Your baby has developed good head and neck control. This is followed by strengthening the muscles of the upper body. The first time a child rolls over is often a surprise to parents. The time when the baby starts to roll over is a very interesting stage for mums and dads, as this is the baby's first step towards independent movement. When a baby rolls over, this suggests that he can roll over from back to tummy, and vice versa.
This is not only the first step in developing postural control, which is important for the further development of fine motor skills such as writing. This is also significant because rolling over involves the part of the brain responsible for coordinating the left and right sides of the body. This skill is important for the development of reading, writing and the development of higher motor skills.
How many months does the baby start to roll over?
Some kids are ready to roll over quickly, while others are in no hurry. Some babies roll around as early as three months!
However, if your child takes a lot longer, that's perfectly fine. Most likely, the baby will roll over well at 4-7 months.
Preparing to roll over
Regardless of when the baby begins to roll over, whether the baby takes the fast or slow path to roll over, his body begins to prepare for it before he rolls over for that very first time.
1 month
At 1 month old, the baby can raise his head for a moment and turn it to the sides while lying on his back.
2 months
After 2 months, the child can raise his head up to 45 degrees, lying on his tummy.
3 - 4 months - first roll
If you put your baby on his stomach after three months, he will be able to lift his head and shoulders off the floor using his arms. This mini-push helps him to strengthen the muscles that he will use to roll over.
At this age, the baby is likely to begin to show signs of an incipient overturning. At this stage, he will be able to push himself onto his shoulder while lying on his stomach. Pushing also helps to increase the strength of the child's movable muscles involved in the rolling process. At one point, hitting both you and yourself, the baby will make a full-fledged revolution from the tummy to the back.
For babies, you can create an additional incentive. Use a lying position while feeding. At the same time, put the baby on the back. Feeling the smell of milk and driven by a feeling of hunger, the baby will try to turn on the barrel.
5 - 7 months - more movement
By reaching the age of 5 months, the child becomes more mobile and wants to try other activities. At this stage, his flipping will improve.
By the time a baby begins to roll over from back to side, he should be about 5.5 months old, and from back to stomach, between 5.5 and 7.5 months.
The child can also swing on his stomach, kick with his legs and make floating movements with his hands.
All these movements strengthen his muscles. When a baby is about six months old (or seven months old), it will learn to roll in both directions.
You may find that your child never rolls over. He can skip this step and move forward to sit and crawl. Or, the toddler may mistake rolling over as the best way to move around the room. As long as your baby continues to acquire new skills and shows interest in learning, there is no cause for concern.
Precautionary measures
Usually, the baby starts to roll over without any notification. It is important to keep a close eye on him when changing diapers or clothes, while the baby is lying on the bed or on the changing table. The child may suddenly want to roll over while looking to the side, and may fall from a height.
Thus, it is necessary to carefully monitor the baby in the process of dressing. You can also change clothes and diapers by placing the baby on the floor when he begins to show the first signs of rolling over.
Tips to help kids learn to roll over
If the child begins to feel comfortable on the floor and seems to want to move around, you need to help him roll over. The following steps will help you teach your baby to move independently:
1. Allow your baby to lie on his tummy a lot during the day. All basic motor abilities of the child are developed in the prone position.
The time spent on the stomach helps babies to strengthen the neck and back muscles needed to bend against gravity and ultimately roll over.
In general, babies fully raise their head while lying on their tummy at 2 months, lift their ribcage between 2 to 4 months, and transfer weight to their arms while on their stomach at 4 to 6 months.
As soon as the baby is able to tear the ribcage off the floor, you will find that he will begin to swing his body from side to side. This means that the infant is on her way to starting her new flipping skill.
2. Minimize the time your child spends in special baby equipment. This includes baby swings, walkers, car seats.
Although car seats should ALWAYS be used while the child is in the car.
The only way children develop new motor skills is through experience, practice, trial and error. Therefore, every minute that a child spends in children's equipment is a minute of lost experience.
3. Allow your child to play while lying on their side. You can use toys, mirrors, books, or your own face to attract the baby. As the baby becomes more comfortable lying on its side, place the necessary toys or objects out of his reach. The baby will begin to reach for objects and gradually learn to roll over, and in the future, and crawl.
4. Allow your child to spend approximately equal amount of time on all four sides of the body: abdomen, back, left and right sides. This affects all rolling positions, strengthening the infant's neck, torso and arms. It is also good for preventing the formation of a lump on the back of the head.
Try to change your child's position every 15 to 20 minutes.
Safe sleep
In families where a newborn child is growing, parents often worry that the baby may roll over in the middle of the night, and this increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
It is important to follow the rules of safe sleep. Most cases of SIDS occur before the age of 6 months, when the infant is unable or has just begun to roll over. Sleeping on your tummy is a risk factor, as are other factors such as parental smoking and unsafe sleeping practices. For example, falling asleep with a child on the couch or unsafe bedding - bulky pillows and blankets.
How to ensure safe sleep for your baby?
- Consider using an infant sleeping bag as it may prevent you from rolling over.
- If you are using blankets rather than a sleeping bag, make sure your baby's feet touch the bottom of the crib to prevent your baby from getting tangled in the blanket.
- make sure the child sleeps on a suitable firm, flat mattress;
- make sure the child's face and head remain uncovered. Avoid sheepskin duvets, pillows, crib bumpers and stuffed animals.
What to expect after the baby rolls over?
The muscles that are involved in the movement of the child are the same ones that help him to crawl and sit.
Once the infant begins to roll over well, his neck, legs, arms and back will become stronger and the baby will learn to sit. First with support, then unaided.
A baby of 5 months does not roll over. This is problem?
Every child is different from the other. Some develop quickly, while others may take time. The same thing happens with rollover.
Your child may skip rolling over and go straight to sitting and crawling. As long as the baby continues to acquire new skills, he makes progress.
But if the baby does not roll over at 6 months and has not switched to other skills such as sitting or crawling, you should consult your doctor.
In addition, if the baby is premature, it may reach these stages later than usual.
Enjoy this skill and help your baby as much as possible, as rolling is the first stage of independence.
