Is This Normal

Often when babies learn a new skill, they can then become temporarily anxious about it (after all, it is a step towards independence) and then not want to do it. It is usually temporary, so don't push it, because you may inadvertently be adding to her stress. Instead, focus on other things, and probably in a couple of weeks she'll come back to it.

My littlest one JUST learned to walk in the past couple of weeks (just shy of 16 months!) but I knew she could do it; she was undoubtedly anxious about the whole thing. And once she finally started walking, she starting having naptime issues -- I think this is how she is expressing her anxiety.

You're doing just fine, don't get too hung up on achieving milestones by specific dates/ages. And if after some time has passed and she's still resisting, you can always seek guidance from your pediatrician.

My oldest didn't sit up well on her own until she was around 8 or 9 months( now 12 yrs old), crawled at 10mo and walked at 13mo. I was a first time mom and did not live near family. I had a pysical therapist examine her because I thought something was wrong. I laugh about it now. A neighbors baby close to the same age as my daughter was walking at 9 months so I didn't know why my child was "behind" Well, now I know better. She was perfectly fine. She was also 4 lbs heavier than the other girl who was about 3 weeks older if I remember correctly. My baby just wasn't interested yet. She, like all babies, did things at her own pace. They don't care what others are doing, and thats great. I wish as an adult I could be as confident and uninhibited as my 10 month old girl was.
I think its great you encourage floor play time, I had a tendancy to hold my oldest a lot. One day my husband said she might not be crawling because she doesn't have to, I was so quick to her side she just waited for me to pick her up, and I realized he was right. The day she crawled I wil never forget. I was in the bathroom and couldn't hop up when she fussed. I walked out and there she was, she came to me that time.
I never dealt with the back arching, my neice does it still and shes 2 1/2. My son now 8 months does the super fast kicking kind of fit throwing. I think they go through phases of simply being more needy. Wanting more one on one. Some how she may have associated floor time with a negative feeling. Moms gonna walk away now, or something like that. I would make sure she dosn't have any other needs at that time, of course, my son often fusses when I put him down if he is wet, or if its too close to nap time. They also go through a separation anxiety phase around this age sometimes. My son was crying everytime anyone left the room for about 2 weeks, even his sisters. Then he stopped. No reason, no changes. My oldest never really did, but my niece did at about 8/9 mo too.

Who knows what goes on in their little pumkin heads. I would just keep trying to sit on the floor with her and make sure you pick a good time for her. She'll do it again when shes ready. I know my daughter hated to be on her stomach at all, my son hates to be on his back, he would scare me to death when I would find him in his crib asleep on his stomach after I put him to bed on his back. I even tried wedges but he just moved them out of the way. They do things their own way, and if any of her actions seem to be just simply for more attention, I say try giving it to her. Maybe she'll become more confident that floor time is a good thing and fun. If not you could sit with her in your lap then adjust it to her being in the V of your legs, so she thinks shes still in your lap, then try the floor again. Eventually they get so busy they don't want to be picked up so much. Everywhere you go they want down. You may look back and miss the times that she wanted to be held. Enjoy it, if you can I know its hard to get anything done holding them.
Good Luck
HS

don't stress over it she will do it when she is ready, my son walked later than most, he was over an year old, he starting trying to walk earlier but the bigger kids ran by him and knocked him down and scared him so he wouldn't try anymore after that. She will come around.

I have heard that there are so many things that they are learning that sometimes they focus all thier attention on the new thing that they forget the old thing...
really it was in an early childhood education class in college! so anyhow I agree with the other mammas' dont stess it will to pass and you will miss being able to just hold them:)

she is probably frustrated. or she has some sore muscles from all that sitting and can't tell you any other way. skip the sitting for a while and vary the routine. she will be fine.
good luck,
L.

Hi Jennifer,

I doubt she's having any sort of developmental set-backs. She is most likely learning something new with that "emotion" and testing your limits (they learn this very early, those sneaky little babies!). I remember my daughter doing this at the same age when I had to put her in a car seat or even a high chair. She would get stiff legged and arch her back, made it impossible to get her in a seated position. I think you do the right thing by leaving her on her back and letting her lie on the floor. She is most likley just doing it for attention.

-Char

Perfectly normal...my daughter used to do that all the time. When i would hold her if her feet touched anything while rocking her she would stiffen and arch her back...drove me crazy!

She is just asserting herself.