In the first months of life, your baby goes through numerous developmental steps. They learn something new every day and continue to develop from day to day. This includes eventually learning to turn over independently. For parents, this milestone is of great importance.
In this article, you will find out when babies start turning over, what signs indicate they are about to turn, and how you can support your baby in the process. We will also introduce you to the automatic baby hammock from swing2sleep, which supports your baby while sleeping during development-rich phases.
When do babies turn from their back to their side?
Regarding turning over, your baby will go through various phases in their first year of life. These begin with your baby first turning from their back onto their side. Some babies start doing this as early as three months old, while others only roll onto their side in the fifth or sixth month of life.
To turn from their back onto their side, your baby lifts their legs into the air and then tips onto their side. This will look uncoordinated at first, and your baby will likely roll straight back onto their back during the first attempts. Over time, however, the muscles strengthen and your baby becomes more coordinated.
Once they can lie on their side and remain in this position, your baby perceives their environment from a new perspective. In particular, they can now perceive their immediate surroundings much better.
Therefore, pay extra attention during diaper changes: Many babies often turn over while being changed to explore their surroundings.
When can babies turn from their back to their stomach?
Once your baby has learned to turn from their back to their side, the prone position (on the stomach) will be the next developmental step. Once your baby is on their stomach, they train their neck muscles and learn to hold their head up independently. For babies, turning onto their stomach is therefore a significant step in their development.
It is difficult to say exactly when babies lie on their stomachs independently. Most babies manage to turn from their back to their stomach at around seven months. Often, this is not a conscious turn – your baby first rolled onto their side and then onto their stomach.
If your baby has made it onto their stomach, they might be surprised by it themselves and may not be able to get back onto their back alone. Observe your baby closely during this phase and help them out of the prone position if necessary.
Further developmental step: When do babies turn from their stomach to their back?
Once your baby can turn from the supine position to the prone position, only one more step is missing. Your baby will soon learn to turn independently from their stomach to their back. Most babies manage this at around seven to nine months.
This turn is a challenge for many babies, as they often tip their head roughly onto the floor in the process. They will first turn from their stomach to their side with the help of their arms and then let themselves fall onto their back.
All these steps involve great effort for your baby. They strain the muscles and strengthen them at the same time. Your baby also needs to concentrate to manage the turn.
Therefore, it is not unusual for your baby to start turning a little earlier or later. Rather, it is an individual development that babies go through at different speeds.
How do I recognize that my baby is learning to turn over?
The motor development of babies progresses rapidly. Often, only a few months pass before the first roll. Parents therefore wonder how they can even recognize that their baby might soon be able to roll over independently.
We have summarized some signs for you:
- Strong kicking: If your baby lies on their back and kicks their legs wildly in the air, they are probably already training their muscles for the first roll.
- Lifting the head: At around three to four months of age, your baby learns to hold and lift their head when lying on their stomach.
- Pushing up with the arms: Subsequently, they will try to push themselves off the floor with their arms, which also trains their muscles.
- Swimming movements: Many babies also instinctively make swimming movements while lying on their stomach to train their coordination and muscles.
- Rocking: A rocking motion by babies in the prone position can also be a sign that they might be rolling over soon.
In most babies, these signs can be observed between the fourth and fifth month of life. However, if your baby is not yet rolling or supporting themselves, you should not worry.
Every baby develops at their own pace. And if your little one only rolls over at six months, then everything is fine.
Should babies be supported when rolling over?
Basically, babies start to roll over and work on their coordination all by themselves. It is therefore not necessary to actively support them or encourage them to do so.
However, you have the opportunity to encourage your child through play.
There are various ways to do this:
- Place your baby on a play mat: If your baby lies relaxed on a play mat, this is the best place for them to practice how to roll over. Such mats provide a soft surface and encourage your baby to follow their urge to move. Make sure your baby is in the middle of the mat so they don't hit their head on the floor when rolling over.
- Encourage rolling with toys: Place your baby on their back and observe their behavior. You can place a toy next to them to encourage them to roll over. This also works with a small rattle or other objects.
- Always keep an eye on your baby: If your baby is currently learning to roll over, you should be particularly vigilant. Initially, babies are often still uncoordinated and could injure themselves. Also, make sure that there are no small parts on the floor that your baby could potentially swallow. All dangerous objects should always be kept out of reach of babies.
It is important that you do not overtax your baby. If they are not rolling over yet, they just need a little more time. They will only be able to roll over when their abdominal and back muscles are sufficiently developed. So give your baby time and do not put them under any pressure.
Your baby has the hang of it: This is important now
Do you have the impression that your baby will be rolling over soon? Or have you already observed them rolling over independently? For parents, this developmental step is often a special milestone. However, it should also be associated with some precautions.
We have summarized these for you:
- Caution on the changing table: Your baby can now roll over – you should therefore always hold them on the changing table. Always keep one hand on your baby, as they could suddenly roll over and, in the worst case, fall off the changing table.
Rolling over is a major milestone for your baby. Even if parents often view this developmental step as very positive, it represents a major change.
Be prepared for the fact that your baby can also roll over on the changing table and will thoroughly inspect your home in the coming months. Caution is the be-all and end-all here.
Further development: What comes after rolling over
Rolling over is just the beginning for your baby. As soon as they have learned the rolling movement, their muscles are already strengthened and further steps will follow. After rolling over, your baby will learn to sit and shortly afterwards will also start to crawl.
Many children have their own pace: Your baby's development is individual and should therefore not be a cause for concern. Celebrate your little one's motor milestones – no matter how many months old they are when they roll over for the first time.
During regular check-ups, your pediatrician will check your baby's development and also test their motor skills.
Automatic baby hammock from swing2sleep: Sleep aid & cozy nest for your baby
When babies develop rapidly in the first months of life, this is often accompanied by poor sleep. Your baby is then restless, wakes up several times during the night or has difficulty falling asleep. What can help your baby is the automatic baby hammock from swing2sleep.
This offers your baby a cozy nest: You place them in the airy hammock, where they are snugly enclosed. This closeness reminds your baby of their time in the womb and therefore gives them a sense of security, so that they settle down more quickly.
Then you switch on the intelligent automatic baby hammock motor. With its gentle up and down movements, it promotes your little one's ability to fall asleep and stay asleep. This applies not only to restless phases, but to every day.
See for yourself and take a look at our unique automatic baby hammock!
When should a baby be able to roll over?
Many babies begin to roll over intentionally between the 3rd and 6th month. Some roll from their stomach to their back first, others start the other way around. The timing is very individual and depends, among other things, on how much free movement your baby has in everyday life.
A fixed date is less important than the development leading up to it: holding the head well, putting weight on the forearms in the prone position, and stabilizing the upper body. If your baby is making good progress overall, rolling over later is often no cause for concern.
If you feel that hardly anything changes over several weeks or that your baby moves very one-sidedly, mention it at the next check-up.
Why should you not lift babies under the armpits?
When lifted under the armpits, many babies still lack the necessary core and neck stability. As a result, the body can "sag" and the strain is placed unfavorably on the shoulders and neck.
It is usually more comfortable and stable if you support your baby with one hand on the bottom or back and guide the upper body safely with the other. This way, they feel held and can align themselves better.
If you are unsure, have a doctor or midwife show you which handling techniques work well for you during a check-up.
When should a baby be able to roll over?
Many babies roll over intentionally between the 3rd and 6th month. Some are earlier, others later.
More important than a fixed age is that your baby gets stronger and moves via their side.
Why should you not lift babies under the armpits?
Many babies do not yet have enough core and neck stability for this, and the body can "sag".
Better: Support the bottom or back and guide the upper body steadily.
Can a baby roll over at 2 months?
Yes, this can happen, but it is rather rare and often not yet consciously controlled.
If your baby is not yet rolling over, this is completely normal at 2 months.
Can babies already roll over at 3 months?
Some can, but many cannot yet. Often, rolling onto the side happens first, followed by rolling over.
If you are unsure, mention it briefly at the next check-up.
