Since rolling feels like a major developmental milestone, many new parents can get nervous, wondering, “Why hasn’t my baby rolled over yet?” After studiously tracking all those exciting moments, it can be nerve-wracking to feel like your child is missing out on one, or even to consider if they’re developmentally delayed.
But remember, your baby matures at their own pace. While there’s a general range, falling outside of the general timeline doesn’t mean disaster. Like crawling or walking, rolling is a milestone that actually has a broad timeframe for them to achieve it. And, some babies just do things in their own unique order.
So if you’re wondering whether or not you need to be concerned, let’s start with the basics.
When Should A Baby Roll Over?
You may initially see your newborn do a bit of side rolling, back and forth, in their sleep. Eventually, however, the ability to do this on their own seems to go away. So we typically don’t consider those first rolling motions a milestone.
Types of Rolling Over
Some like to break down rolling into two components. When do babies roll from belly to back? And when do they do the opposite: when do they roll from back to front?
Being able to independently roll from front to back usually happens once your baby has a bit more muscle definition. As their strength grows in their arms and upper body, they can flip themselves from their back to their tummy. The first time, this may come as a surprise for your baby (and you). But soon, they’ll repeat it more and more. This can also lead to some crawling activity too.
Typical Timelines
Most babies have enough strength to roll over around four months. Some may be able to roll as early as three while other babies could take longer. Rolling from their tummy to their back often happens first. At six months, most babies also become skilled at doing the reverse.
Why Is My Baby Not Rolling Yet?
There may be a number of reasons why your little one has yet to roll over.
If your baby is still just a few months old, they might just not be ready. Either for you to help them roll over or to do it on their own. Their muscles may still be in development and not quite strong enough to pull off this action. You’ll want to see at least the ability to lift their head (especially while on their belly) before watching out for rolling.
At four or so months if your baby hasn’t shown interest in more movement, you can try some gentle encouragement to see if that helps. More tummy time or belly bait—using a blanket or doing the motion for them—can all be useful techniques.
Your baby may also just be more focused on other skills. After all, they have a lot to learn when it comes to movement. There’s only so much they can process all at once.
When To Talk to Your Doctor
If you can’t seem to encourage your baby to roll over on their own or if there are other health issues at play, you can bring this up to your pediatrician around six months. They’ll do an evaluation of your child’s motor skills. If there’s a lack of interest in movement outside of rolling, it may indicate a developmental or motor delay.
You can use the American Academy of Pediatrics’ developmental delay tool to give you some information to start a conversation with your physician. You can also watch out for additional signs of delay. Bring all of this information to your appointment. Once you’re in the exam, you can ask about neurological conditions or if other factors are affecting your baby.
A physician may begin an early intervention plan with your child or offer other helpful methods to encourage rolling.
Once you get your answers and a gameplan, it might be time to jump into the next part of your parenting journey: finding quality, caring child care. When you’re ready, find the provider that’s right for your family on Sittercity.
