When Do Babies Roll Over? (Plus, How to Keep Them Safe)

Have you been diligently practicing tummy time, all the while wondering—when do babies roll over? We don’t blame you. One of baby’s first milestones is rolling over, and it’s such a fun—not to mention important—development, since it’s the first sign baby’s becoming more mobile and independent. Once baby can roll from belly to back and back to belly, sitting up and crawling usually aren’t far behind.

Experts say that babies typically roll from belly to back first. “Babies are definitely helped by momentum and gravity,” explains Deena Blanchard, MD, a pediatrician in Tarrytown, New York. But, as many parents can attest, there’s a wide range of “normal” when it comes to baby development. “My son learned to roll back to belly really early,” says Natalie Gontcharova, senior editor at The Bump and mom of one. “But it took much longer for him to do belly-to-back, so he’d be stuck on his belly on the playmat and whine in frustration. This also made me nervous when he’d roll to his belly during sleep!”

So, when do babies start rolling over? And what should you do if baby rolls over in their sleep? Read on to learn the answers to your burning questions, straight from pediatricians.

Key Takeaways

• There’s a wide variety of “normal” for when babies learn to roll over, but The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says that by 7 months, most babies learn to roll over—both tummy to back and back to tummy.
• Babies typically learn how to roll over belly to back first. They often learn how to roll over back to belly about a month later.
• Signs that baby’s ready to roll over include rocking on their back or belly, kicking their legs back and forth while trying to cross one leg over their body, arching their back and pushing up on their hands.
• You can help baby learn how to roll over by gently guiding them into position, offering plenty of positive reinforcement and limiting “container time.”
• If baby’s not trying to roll over by 6 months, or if baby has stopped rolling over, check in with your doctor.

When Do Babies Start Rolling Over?

Watching baby grow and gain strength is pretty thrilling, and it’s natural to wonder how soon they’ll be showing off their next big skill. So when do babies start rolling over? The exact age babies roll over varies from child to child. Babies can start rolling over as young as 3 to 4 months old, Blanchard says. It takes them a few months after birth to build up the necessary strength—including neck and arm muscles and good head control—to pull off this physical feat. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says that by 7 months old, most babies have mastered the art of rolling over.

Blanchard adds that most babies will first start trying to roll from their stomachs onto their backs because it’s generally easier—again, momentum and gravity are on their side. They tend to start rolling from back to tummy a month or so after learning to roll from belly to back.

It’s possible for babies to roll over even earlier than the three- to four-month mark—but that tends to be more of an accidental flop and not an intentional movement. “Sometimes I get a 5-week-old who’s managed to flip herself over because they were frustrated doing tummy time, moving around a lot and not enjoying being on their stomach, so they accidentally rolled over,” Blanchard says. “It doesn’t mean they’ll continue to do so.”

Signs Baby Is Ready to Start Rolling Over

When it comes to big milestones, you’re probably keeping an eye out for signals that baby’s ready to conquer new skills. (After all, you might want to have your camera ready for the special moment!) So what are some signs baby’s close to rolling over?

You’ll likely start to notice progress around the four-month mark—that’s when baby’s growing body starts to proportionally catch up to their head (which is comparatively large at birth) and baby’s overall muscle strength improves. It’s this combination that’ll help baby take that adorable mini push-up and roll with it into a bigger movement. “You’ll see baby slowly start lifting their head higher, then they’ll be able to push with their arms and finally they’ll get their chest off the floor,” Blanchard says.

According to Dina DiMaggio Walters, MD, a pediatrician at NYU Langone in New York City, some other signs baby’s ready to roll over include:

• Rocking on their back or belly
• Kicking their legs back and forth and trying to cross one leg over their body
• Arching their back
• Pushing up on their hands and lifting their chest off the ground

How To Help Baby Learn to Roll Over

Wondering how to teach baby to roll over? For starters, make sure your little one is getting plenty of tummy-time practice. “For a newborn, tummy time is super-important muscle training,” Blanchard says, adding that their level of strength is key to determining when babies roll over.

Other than that, the best way for you to encourage baby to roll over is to physically guide them along, teaching them what it feels like to move. Keep in mind that the sensation of rolling over is completely new and can be a little shocking or scary for baby. “They have this ‘What just happened?’ look on their faces,” says Cheryl Wu, MD, a retired pediatrician in New York City. Don’t be surprised if baby cries at first. But after they experience it a few times—and hear you clapping and cheering—baby will likely be more eager to try it out.

Here’s how to help baby roll over all on their own:

• Turn tummy time into playtime. During tummy time, place toys out of baby’s reach to encourage your little one to roll toward them. You can also try getting down on one side of baby and talking to them. Be sure to give lots of positive reinforcement too. “At 4 months old, babies are social beings and love seeing their parents smile. If they see that rolling got a good result, they might be encouraged to keep trying,” Blanchard says, adding that if you have an older child, they can also get on the floor to cheer baby on. “This is a win-win, because baby is probably obsessed with their older sibling, and the big brother or big sister gets praised for interacting in a nice way. Tummy time can be a tool for bringing the family together.”
• Stop swaddling. Swaddling baby for the first few months of life can be a great sleep aid, but by 3 to 4 months of age, they’ll likely be ready to sleep without a swaddle, Blanchard says. This not only helps lower the risk of suffocation, but also lets baby practice rolling over in their sleep when they’re ready.
• Limit “container time.” Wondering how to help baby learn to roll over as you go about your busy daily routine? During the day, help baby roll over by limiting the time they spend in anything that hinders movement, such as bouncers, swings, car seats (unless you’re driving!) and activity centers. “These days there are a million gadgets for babies to be in, and they could easily spend a whole day going from one to the other,” Blanchard says. “But you want kids to be in the position that’s natural for them to develop the muscles they need to move forward.” Keep it simple, sticking to a play gym and/or activity mat.

How to Keep Baby Safe When Rolling Over

Since babies can sometimes roll over unexpectedly, Blanchard cautions that the only safe places to leave baby unattended are a crib, playard or bassinet (provided they can’t sit up yet, of course). “Early on, baby’s untrustworthy—you don’t want to be on the phone with your doctor at 2 a.m. because baby rolled off the bed or the changing table,” Blanchard says.

Once baby’s intentionally rolling, it’s important to keep their space clear of anything that could get in their way and potentially obstruct their breathing or pose a choking hazard. “Some babies roll crazy fast and can rake objects with their hands—so a 6-month-old getting hold of something tiny, like a raisin, and bringing it to their face is definitely a possibility,” Blanchard says. Don’t wait until baby is crawling to babyproof your house.

What If Baby Rolls Over While Sleeping?

Baby rolling over in their sleep? It can be nerve-wracking to discover baby has rolled over in the middle of the night. Of course, for safe sleep it’s important to place baby on their back. But if baby is already comfortable rolling both ways, there’s no need to reposition them in the middle of the night, per the AAP.

“If baby is consistently rolling over during the day and rolls over in their sleep, you don’t need to reposition them,” agrees Whitney Casares, MD, a board-certified pediatrician and author of My One-of-a-Kind Body. But it’s also important to keep baby’s sleep space safe, she adds. “Make sure the surface they’re sleeping on is safe by using a firm crib mattress, by not swaddling your older infant, by assuring they can lift their heads well enough to breathe easily when on their belly and by eliminating any extra objects in the crib,” says Casares.

What Baby Milestones Come After Rolling?

Baby has rolled over—now what? “After rolling, many babies start to sit up on their own and crawl,” says Casares. “These skills can develop at any time but generally occur a month to three months after rolling.” According to the AAP, most babies sit without support by around 8 months, master crawling between 7 to 10 months and pull themselves up to stand by 12 months. Don’t worry if baby’s not reaching every milestone with textbook precision—babies tend to do things on their own time.

When to Reach Out to Your Pediatrician

Although there’s a wide age range for when babies roll over, Blanchard says at the six-month well visit, she’s looking for babies to be close to rolling either from back to front or stomach to back. If baby’s not rolling over at 6 months, or if baby has stopped rolling over, check in with your healthcare provider. “Babies might not roll over right at 6 months, but if you aren’t seeing any attempts at movement, definitely discuss it with your pediatrician,” she says. “If your doctor thinks there may be a developmental delay, you’ll be able to work together to figure out what the next steps should be, like physical therapy.”

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.