Roll on Over, Son!

My daughter rolled over from her back to her tummy consistently at about 4 1/2 months. Then, she rolled from her tummy to her back, and then from her back to her tummy (she thinks she is a rolly-polly!) at about 5 months, 1 week. Every baby is different though. All three of my friend's kiddos did not start rolling over, either way, until about 8 months. Hang in there!

all kids do things in their own time. I have a two three and 7 month old, they all rolled over at different stages.

Tummy to back is an easier rll than back to tummy, so it ususally comes first. My kdis both rolled VERY early at 8 weeks, but, like you said, all kids are different. Just make sure he gets LOTS of floor and tummy time. My kids were on the floor or being held almost constantly. We don't use swings, bouncy seats, etc really, which I think made all the difference in making them early rollers/scooters/cralwers.

Hi J.,
My children all rolled over very early...my youngest rolled over at 2 weeks (and he was 3 weeks premature and has special needs). He rolled to get wherever he wanted, whenever he wanted, which meant he could never be trusted to stay anywhere unless he was being held or in a seat. Every child is different, as long as he is heathly and his other development is on track, don't worry about it. I liked the idea of gently lifting one side of the blanket to let gravity help the process. Sometimes the child has no motivation to roll over, so putting a favorite toy just out of reach on one side will encourage them to try. Also, larger babies sometimes have a harder time with this. The type of flooring you have can also play a part. My children didn't roll or crawl much on our hardwood floors or our oriental rug, but on the plusher carpet they went to town. Just be aware that once he learns to roll, your life will change! :)

Thanks for posting this! I have barely 5mo old twins and was already starting to be concerned that they hadn't rolled yet. :) One is starting to (stomach to back) but the other was a preemie so she's not there yet. Good to hear from the other moms so I know I can wait a few more months before worrying!

My daughter was rolling at about 5 months. But, I babysit for a little one that it was almost 10 months. Give him time. Now that you asked, he'll probably do it tomorrow. lol

Back to stomach is harder than stomach to back, and laid back babies don't feel the need always to work to try to do these milestones that we think they should do earlier. Also, if he's a big baby, there's more baby to move so they can do things a little later from that too. My firstborn was big and laid-back and she did the rolling later than all the other babies. But she's 5 now and none of it matters now; you can't tell which 5 year old walked early or late, or who rolled at 5 months and who rolled at 8 mos. So i wouldn't really worry, as long as he's within the range of normal for his milestones as a whole!

HI J.,

Both of my kids rolled around 6 and 7 months....
I can tell you thought that my son rolled, stood, stayed up, and still hadn't sat up!!!

I was concerned for a while but then one day he sat up, no problems close to 9 months!!! - which means he did it like a week ago ;)

Amy

our last child rolled over at 6 weeks - he also spun himself around at a crawling position... we were shocked - 390 degrees or more LOL around and around and around - never saw another baby do that before!

My Emily started rolling from belly to back at about 3 1/2 months (kinda early). Back to belly though she's only done once or twice. She'll be 6 months in a few days. Like you said, every baby is different but it sounds to me like your little guy is right on track.

Hi there,

All three of my kids were around 3-4 mos. But every child is different. As long as he is rolling over one way he is probably fine. You could always check with your pediatrician if you haven't already. I played a game with my kids, where you sit on the floor with them on a blanket and you and a partner pick up one side of the blanket and gently roll them back and forth to give them a feel for rolling. I think we called it steam roller... Good luck!

I am sure your son is just fine. Evey baby is soooo different. My first rolled over one way at 6 months. I didn't write it down but I think it took a few more months for the other way. My second son rolled over before he was 3 months. Don't worry, he will know how to roll over and over and over by kindergarten :)

My baby rolled over from her back to stomach at 4 3/4 months. She has only turned over from her stomach to her back about 5 times. She did it the first time (stomach to back) around 5 months and recently has done it 4 times since then. I have a friend that I spoke to the other day who's daughter is a month older than mine and she is not turning over yet. It just depends on the baby. If you are really concerned you can ask your doctor at her next check-up.

Hi J.,

I have two kids. A 3 year old and 15 month old. My 3 year old rolled from her back to tummy around 4 months old but couldn't get from her tummy to her back till she was 9 months old! My 15 month old did both pretty much at 4 months. As you said, all babies are different - yours will do it eventually!
C.

There are many things that have to happen for a baby to be able to roll over. It is becoming more common for babies to be older before they roll over than it used to be, and much of that is because of positioning. Our babies spend precious little time flat on the floor for the most part. They spend their days in bouncy seats, car seats, propped up by cushions, etc. The necessary skills for rolling cannot develop this way or while in a saucer, etc. Even while we are holding them (which is SO important) they are not developing the necessary skills. I don't know how much time your little one spends on tummy time or lying on his back in the floor, but I would try to increase that. I would also check with his pediatrician; you should always keep the doctor in the loop. Other things to consider: does your little guy reach out and grab objects with both hands? Does he have good head control in sitting? Can he begin chewing soft foods and move them around in his mouth well? Is he babbling often and responding with smiles to people he knows?

You must always look at the big picture when considering development, and opportunity to develop skills is an important consideration. If the opportunity to develop has been there, and it hasn't happened yet, I would be a little more concerned. Otherwise, ample time in the floor should remedy the problem quickly.

K. -- I am a pediatric occupational therapist working part-time, and I stay home with my kids, 8,6, and 3, the rest of the time.

All children roll over at different rates. My SNC twin boys rolled over around 4 months. If you are concerned, contact your states early intervention program for an evaluation. Some simple occupational therapy can get your son back on track.

Hi J.. My son is also 6 1/2 months old. He's just now consistently rolling from his back to his stomach on his left side. Only a few times has he rolled back onto his back. Only once has he rolled to his right and onto his stomach. So needless to say, I'm with you in cheering for rolling over.

My oldest daughter rolled over when she was just under 4 months old. Then my second daughter rolled over at 5 months old. So as you said, babies are all so different.

Enjoy watching him try to roll over and cheer him on. It won't be long before our boys are running away from us in gails of mischevious laughter. :)

My baby is nine months old. She is more than capable of doing it but has chosen not to for her own reasons. She can sit up and play for an hour with her toys, but gets frustrated when she tries to roll and crawl. It's almost like she just doesn't have the patience to figure out. I've started letting her just try and work through it. Her pediatrician told me not to worry, but of course I still can't refrain from watching other babies master it. I realized that is my own problem.

J.,

My daughter is almost eight months and she will roll both ways but very rarely. She is not fond of it at all. But hang in there it wil,l happen eventually. I promise.

Every child is so different,s o on the one hand it is good to relax about comparing your son to other children. On the other hand, if there is a developmental delay going on, then the earlier intervention, the better. You might bring up the concern with the Pediatrician and see if maybe your son needs Physical Therapy. My son was 9 months old and still hadn't rolled over consistently when I requested a referral to PT. It has been a good thing for us and he's progressing along quite nicely.

Don't worry that he is not rolling over just yet. My daughter is almost 7 mo and when we took her in for her 6mo check up she wasn't roilling either. The other day I put her in her crib on her back and when I came back in to get her she was on her belly playing with a toy. She won't roll from her back to her belly very often but I know that she can. I think that in her case it is the fact that she knows I will pick her up and she is a little lazy. Give your little guy some time.

My daughter is just about six months and literally yesterday started rolling over. I feel like she has been trying and trying forever to do it, so it is a huge achievement! She has been able to roll from her back to her stomach for months now, but she couldn't get the hang of moving her little arm out of the way to roll back the other way. I used to help her when she got super frustrated with it, but the best thing to do is just let you boy struggle for a while before coming to his aid. Sounds like he will do it any day now!

My baby was about 4 months but he could only turn from his tummy to his back for a while.(he's also a biggie boy,95% in both height and weight) The doctor said that the way our boy's are turning is much more difficult than the other way so I wouldn't worry. He's just building his muscles, before you know it he'll be mobile and you'll be wishing he was struggling to turn over!!LOL:)

My daughter is exactly the same age as your son and I haven't seen her roll over from her back to her stomach yet either. Of course, I dont put her flat on her back anyway as she has reflux so that might have something to do with it. She rolled over from her stomach to her back however at her 2nd month well child check up. The doctor wanted to see if she could lift her head from while being on her tummy as I had hardly ever put her on her tummy due to her reflux and lo and behold she lifted her head and rolled over in a couple of minutes. She has only done it that way a couple of times since. Then again it might be as she doesnt spend much time either flat on her back or on her stomach as it always made her reflux worse. Now, I will try to put her on her back more often and see if she can roll over to her stomach, maybe for short bursts so it won't aggravate her reflux.