Get Your Baby to Roll!
Rolling is can be an exciting, but stressful time for many parents!
When should this be happening?
Are they safe now to sleep on their tummy?
What do I do if they roll to their tummy at night and get mad?
How can I help if they seem frustrated?
For more resources like this, check out these other Movement Mama posts:
Toys To Encourage Baby to Roll: My Favorite Rolling Motivators
3-6 Month Motor Milestones
Baby Crying in Tummy Time? I got you! A Pediatric Physical Therapist’s Hack
So now you know the when….but you need to know the HOW. HOW do we encourage babies to roll?
Some of my favorite play positions or routines that nurture rolling are:
You can find in-depth guidance on each of these developmental play positions +
so much more in my full course: Roll on Track!
The truth is that every tiny step along the way is crucial to building on one another to accomplish the next skill. So tummy time and sidelying and playing on their back are all cross-training, if you will, for rolling. Whether your babe is getting rolling onto their tummy at night, leaving you in a panic or stuck on their belly during the day, angry and unable to get out of this position, it can be a milestone we all just can't wait to get through.
Some of my most FAQ I listed above include:
Q: What do I do if my baby is rolling to their tummy in their sleep & can't roll to their back?
A: From a motor perspective, the biggest piece of advice I have is consistent, unrestricted movement during waking hours and routine-based practice of everything you've learned here in regards to rolling tummy to back. This is a very common phase babies go through and the more you are allowing them to explore rolling when they're awake, the faster they will get through it. Remember, it isn't just about tummy time, though. Play on their back and side is crucial, as well. One of my biggest tricks to progressing toward independent rolling is to roll them into & out of tummy time, giving less and less assistance as they get stronger! As for safe sleep, consult your pediatrician regarding their recommendations or consider investing In a Newton 100% breathable mattress.
From a sleep perspective, the biggest piece of advice my friend Katy of @wellrestedweeones has is to give your baby the space to roll over in the crib and not intervene immediately. It is common to see a few nights of disrupted sleep when your baby first learns to roll over as they love to practice this new skill ALL THE TIME! If your baby is upset and crying upon rolling over, offer brief reassurance with shushing or patting to help calm them down. This can be done over intervals of time. If your baby is unable to roll to their back, use the same rolling assistance techniques to assist them with rolling to their back rather than doing all the work for them. This will help them learn to do it themselves in their sleep much faster. You should continue to place your baby on their back for sleep until their first birthday. ~Katy
Q: What do I do if my baby is getting frustrated and flailing their arms and legs in tummy time when trying to roll over?
A: Around 4 months, many babies exhibit a “swimming” behavior, known as the Landau reflex.
This is normal and helps prepare baby for higher level motor skills like crawling. Use touchy feely books to entice them to keep their hands down (and check out this post for another example)
Q: What are some of the best toys for motivating baby to roll?!
A: Click on the image below for the blog post with all of the links :)
And if you’re still feeling stumped, be sure to check out my full course: Roll on Track for an even deeper dive into all things rolling!
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