5 Month Old Not Rolling Over

Yeah that is great news! My daughter did every physical milestone a lot later then my son did, she took her time but was right on track. She didn't crawl until 11 mos and didn't walk until almost 14 mos. She was also very articulate early so I guess she was too busy talking to do the physical stuff for a while, hee hee!!! All kids do it in their own time for the most part.

Don't stress. I have two boys.. my first (now 2.5 years old) was 100+ % for height and weight. He looked like a sumo wrestler and people were always stopping me and commenting on how big he was. Anyhow.. he started crawling at 9 months and two weeks later he started walking. He was a late roller as well.. he was also a late talker.. didn't really start talking until he was 2. My second son rolled early but crawled from 6 months till 12 months. He started talking super early... probably from influence of his older brother.
Anyhow.. my point is.. no baby is the same.. so don't freak out about milestones. I did with my first and learned that it is useless to compare or spend time worrying as they will develop at their own pace.

Hi. I have a 5 month old boy and he is not rolling over either. They all develop at their own pace. I don't think my daughter was rolling over at 5 months either. She'll do it when she's good and ready. Sounds like she's already done it a few times. I think my boy has probably rolled over about 3 times so far. Relax.
~AG~

It is funny that you should bring this up today...my six month old son is in the exact same situation. We took him to the Dr. today for his six month check and the Dr. said that it is not uncommon for big babies to roll late (mine is over the 100% for height and 95% for weight). The Dr. said that he was not a bit concerned at this point. My older son (now 2 1/2) reached all of his physical milestones late as well - he was also big. I know it is hard because you want your baby to be the best at everything but trust me when I say it all evens out around two years. It seems like all two year olds can do pretty much the exact same things physically. Good luck and just keep loving your baby for who she is. They grow up too fast as it is, just think of this as a blessing.

I wouldn't worry. I worried with my son who is now 8months old and is crawling and starting to walk. He didn't roll all the way over until 6months and prior to that he basically never rolled over. He really rolled around when he was learning to crawl, he just appeared to be bored with the concept of rolling over and wanted to do more. I kept worrying because I watch all the other babies the same age rolling over having fun, I knew he could because I caught him a few times and like your daughter it appeared to be by accident. Give her time, she will do it when she is ready

L.,

My personal advice is to let it happen naturally. Your daughter will roll over plenty when shes ready, I don't think you should rush it. You are already setting the stage by getting her lots of tummy time. Developmentally, she is right on track. I think it would be beneficial both to you and your daughter to keep away from comparing her to other children and let her learn and grow at her own pace.

H.

Don't worry, my daughter who is now 15months didn't roll until about 9 months, after she could sit up. she really prefered to be sat up rather then being on her tummy. By the time she turned one she was walking. My first daughter who's 5 now never rolled or crawled, she went from sitting to walking. So don't worry every baby is different and as long as she is healthy and getting exercise (tummy time, playtime)she will do just fine.

Hi L.:
Relax! Five months isn't too late to start rolling over. The milestones in the books are just rough guidelines -- every baby is so different you can't compare.

My son rolled over once at 4 months, but didn't do it again for another 2 months. Now at 8 months, he rolls across the whole room and is ready to crawl any day now.

And I'm not sure if there is any "scientific" evidence, but big babies definitely seem slower than than their littler counterparts to roll, crawl, and walk -- they need to be stronger to move their weight around!

If she's still not rolling by her 6-month checkup -- talk to her pediatrician about it. But odds are she's doing just fine.

Good luck!

My son will be 5mo next week. He also is very large (over 20 lb, 27 inches)and has only rolled over twice. His ped told us not to worry about him taking longer to roll over since he has so much weight to fight against gravity. Don't worry about it. As long as she is able to hold her head up, bear weight on her legs if you stand her up, and is batting at things, she's probably just fine. Every child is different!

L.,

Neither of my boys rolled over consistently and intentionally until they were about 7 months old. I wouldn't be too worried yet unless there are other things that are worrying you. If you are worried and live in Nevada, call Nevada Early Intervention and request an evaluation. The evaluation is free and if your daughter does have delays, the services are free also. If you aren't in Nevada, ask your pediatrician. There will be a similar service where you are at and your pediatrician will have contact info.

T.

Just like everyone has been saying, it all happens at different times for different babies. My daughter is a week shy of 7 months and she just started rolling from her back to her tummy this week! Since our kids sleep on their backs, they don't get as much tummy time as we did while sleeping on our tummies. therefore, this milestone is typically being reached later. obviously do alot of tummy time and pulling up to sitting to help develop those muscles. one day, she'll just do it and won't stop!

Definitely don't compare your child to others. You daughter may talk long before another child or use sign language. She obviously doesn't feel the need to roll over yet and she will when she wants to. Don't push her. My daughter is 11.5 months and not walking, I have friends with 9 month olds that are-fully walking. It just is!!
Just do lots of tummy time and maybe move toys a little distance from her so she is enticed.

Hi L..
My first son didn't roll over till he was about 4-5 months old. I didn't think anything of it cuz i didn't know better so i wasn't concerned. and he didn't get his first tooth till he was like 10 mo old and then they came all at once. all babies are different, my second son is 3mo old and he rolled over already the other day so It's fine soon she will be all over the place haha.

Hi, I have 2 girls, my oldest is 9 yrs, and my youngest is 4 months. My oldest rolled over at about 4 months, but she didn't sit alone until 7 months or crawl until 9 months. I thought she might be a bit behind too, but then she pulled up to stand by 10 months and was walking at 11 months. Then she took off like a flash. Within a week or so, she was RUNNING everywhere. Each milestone after she learned to crawl seemed to fly past. She was speaking in complete sentences and paragraphs at 17 months. She is now a grade level ahead in school. Although we were a bit concerned back then, we now see that she has always done things at her own pace and on her own time table. We figure that when she felt the need to learn something, she did.

My youngest is now a little over 4 months and has only rolled over a couple of times. Don't be discouraged!! Your precious baby will learn at her own pace. Keep being the great mom you are, and keep getting down on the floor to play. It could be that since you play so much with her, she doesn't feel the need to "go" anywhere. All the fun is in one place!! Before you know it she'll be running around and you'll be glad you savoured these slow days on the floor!!! I hope that helps encourage you.

Hi L.,
My son is 5 months as well and he only rolled over couple of times. He loves tummy time, but does not show much intrest in rolling over even when I help him. He is 75% percentile in his weight and height and my doctor told me not to worry, because sometimes for puggier babies is harder to roll over. I am sure she is just fine in her milstone, she'll do it when she is ready.

Both my children were small (always hovering around 10% height & weight). My daughter was late in all the physical milestones. She started crawling at 10 months & walking at 15 months, but started saying words at 9 months & knew her phonics by 2. My son on the otherhand developed motorly right on schedule (except for walking - 14 months), but hasn't really said his first word yet. It's hard not to compare, but like all have said - every child is different - even your own. I've heard they "concentrate" on either the physical or non-physical. What I'm trying to say is there is no need to worry - and really - don't rush it. Their babyhood happens so fast. She'll be walking before you know it & you'll be wishin it would slow down!

Hello! I wouldn't get too worried over her not rolling over just yet. I have a 16 month old daughter who didn't start rolling over purposefully until 10 months. She sat up at 4 1/2 months and loved to sit and play or play on her tummy. My little girl was also in the upper percentiles for weight and height. But she started army crawling at 10 months and then found the joy of rolling over. So I wouldn't stress too much over it. Just let her play on her tummy a lot and she will get it eventually. Good luck!

Hi L.,
You sound like you are doing everything right. Making a games out of it is wonderful. The What to Expect the First Year says that rolling over "will probably be able to roll one way" at the end of five months. They also say sitting without support is not until six months. The AAP says that rolling over and sitting will be "movement milestone by the end of this period ( 4 to 7 months)."

Try putting her on her tummy every time you put her down. But I think you are doing a great job at being a mom!

My baby didn't roll ovwer until she was almost six months. Didn't crawl until 81/2 months. She walked at 13 months. Your baby will do it in her own sweet time. But watch out when she does because things will move along very fast then and you won't be able to keep up with her progress. That is so great that you play roll over games with her. Maybe her size is holding her down a bit, but I wouldn't be too concerned with it, she isn't reallyt behind.

It is probably nothing to worry about, but you should ask your pediatrician. But if this helps you worry a little less--I have a 3 year old son who is doing extremely well developmentally but he didn't roll over until ~9 months. He was crawling before he ever rolled over.

Im a mother of two beautiful children. My first was born 14weeks preemie & we had at home services for him. A couple of things they had me do to encourage him to roll over was to put your hands on his hips & push them in the direction I wanted him to roll & then have him move his upper body to complete rolling over. They also told me something we could do to encourage him to roll over was to put his favorite toy where he could see it but it would be far enough out of his reach that he would have to "roll over" to reach it.

That helped out my son alot. He was able pick up on things rather quickly.

I hope these will help you out....just be patient with her.

Good Luck!!

Hi L.!

If this helps at all....my son is a week away from 7 mos. He JUST rolled over for the 1st time a couple days ago and has not done it again since. My daughter rolled over around 5-6 mos. All babies / kids develope differently. I know it's hard not to compare, but she will do it when she's good and ready. My son is a lot 'thicker' than my daughter was at this age and I think that has something to do with it. He's like your baby, in the 95th - 100th percentile and my daugther was always (still is) a tiny peanut in the 25th to 50th percentile. Trust me...once she gets going she won't stop! Enjoy her while she's little!!! My daughter will be 4 this Sunday. It blows my mind how fast the time goes. Hope this makes you feel better. ;-)

I wouldn't stress about it at all! My daughter (who is now 18 months) didn't roll over consistently until she was 9 months old. She didn't crawl until she was 11 months and didn't walk until she was 13 months. There is NOTHING wrong with her development at all...she walks great...is already learning her ABC's and 123's...and is interested in potty training already. All babies do things differently. Your daughter will do things when she is good an ready...as does everyone else!! In the meantime, enjoy that you still have her immobile...once she starts moving around, it's a whole different ball game!

Don't worry my daughter ever rolled over & has maybe only rolled over a handfull of times. I felt the same way but then one day she just started crawling but never rolled over & I have a friend who has a daughter the same age as my daughter (10 months old) & her daughter would not crawl but would roll over like crazy. Now her baby is walking & never crawled!!! Go figure.....every baby is different maybe yours will turn out to be like mine. who knows????

Hi L.-

I would suggest that you read the "what to expect" books, they have from when your expecting to toddler years, well, thats where I am at right now...they may have more. Every baby is different,our son didn't really roll till between 6-8 months, and he was a little rolly polly too!!

hope this helps,
K.

Hi L.,
I think your daughter is perfectly normal. My youngest never did roll over. She learned to sit up at about 6 months old and didn't crawl until she was 9mos old but walked by her first birthday, this was way different than my other 3 so all children are different and won't do things at the same rate as others and that's perfectly fine. I think you're doing a great job with her by putting her on her tummy and playing with her. Maybe you can bribe her to roll by putting toys just out of her reach so she has to move to them or put her in one of those baby play gym mat things where the toys dangle above her and she has to roll over to see them. When she wants to though she'll finally do it and it might scare her and she might not want to do it again for a while. But don't compare her to other babies. Your baby is exactly the way she's supposed to be and that's good enough for her and you! Keep up the good work and don't get discouraged, this is one of many milestones you two are going to go through in life, there will be time for discouragement and upsets later. Right now love her and praise her for who she is. Have fun!

C.

L.,

Pick up this book by Dr Caroline Leaf. She has been studying the brain since the early 80's. She is from South Africa and has some incredible insights.

"Who Switched Off My Brain"

This talks about how the brain deveolpes, how it effects our health and how we really can control our thoughts. It is a short book only about 150pgs but boy is it loaded with information.

I am going to get copies to give to my kids taechers to read.

Take care

J.

This is a long time after your post but I just wanted to say I can relate my daughter while she would roll from her tummy to her back and get very frustrated not realizing she could roll from her back to her tummy. She was 11 months old b4 she started doing it much... particularly when she started realizing that she could. I was concerned about it but am so lucky as to have a wonderful ped. for my girls who shortly b4 had reassured me that it would happen soon and that the pudgy ones sometimes take a little longer. She also wasn't crawling yet and He said they weren't concerned unless she was getting to like 15 months and she still wasn't crawling... shortly after talking with him about it each time she began to get the hang of things.