After the baby can control the head, he will start to learn to roll over almost at the same time when he learns to sit on his own. Finally, he can change from lying on his back to lying on his stomach, and then turn it back, so that he can use this new skill to move his body slightly. The first time a baby wants to roll over is to get the toy next to him or to be closer to you.
When does the baby start to roll over?
As early as 2-3 months old, the baby is likely to be able to pedal on his legs from the prone position to the supine position, but it may take 5-6 months before he can turn from the supine position to the prone position, because this action requires stronger muscles in the neck and arms.
How babies learn to roll over?
When the baby is about 3 months old, if you make him face down, he will support with his arms and try to raise his head and shoulders. This kind of mini push-up can help your baby strengthen the muscle strength for turning over in the future. Your baby’s first turn will surprise you and himself!
By 5 months, the baby is likely to be able to raise his head, raise his body with his arms, and lift his chest off the ground with his back arched. The baby may even shake back and forth with his belly on the ground, kicking and moving his arms and legs as if he were swimming. All these exercises can help your baby strengthen his muscle strength and prepare him to roll over in two directions in the future. It is likely that he will be able to do so by about 6 months.
Some babies will roll over as the main form of ground activities for a period of time, while others are likely to skip this stage and learn to sit up, lean forward and climb directly. As long as your baby is learning new skills and showing interest in moving around and exploring the environment, you don’t have to worry about his development.
After the baby learns to roll over
When a baby learns to roll over, he exercises and strengthens the muscles in his legs, neck, back and arms. Then he can use these muscles when he learns to sit and climb independently. Most babies have mastered sitting up at 6-7 months, while crawling is a little later.
Help baby learn more skills
You can help your baby learn new skills by playing games. If you notice your baby turning over spontaneously, shake a toy in the direction he is used to turning over to see if he will roll over again. Or you can lie next to the baby, just out of his reach, and see if the baby will roll over to you. You should applaud your baby’s efforts and success, and cheer your baby with a smile. Remember: it’s fun to roll over, but the first few times can be very exciting.
Although your baby may not be able to roll over at about 3 months, you’d better start with the habit of holding the baby with one hand while changing the diaper. Even when the baby is just born, you should never leave the baby alone on the bed or other places above the ground when no one is looking after it – you certainly don’t want the baby to get hurt accidentally when he turns over for the first time.
What you need to worry about
If your baby doesn’t roll over in any way by the age of 6 months and doesn’t show interest in other activities, you’d better take your baby to the hospital for examination. Baby growth and development time is different, some grow fast, some grow slowly, and some babies never like turning over. However, if your baby hasn’t started to learn to sit up, or tried to walk or climb with his buttocks, you should consult a doctor. Remember: premature babies may develop later than others.
