Rolling Over: An Essential Motor Skill
Is your baby on target with learning the essential motor skill of rolling over?
Don’t know? Here’s what normal for a full-term (38+ weeks) baby?
- by 2 months of age, your baby can roll from her back to her side
- by 4 months of age, your baby can roll from her back to her tummy
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*Note: If your baby was born early, you should adjust her age to reflect how early she was. For example, if she was born at 30 weeks, then she was 10 weeks (2.5 months) early. She should be rolling from her back to her side by 4.5 months and from her back to her tummy by 6.5 months of age.
If your baby is showing some delays, here are a few tips to get her rolling:
- Limit the time your baby spends in a carrier, stroller, swing, or other such equipment. Baby holding devices limit your baby’s opportunities to stretch out and move. Click here to see an easy way to practice!
Why is rolling so important?
- It is a transitional activity. You can’t transition from lying on your back to lying on your tummy without rolling. It is impossible.
- It is an advanced movement. The coordination required is vital for your child to master to eventually crawl on all fours and walk in a normal fashion.
- It develops trunk rotation. ALL sports activities, such as swinging a bat, kicking a soccer ball, or dancing with the stars require rotation. Rolling is where that begins.
Take it from the PT, rolling is a building block for future motor skills. That’s why it’s so important!
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(Photo from Pixabay)
