Rollin Over

I don't believe there's any rules about the baby doing one or the other first. My son rolled from back to belly first. My son started back to belly at 4 months and belly to back before he was six months. Every child is different. Don't worry about what people say they are supposed to do.

There is no should. He rolls. Enjoy. My first rolled one of those ways at 10 months, I think belly to back. My second at 2 months, I think back to belly. Don't remember which way and it doesn't matter. This is not something to stress about. He is doing what he should be doing. Yea!!!!!!!!!!!!

All kids do things in their own time and in their own way. As far as I know (my babies are now in their 20's) the only thing that matters is that they crawl before they walk. This helps with eye/hand coordination and body awareness and eventually leads to them learning to read more easily.

Hi, E.,

I'm really bad..........if my MIL had said that to me, my response would have been, "Really?? Well, I'll tell him that." Then, in front of her, I would have said to my son, "Quit rolling that way until you learn how to roll belly to back! Grandma says you're backwards!" :) And that would pretty much have shut her up for all of - oh, probably 10 minutes!!

As to how long between the two rolls, my son learned back to belly first, then took a whole month to get the belly to back down. So it may be a few weeks - don't worry.

I'm sure you are a GREAT mom! Be patient with all those "helpful" things your MIL tells you! Not like me! :)

Blessings, J.

Hi E.,
it does not matter which way your baby rolls first, he will be rolling all over the place soon enough! Girl enjoy your baby and dont let anyone worry you!
God Bless
D.

My son did back to belly first so I wouldn't worry to much about it. This is one of the few areas that my son was way advanced in ( he has many medical issues ) and he started rolling over back to belly at 1 month old and belly to back by 2 months he didn't roll all over the house it seemed like he did this more when he was in his crib during sleep time. I am not sure what the average is since my son never was on track with his milestones so hope this has helped.

Listen to the experienced grandma, don't worry....enjoy your child....

Hi E.,
It's actually harder for kids to go back to belly, so kudos to your little strong one! :) I would say he will go belly to back within a month's time. Mine did back to belly around 5 months old, and belly to back at 4 months. It will come soon...I wouldn't stress. Mother in laws can be so fabulous sometimes ;).

Mother-in-laws are experts in everything, aren't they? I have 2 children ages 3 and 15 months. I don't really remember which came first belly to back or vice versa but I do know they did both within days of each. I don't think it's an issue which way they roll first as long as they are trying to do both. I think my son was 6 months old when he rolled belly to back and my daughter was 5 months when she figured out both very quickly. I wouldn't worry either way, it sounds like your baby is making great progress!

Please don't take this the wrong way-Maybe your Mother-in-law is the one that is backwards. That is like saying something about someone is not normal. What is normal for some is not for others. She may think that because when most of us were infants we were placed on our bellies more than our backs therefore: belly to back.

My son is at the same stage. It is supposed to be more difficult to roll from back to belly, but my son still can't figure out how to roll belly to back. Oh well. I wouldn't consider it backwards. I would imagine lots of kids are this way.

Wow you sure got a lot of advice but since i didn't ready any of them first I will just put my two cents worth in. ;-)
Hi E., use your own judgement. It must be an old wives tale as I am a grandmother and I have never heard of it. What in the world would make the difference which way he rolls. You sound like a good mother and 'Mother's Know Best". I have three children and four grandchildren and you know I never even thought which way they rolled first. Your baby is right on tract and don't pay any attention to mother in law, you have enough on your mind to even think of what someone else says. Happy mothers make Happy babies.

My daughter did belly to back at 2 or 3 months. She's now 6 months and still hasn't done the back to belly. She's sitting up and crawling, but refuses to roll. I guess she just doesn't like it. I wouldn't worry to much about it, he'll do what he needs to, when he needs to, in what ever order he needs to. Just enjoy him!

I too have a 6 month old (just turned 6 months Sunday). He rolls both ways but every child is different. I have 4 total and they all did things in different orders. I wouldnt be too worried. It is USUALLY just easier for them to go from belly to back even accidently cause their arms are normally out of the way. Give it a few weeks and see what happens....you will be suprised how fast they start doing everything. If you are still concerned you can ask the dr at the check up. If you have anymore questions feel free to email me... GOOD LUCK! : )

first of all, your little one is right on scheule. It doesn't matter which way they roll, as long as they are rolling. Listen to your gut and the ped...although others may mean well, it only causes confusion. Both of my kids rolled from back to belly first and it was comical to watch...they got stuck when they tried to heave those chubby legs over...lol!!

Your mother-in-law is thinking back to the day when we all put our babies to sleep on their tummies....so of course they usually turned from tummy to back the first time.
Now babies are sleeping on their backs first so your baby is doing what comes naturally just like my little granddaughter is doing.
Don't think anything of it.

Most kids do roll from belly to back first because it's easier, but some kids learn the back to belly first. He's probably a bit stronger than some kids - that's why he was able to roll from back to belly first. My girls both did belly to back first, my son did back to belly first (although he went both ways within a few days of each other at about 4 months). Every child is different.

Your MIL's children probably rolled belly to back first because they slept on their bellies and spent the most time there. Your children probably spend more time on their backs and sleep on their backs, so they'll probably roll back to belly first. Either way they roll, the important thing is that they do it.

Every baby is different. They will do it when they are ready. Some babies walk before they crawl. Your baby is not backwards and there is nothing wrong with him.

My MIL did things like that once in awhile. I, myself, knew that there wasn't a problem, but I told my ped. Then when she said something, I could counter with "the dr isn't concerned" or something like that. Shut her up every time. lol

My baby rolled from back to belly long before he rolled from belly to back.

Mine started rolling over at the 4 month or 4-1/2 month mark and were able to sort of sit up, if propped a bit, at 6 months. All babies are different though. One of mine was crawling at 5 months and walking at 7 months and 3 weeks! One of my nieces took her first steps on her first birthday and then refused to walk for 3 months. If you tried to get her to walk, she stuck her legs out right in front of her like those old fashioned baby dolls that you could position!

We liked to play with them on a quilt on the floor and get them to roll and roll over again... whether back to belly or belly to back- once they do one, they do the other pretty quickly.

There is no "normal" for kids. They're all different and do things in their own way. I think kids usually roll from belly to back first because it's easier. I remember when my daughter rolled from belly to back. It was more of an accident than a roll! She was having some tummy time and sort of toppled over. So cute! :) If you want him to roll from belly to back (not that it's a big deal) put him on his tummy and see if he'll do it. If not, no worries! He'll get there when he's ready! :)

My daughter is 8 months old now and she rolled from back to belly first, but was only a week or so and she could do both... I wouldn't say he's backwards...he just wanted to get the harder part down first... good luck with your little bundle of joy...before you know it, he'll be pulling himself up and getting into everything you can imagine :)

Good morning E.,

I have an 8 month old who starting rolling at about 4 months. He did the same thing your little one did! He rolled frist from back to belly first. I dont know why your MIL would say soemthing like that, especially since every baby is different and she should be happy with any progress even if it not in order. Good luck!

In advance, I haven't read through all the other posts yet, not enough time! If someone else said this then I apologize :) She is probably basing it on the fact that when we where younger it was common to put baby to sleep on their tummy so we all got a lot more 'tummy time' than our babies do now sooooo many babies rolled tummy to back first. Really though it doesn't matter as long as they reach their milestones at some point :)

My personal opinion is this: We are now told to let our kids sleep laying on their back, we place them laying down this way much of the time and "tummy time" is now sometimes a struggle. I think with all the information about SIDS kids spend much more time on their back that this is probably more common.
My daughter did a few stomach to backs first (super frustrated) but I think she mastered back to stomach which I suppose is also "backwards." I just look at it is she is healthy and happy and developing at a normal rate. Milestone are all approximate and each baby is unique!
Sadly, I cannot say when she started rolling, maybe 6 months? I remember the day I though tI would never forget this!!

Hi E.,

My little guy started doing both at the same time but what he was really trying to do was go from the back to his belly. I think they usually roll from belly to back first because it's easier - they can prop themselves up on their arms and let gravity do most of the work. I don't think it's weird - it probably just has to do with the recommendation that babies sleep on their backs. You could try to give him more "tummy time" but I wouldn't worry about it. The important thing is that he's moving around and building those little muscles!

Back to belly first in my experience. Does it REALLY matter, as long as they can do it. I also make sure and try to get them to do it on BOTH sides to develop muscles on both sides. I do "exercises" w/ babies at the gym, too. It's amazing how quickly their bodies will respond when given the proper stimulus. Adults are the same way. I can pick up on what muscles are behind (right maybe developed and not left, etc) when I engage them in exercise/play. Don't stress out over it. Better than not turning over at all!

I wouldn't worry too much. My two kids are completely different from each other so they are bound to be different than someone else's child. My son rolled from his back to his belly first, but my daughter rolled from her belly to her back first. My son first started rolling at 3 months. My daughter rolled at 5 months. She liked her belly so she spent a good amount of time on it and that is probably why she rolled this way first. Where my son wasn't a belly time kid so he was on his back more.

I agree with all the responses...every child is different! Typically kids learn to move from the position they are in. Ask you mom what position she always laid her kids down on...their tummy's - so learning to push up and roll over from belly to back came first. Now that babies are almost always on their backs, pusing up comes along a little later, and rolling starts from back to belly...because babies are more often on their backs. If it's concerning...add a little more tummy time to his day. Put toys in front of him for him to push up and look at and he'll roll from belly to back before you know it :-). With our oldest, I remember having a little 'roll'...it was a firm foam 'log' about 4-5 inches high by 10 inches long or so - cylindar shaped covered in colorful fabric. He laid on his tummy with his chest on that (from about 3-4 months with good head control) and it raised his torso off the floor so he could see better and got him used to the idea of being on his knees for crawling. It would need to be firm - I'd caution against using something soft like a pillow. Maybe a rolled and taped up towel? Most of all remember that this is all learning and learning should be fun and an opportunity to bond and interact with you and his environment. Have fun :-) Flys way too fast!

I personally don't think there is any such thing as backwards with kids. They do things their own way!! My son did the same thing. He is now almost 2. He has progressed completely normally and is flourishing as he should. The worst thing you can do sometimes is listen to other people!! LOL..........good luck!!

I have 5 kiddos and they all do things differently. My youngest is just about 5 months. He is only rolling from his back to his belly currently. And he is doing it all the time! He won't go the other way. I would not worry about it at all! If you are concerned at all, just call you pediatrician. Mine has a nurse full time that just takes calls and answers these questions.
Enjoy six months! Once they can move life as you know it is over :)

There is nothing wrong with your child. My kids rolled over "backwards" too. As long as your child can roll over your fine. Your baby will roll the other way when ready. It won't be too long. He/she may start to crawl before rolling anyway. My oldest loved being on her belly, it allowed her to pick up her head and "fly" like superman. Just enjoy your baby and ignore your mother in law.

Hey E.,

NO Worries! Ya, its normally from belly to back but it doesn't have to be. Each child is unique. My son is 9 mo. and he did the same think back to belly. Its actually tougher to do, so good for him!

A.