Get Rolling: Skills for Moving in Both Directions
Your little one may be able to roll from their tummy to their backs at just six weeks old. This early roll is totally accidental and happens when your baby is looking far to one side, turning their head and maybe lifting an arm. Gravity just takes over and their body follows.
It’s common for this roll to go into hiding for a little while as they work on other skills, but it’ll come back in a more purposeful and intentional way later! Rolling belly-to-back and back-to-belly typically occurs between four to six months of age — and belly-to-back tends to happen first.
Let’s break both ways down so you can practice them at home.
Rolling Belly-to-Back:
What does it look like?
Your baby will be on their belly, pushing up on both arms and then turning their head to the right. They’ll reach their right arm up and to the side, maybe to grab a toy, then pull their right leg up, pushing through their right toes. With that, they’ll be over!
What does your baby need to achieve this?
They need to be able to bear weight on both arms and extend through both arms. They also need to be able to shift weight onto one side (let’s say left) while reaching up and to the side with one hand (let’s say reaching right with their right hand).
How should we start?
Start with tummy time and side-lying. Side-lying is a seriously overlooked play position. It centers us and develops our midline orientation. It allows babies to bring their hands together to play and helps babies learn that they can shift and bear weight on one side while still playing. The side-lying position is similar to an adult lying in bed on their side in a slight “fetal position,” with hips and knees slightly bent.
What’s next?
If your baby is a champ at tummy time and can push up on extended arms, kick it up a notch and practice weight shifting! Start this next step by adding to your baby’s tummy time routine with uneven surfaces and shifted hips.
Uneven Surfaces: By doing tummy time over an uneven surface, your baby will strengthen their shoulder muscles and improve their ability to balance and move. You can use a Splashn’Kids Water Playmat, a pillow, a couch cushion, or even a beach blanket.
Assisted Shifts: Place your hand on your baby’s bottom and hips and help them shift to the left while they reach up with their right hand. Remember to maintain symmetry and practice in both directions.
What if weight shifting is a challenge?
If you’re still noticing this skill is a challenge, you can try to assist by using a towel or a yoga ball to improve their skills and practice their strength building.
Towel Help: Place a small towel under their right hip. Their right leg might bend slightly and their toes should dig into the floor. If you don’t see their toes making contact with the floor, place them there and show them how it feels. This assisted weight-shift will place weight on their left shoulder allowing them to release and reach with their right arm.
Yoga Ball: Tummy time on a yoga ball can be especially fun! Try to hold them on their hips and bottom, but be sure they remain steady and safe. Help rock them to the left or right as they reach with the opposite hand. If you don’t have a hand or a playmate to hold a toy, use a suction toy attached to a mirror or the fridge, like the FatBrain Squigz (big or small or spinners).
Rolling Back-to-Belly:
What does it look like?
Your baby will be on their back and will pull both legs up and toward their chest. They’ll then turn to roll into a side-lying position. Some babies will look far up and to the side, rolling with stronger spinal extension than flexion. While this isn’t the preferred way to complete the movement, it’s not usually detrimental. It simply relies on spinal extension rather than core strength.
From side-lying, your baby will lift their head off the surface in order to “right” their head. During this transition, their legs will go from both of them being bent to extending the top leg and bending the bottom leg. This movement will help them continue onto their belly. It’s a real balancing act!
What does your baby need to achieve this?
First, they need to have the abdominal strength to pull their legs up and grab their toes. To roll from there to their side, they’ll need to have enough oblique abdominal strength in side-lying. They’ll need strong neck extension (head lifting) at that halfway point in order to lift and clear their head from the floor and extend through the rest of their body.
What if your baby can’t get past side-lying?
Your baby may be pulling their legs up, grabbing their toes, rolling to side-lying, and happily playing there. At that point, they may just be figuring it out or feel excited about playing with their toes. It’s ok to leave it at that and let them work it out in their own time!
Take it slow and don’t rush them. Every piece of this movement puzzle is important. Keep playing in tummy time and side-lying — both have tremendous benefits. Playing in side-lying does so much more than just prepare babies for rolling. Side-lying assists in shaping babies ribcages, helping with head shape, helping to provide midline orientation, and engaging oblique abdominal muscles.
What if your baby is struggling?
If you feel your baby is struggling with these steps, is lacking the strength to progress, or is eight or nine months old and not showing signs of attempting to roll, transition, or move in other ways, feel free to reach out to me personally, consult your primary doctor, and seek a physical therapist in your area.
Jessica is an experienced physical therapist passionate about early development, gross motor play, and improving daily function for those with neurological diagnoses. She earned her undergraduate degree in kinesiology from Michigan State University and her doctorate in physical therapy from Daemen College. Practicing for nearly seven years, Jessica has worked with children and families in hospital, outpatient, early intervention, school-based, and private clinical settings.
Jessica lives in northern Michigan, where she spends as much time as possible outside. She’s mom to five-month-old Declan and aunt to two energetic toddlers, two-year-old Tallulah and three-year-old Grayson.
