Ask An Expert: When Babies Learn to Roll With Brooke Boruff, OTR/L

Brooke Boruff, founder of Infant Insights, lends us her expertise as a pediatric occupational therapist and mom who specializes in baby development.

In the first few weeks of life, your newborn does little more than eat and sleep. They don’t move much—aside from stretching or flailing from their startle reflex—because they have virtually no control over their body. Their physical movements right now are mostly reflexive, but as the weeks go by, they’ll give way to more fluid, voluntary movements. Someday, they’ll be able to run into your arms, but before they learn to run, they’ll have to first learn to roll, crawl, sit, stand, and walk. Rolling is a particularly exciting milestone because it’s one of the first ways that your baby moves around, and it lets them explore their surroundings independently. Here’s everything you need to know about this milestone, including when you can expect your baby to roll over and how to help them along:  

Why is it important for babies to learn rolling?

Rolling is an important milestone because lots of skills are learned through this movement. Rolling is the first means of mobility and it indicates that your baby is motivated, attentive, mobile, and interested in their environment as a whole. Rolling also signals that your baby has adequate core strength, mobility of the neck and body, and the ability to cross over midline. All of these small skills are big for all gross motor milestones. Click here for a free motor milestone guide!

When do babies roll over?

There’s a wide age range for when a baby “should” be rolling. Babies can roll belly to back as early as the newborn stage while their elbows are under their chest in tummy time. At this age, this type of rolling is unintentional. You may see intentional belly-to-back rolling emerge as early as 3 months old. As for back-to-belly rolling, you may see your baby attempt this as early as 3 months old and succeed as early as 4 months old. This skill may also happen as late as 7 to 8 months old. Every baby is different, so it’s very important to remember that there is always a range when it comes to milestones, and the best way to encourage rolling is free floor play!

If your baby isn’t showing signs of rolling—such as grasping their feet, bringing their arm across their body, or rolling onto their side—by 6 months, use purposeful play techniques to encourage movement. You can also speak to your child’s pediatrician about any concerns you may have about rolling and other milestones.

Which direction do babies roll first?

Babies typically roll in one direction when they are acquiring the skill, but the direction differs from baby to baby. Purposeful belly-to-back rolling usually emerges around the same time as back-to-belly rolling. Some babies learn to roll back-to-belly prior to rolling belly-to-back, and it’s likely you’ll see your baby roll only one direction for a few days or weeks while they are perfecting this skill. Ideally, your baby should begin rolling in the other direction 2-3 weeks after acquiring this milestone. Encourage symmetry by changing up the toy placement when your baby is on the floor, and ensuring that there are no items around that prevent movement in that direction, such as a play gym, large toys, etc.

When should I be concerned that my baby isn’t rolling?

If your baby is not showing any signs of rolling by 6 months of age, try implementing simple purposeful play to encourage movement. Watch the “Rolling Tips” highlights on the Infant Insights Instagram page for techniques to follow. For either direction, rolling should happen sometime between 5-8 months old. Rolling is a baby’s first means of mobility, so it’s an important milestone to achieve.

What are some signs of rolling?

Signs of back-to-belly rolling:

• Grasping feet
• Rolling to the sides from the back
• Bringing the arm across the body in an attempt to roll over
• Arching the back in an attempt to roll to the side

Signs of belly-to-back rolling:

• Tucking the arm by the side and attempting to roll to the side
• Bringing the knees up to the chest in a crawling-like pattern in an attempt to roll over

Refer to this reel for video examples!

Is it cause for concern if my baby can roll one direction but not the other?

If your baby only rolls in one direction, this may signal some body tension and movement restrictions. Rolling one direction is very typical for babies with a history of “flat head” or torticollis, so if your baby is showing a preference, it’s important to address this. Speak to your baby’s pediatrician about any concerns, and also check out Infant Insights for tips to encourage symmetrical rolling.

What are some reasons my baby isn’t learning to roll?

Some common reasons that a baby may not be rolling include crowded play areas, unmotivating toys, lack of motivation due to toys being nearby at all times, and body tension preventing movement. Rolling requires many skills, and it’s important to offer supportive environments for babies to learn these skills. Practicing simple body stretches with your baby through the guidance of a professional or offering opportunities for play with minimal toys around and lots of open space can all promote movement. 

What are some tips to encourage rolling?

• Encourage your baby to grasp their feet by using rattle socks or a small toy looped to their foot
• Place toys beside and slightly above your baby’s head to encourage upward gaze, which encourages rotational movement
• Place your baby’s arm in a position that promotes rolling, such as under the chest or extended in front of their body.

What happens if my baby never rolls and goes straight to crawling?

It’s hard to conclude if there are any actual lasting effects to a baby never learning to roll. The research is inconclusive in these areas, but learning to roll will only help and never hurt. So many skills and muscles are developing when rolling is achieved, so encouraging this milestone is great for your baby!

If a baby can roll back to front, but not front to back, is it dangerous for them to roll over onto their tummy during sleep?

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests back sleeping only after age 1, but once a baby is rolling both ways, it’s hard to keep them on their back all night. If your baby is only rolling back-to-belly, repetitively practice rolling belly-to-back during awake time to ensure safety in sleep. You may follow these tips from this Infant Insights reel!