Rolling over from tummy to back

Motor development timing varies considerably among babies, but the order of the developmental tasks remains the same.

Head and neck muscles are the first to come under a baby's control. Muscle control moves downward, toward the feet. Babies typically roll from tummy to back first beginning at around 4-5 months of age and then back to tummy around 6 months of age. At 5 months your baby will probably be able to lift their head, push up on their arms, and arch their back to lift their chest off the ground. They may even rock on their stomach, kick their legs, and swim with their arms.

All these exercises help the little one develop the muscles to roll over in both directions – by 6 months old.

You can encourage your baby's new skill through play. If you notice him/her rolling over spontaneously, see if they’ll try again by wiggling a toy next to the side they customarily rolls to. Or lie down next to them on one side – just out of reach – and see if they’ll roll to get closer to you. Cheer on his/her efforts and smile!

While some babies learn to roll over as their primary mode of ground transportation, others skip it altogether and move on to sitting, lunging, and crawling. As long as your baby continues to gain new skills and shows interest in getting around and exploring his/her environment, don't worry.

Make photos of your rolling baby, upload to the App. Add some words about your little one's new skills.