How to Teach My Infant to Roll Over

Rolling over helps your baby develop large motor skills.

Rolling over is one of the first large muscle motions that a baby masters. The baby goes from lying on his back to rolling to crawling, and while some babies simply skip over some developmental steps, most start by flipping themselves over. Babies typically start rolling over between the ages of four to six months, and encouraging your baby to roll over is one way to help him develop his muscles.

Things You'll Need

• Blanket

Instructions

1. Spread a soft, clean blanket on the floor.

2. Lay your baby on his stomach on the floor. At this stage, the baby is capable of holding himself up slightly and looking around.

3. Push the baby's right arm flat against his side, slightly tucked underneath his body.

4. Apply a very small amount of pressure to the left side of the baby's body, gently pushing him towards the right. When the baby is ready, he will flip over.

5. Repeat this process with the other side.

6. Alternate working with the right and left sides daily until the baby can roll over on his own.

References

• Just Mommies: Tummy Time Tactics
• Adoption Under One Roof; How To Tuesday: How to Teach Baby to Roll and Rock Early; Julia Fuller; January 2010
• Wonder Time; Child Stages; 3 to 6 Months