Rolling
- Mar 30
- 2 min read
Rolling typically happens between 4-6 months. A child typically rolls from their stomachs to their back first because all they need to do is get the weight of their head shifted to the side and gravity will pull them over. This can be exciting to see them move and change positions for the first time! Watch to make sure they are not always rolling to the same side. This may indicate they are stronger on one side than the other. Practice the other side if you see a preference.
Rolling over to tummy time is a much more complex skill and is expected between 4 and 6 months too but typically closer to 6 months. There are many ways to teach a little one to roll but if you practice a specific way you can optimize movement patterns and sequencing of muscles to not just work on rolling but to help with future skills. If done correctly by rolling over the armpit, they will start to use trunk rotation and their neck to initiate and complete the movement. We want their bodies to twist and encourage them to lift with their heads instead of pushing off their arms. This is the first skill of many that require rotational movement of the trunk such as transitioning into sitting and back to the floor, walking, running, and throwing/kicking a ball. Again, if you see a preference, make sure you focus on practicing to the non-preferred side to keep their muscles equal on each side.
Rolling this way involves 3 steps, you want to go step by step and not anticipate the next one until the first one is done. Check out the 3 steps and how to optimize rolling practice for future movements in the video below.
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