7 month old not rolling back to tummy yet...help!

Mary - posted on 05/13/2009

My son just turned 8 months too, and he does the same thing! He learned how to roll from his tummy to his back pretty early, and never really hated tummy time, but when we put him on his tummy, he just rolls off of it to his back. I was worried that he'd never learn to move or crawl if he didn't stay on his tummy, but someone told me that by this age, if they have enough strength to sit unsupported, then crawling and pulling up will come. He may have just skipped this part for now. I do find him sleeping on his sides, and I did talk to a PT who said that if he has enough strength to pull his feet up to his mouth on his back, and bounces a little when we try to stand him up, its probably just a case of not enough tummy experience. We do the things suggested by the other ladies here, and do the movement for him, as well as trying to teach him to sit up from his tummy so he can start to work on doing that by himself. A day at a time...

Jaime - posted on 05/11/2009

My daughter will be 8 months next week and just started rolling onto her tummy. She hates/hated tummy time as well! Don't worry- it will happen! I freak out when I read about babies in this age range crawling and saying mama and dada since we are so far from there. I just tell myself everyday that all babies develop at different rates!

Rebekah - posted on 05/11/2009

All babies are different and will reach milestones when they are ready to reach them. You can't force your baby to do anything they don't want to do - so don't worry!

Your baby will roll when it is ready too, or just skip it and decide to just sit up and walk. Some babies never crawl.

You can encourage tummy time - use the boppy pillow, prop baby on it. Want to try to encourage rolling back to tummy take a toy and have her follow it and just help her roll.

My son really enjoyed watching other kids and babies move around and that helped him want to roll and crawl and stand and now try to walk. :)

Summer - posted on 05/11/2009

Hi! My son was born 9/23 and does not roll from back to tummy either. I was worried about it until just last week when my doctor told me it was completely fine. She said all babies develop differently and to not worry about it. Of course, that is easier said than done. I have also been ecouraging tummy time as he really doesn't seem to enjoy it. We have a little Baby Einstein piano that lights up and plays music and he'll play with that on the floor while laying on his tummy.

Sarah - posted on 05/10/2009

Hi my son has just turned 8mnths, he has only rolled back to tummy twice,but is now crawling and pulling himself up to standing position easily,My healthcare nurse told me some babies just skip things.I was worried about my son too but not rolling hasnt seemed to affect his development

Chelsea - posted on 05/09/2009

Dawn,

I just want to again tell you that yes ALL babies are different and honestly many mothers and fathers will tell you their child did something at a certain age even if they had only done it once so there are many misconceptions about what is normal for each age. I have worked with children of this age in a daycare and as a nanny for 5 years so I have seen the developmental pattern of many infants. You shouldn't be worrying unless you STRONGLY feel that something is not right with your infant. Follow your motherly instincts and get a second opinion if you feel one is needed.

As far as encouraging her to enjoy tummy time there are many things you can do. Put on some music and get down on the floor with your daughter and sing and make silly faces with her. Put a little bit of water in a few paper plates and drop in a tablet of water changing colors that you can put in the bathtub (sold in many stores such as walmart). Allow her to splash in them. Blow bubbles for her. Tick her and blow raspberries on her belly. Talk to her and stay down on her level with plenty of toys such as books, rattles, wooden chew toys etc. Include things that make noise to make it interesting for her. I also bring my daughter to different rooms for tummy time so she doesn't get board. In the kitchen I give her wooden spoons, spatulas etc. In the bathroom I give her a hairbrush with soft bristles and a few of her bath toys. She may be getting board. Also using the boppy tummy-time mat is absolutely fine but not all babies enjoy them. The boppy is manly used to help a younger infant lift their head and by your daughters age she should be able to lift her head and stabilize it (not forever for periods of time). Good luck and you are doing a wonderful job by checking out the developmental milestones and thinking about these hard topics.

Chelsea - posted on 05/09/2009

Dawn,

I just want to again tell you that yes ALL babies are different and honestly many mothers and fathers will tell you their child did something at a certain age even if they had only done it once so there are many misconceptions about what is normal for each age. I have worked with children of this age in a daycare and as a nanny for 5 years so I have seen the developmental pattern of many infants. You shouldn't be worrying unless you STRONGLY feel that something is not right with your infant. Follow your motherly instincts and get a second opinion if you feel one is needed.

As far as encouraging her to enjoy tummy time there are many things you can do. Put on some music and get down on the floor with your daughter and sing and make silly faces with her. Put a little bit of water in a few paper plates and drop in a tablet of water changing colors that you can put in the bathtub (sold in many stores such as walmart). Allow her to splash in them. Blow bubbles for her. Tick her and blow raspberries on her belly. Talk to her and stay down on her level with plenty of toys such as books, rattles, wooden chew toys etc. Include things that make noise to make it interesting for her. I also bring my daughter to different rooms for tummy time so she doesn't get board. In the kitchen I give her wooden spoons, spatulas etc. In the bathroom I give her a hairbrush with soft bristles and a few of her bath toys. She may be getting board. Also using the boppy tummy-time mat is absolutely fine but not all babies enjoy them. The boppy is manly used to help a younger infant lift their head and by your daughters age she should be able to lift her head and stabilize it (not forever for periods of time). Good luck and you are doing a wonderful job by checking out the developmental milestones and thinking about these hard topics.