Ways to Play

Rolling.

Expected Age Range: 4-5 months, or so.

Every developmental position and milestone can be broken down into smaller, and easier, components. With practice and time, these more tolerable components come together, and the result is a big milestone – like rolling from back to tummy!

To facilitate rolling, or any activity, you want to think about meeting your child where they are at (as in, their current level of capability). And remember to provide the least amount of hands on assistance required – this gives your baby the opportunity to problem solve and learn. 

On Their Back

Tracking a Toy to 10 or 2 o’clock.

Hold an object of interest about 9 inches from your baby’s face, give it a little shake to get their attention. Once your baby establishes visual contact with the object, slowly move it to the left or right, to a 10 o’clock or a 2 o’clock position. Your baby should be able to visually track the toy all the way down to floor level on the left and right sides, in a smooth and comfortable manner, by turning their head, looking up, and elongating their trunk. Encourage them to reach for the toy by shaking it. Pause and allow your baby time to respond. 

Hands to Feet & Rocking Side to Side

Cradle your baby’s hips and buttocks in your hands. Lift up so that their legs come up off the floor. This raises their legs off the floor, activating their trunk muscles and bringing their feet into their field of vision for easier grasping. 

You can also gently rock side to side, this provides your baby with gentle trunk rotation, a movement that is necessary for rolling. 

If your baby is not yet grabbing their feet, you can bring their feet directly to their hands and give them an opportunity to touch their feet. Try touching the opposite foot to hand, and same side foot to hand. Socks with little bells on the toes are a great addition to this activity.

Rolling to Tummy From Back with Help at Their Leg

Before your baby can roll all the way from their back to their tummy, they will roll onto their side first. You can help your baby onto their tummy by gently assisting them at their leg. By helping your baby at their leg instead of their trunk, it requires them to take control of their head and trunk, leading to better body mechanics. 

Consecutive Rolls in the Same Direction with Help at Their Legs

Rolling is a big movement that provides a lot of healthy vestibular input. At first, some babies avoid rolling because they are not accustomed to this big movement. Exposure to the sensation of rolling can help babies become more comfortable with it. When you are playing with your baby on the floor, assist them at their legs with several consecutive rolls to each side. 

On Their Side

Side Lying is Half of Rolling

Just like in the previous levels, side lying is a great position for play. When your baby rolls to their side, let them play with a toy with both hands in side lying. Rolling from their back to their side is half of rolling from their back to their tummy, so it’s a great position for babies that are not fully rolling yet.

In Supported Sitting

Tilting Side to Side

When you are holding your baby on your lap in a supported sitting position, with your hands around their trunk and under their arms, gently tilt their body to the left and right about 45-90°. Your baby should be lifting their head up to the opposite side –  to align their eyes with the horizon. This is called Head Righting. Your baby should be able to lift their head up equally to the left and right sides. 

Sitting on Floor With Support Around Lower Trunk

You can begin playing with your baby in a supported sitting position, with your hands around their lower trunk. But resist the urge to practice sitting on a regular basis until your baby is rolling consistently on their own.

In Supported Standing

Hold Your Baby in Supported Standing

Hold your baby in a supported standing position with your hands around their trunk. Your baby will be accepting weight though their feet and legs.

Tummy Time Suggestions

Visual Tracking to Encourage Rolling from Tummy to Back

Hold a favorite toy in front of your baby’s face, slightly elevated from the floor. You’re looking for your baby to lift their head from the floor as they look at the toy. Then, slowly bring the toy a few inches to the side, so that your baby rotates their head to visually track the toy. As your baby is rotating their head, continue to raise the toy a few inches higher. Now your baby is rotating their head and looking up. As you continue to move the toy in an arc, your baby may roll onto their back, and then they can grab the toy and play. 

Try Rolling from Tummy to Back on the Bed

The first time that a baby rolls from tummy to back, they usually do it by accident. They will be playing on their tummy, turn their head to try to see something, and then tumble over to their back.

Rolling from tummy to back can be a little startling for some babies, because gravity takes over and it requires a fair bit of core and neck strength to control how quickly they roll. So after this first accidental roll, some babies will be hesitant to try it again.

Initially, your bed or another soft surface is a great place to practice. This way, if they haven't mastered controlling the speed of the roll, they won't bonk their head on a hard surface like the floor. Should go without saying, by be careful rolling near the edge of the bed. But remember, rolling is going to be more difficult on a softer surface, so once your baby becomes comfortable, bring the practice down to the floor. 

Get Their Arms Out of the Way
Tucking elbows. Some babies will try to roll over from their tummy to their back, but their arm gets in the way. You can help your baby avoid this by tucking their elbow directly under their shoulder and helping them weight shift to that side. 

Bicycle Legs on Tummy

Rolling from tummy to back requires your baby to weight shift. You can help your baby experience this weight shift by moving their legs into an alternating “4” position, with one leg straight and one leg bent. When one leg is bent, it causes their weight to shift away from that side, and their head to look toward the side of the bent knee. Pause, and then switch legs. Try coupling this activity with visually tracking a toy. 

Elevate toys

You might remember this from the prior stage, and it will remain important through the crawling stage. Elevate toys several inches off the floor to encourage your baby to push up through their forearms and lift their gaze above the horizon. Try putting their toys up on a small step stool (about 4-8 inches tall) or on a couch cushion on the floor.