for no reason? has anyone else had this problem?

I had the same problem with my now 8 month old daughter. I wouldnt worry about it too much I stressed about it for quite awhile trying to force her to play on her tummy until i finally relented as she really fussed and i couldnt bring myself to make her miserable. she did start rolling over at around 5 months and since then will put herself on her tummy and since letting her go at her own pace she is thriving and is now beginng to crawl! I think we as parents stress more about them making those milestones and well they are important i believe it is more important to take our cues from our children. good luck message me if i can help or answer any questions for you

I agree with the above comment...my little one didn't like being on his tummy, even by 3 months.  We would try it for a little bit on his gym and tried using toys to distract his discomfort, and used a little pillow under his armpits also, which helped. Eventually I just stopped trying and waited til he got more mobile, like he liked being on his tummy if he was lying on me, so I'd hold him facing me and then lie down on my back slowly. He's almost 9 months now and just started crawling properly TODAY! I hear about other mothers saying their kids were crawling at 5 months...but its different for every baby, don't compare yours with theirs...my cousin's babies (twins) are 2 months older and sometimes they do a "first" after my baby, sometimes my baby does a "first" after them. So yes you are worrying for no reason, just enjoy your little one being this small :-)

My son was the same way.  When put on his belly he would cry.  I just kept putting him on his belly for short time periods and he finally started rolling over, after that he was fine with it.  But, it is kind of funny.  I worried about it also wondering how he would learn to roll or crawl.  He was late rolling and crawling also.  He started crawling at about 9 mo., and didn't start walking until 15 mo.  He is now 16 mo. and fine.  I would not really worry to much about it as long as your ped. knows about it and says everything is fine.  Give it some more time and keep trying in short time periods.

I agree with Kim.  Just keep trying, for a few minutes at a time several times per day.  You can also try laying on your back and putting him on your belly.  Then he will be able to see your face and have incentive to raise his head.  Don't worry about it to much.  There are milestones that they need to reach to show that they are developing properly, but as long as your doctor says that everything is fine, then I see no reason to worry.  Kids do develop at different rates.  My son did not walk until 16 months, but he crawled at 5 months.  At around 9 months he would pull up and cruise, and although he did not walk on his own until 16 months, he could walk while holding one of our fingers.  My dr said it was fine because that showed that his legs were working properly.  He just was not ready to walk yet.  From what you said, your son holds his head up when he is upright.  It may be that he just does not like the pressure on his stomach.  He does need some tummy time to help stregnthen those muscle.  Just do it for a few minutes at a time instead of 20-30 minutes in one sitting.

My son also really hated tummy time. He was also a very hefty baby, so it took some time for the motor skills to come. Don't worry if your baby doesn't excel at tummy time. They will be up and at em' at their own pace. In hindsight, you will look back on it and wonder why you worried so much.