Download The Free Learning to Roll Checklist
Perfect for parents trying to uncover what might be blocking their child from rolling back to belly, belly to back, or both on their own.
Download The Free Learning to Crawl Checklist
Perfect for parents trying to uncover what might be blocking their child from crawling on hands and knees on their own.
Download The Free Learning to Walk Checklist
Perfect for parents trying to uncover what might be blocking their child from walking on their own.
Exercises for Newborn Babies and Other Ways to Strengthen a Baby’s Neck
this blog contains affiliate links
Hey there! I’m Dr. Lauren Baker, a pediatric physical therapist and today we are diving into the world of newborn movement. We’re all about nurturing your little one’s physical development right from the start, especially because I often hear parents talk about how tough it can be to know exactly how to play with a newborn.
I’m here to share a super simple exercise that’s perfect for newborns up to four or five month olds. This routine is all about ensuring symmetrical movement and laying a strong foundation for future milestones like rolling, all while keeping an eye out for any signs of asymmetry or conditions like torticollis.
Understanding Torticollis
Before we jump into the exercises, let’s talk a bit about torticollis. This condition involves a tilt of the head to one side with a rotation to the opposite side due to muscle tightness, typically in the sternocleidomastoid muscle.
It’s a full-body issue that can affect more than just the neck, including the arms, shoulders, and even the pelvis.
Right vs. Left Torticollis:
Left Torticollis: A tilt to the left with rotation to the right (or preferred rotation to the right) indicates an issue with the left sternocleidomastoid or left torticollis.
Right Torticollis: A tilt to the right with rotation to the left (or preferred rotation to the left) indicates an issue with the right sternocleidomastoid or right torticollis.
The Importance of Early Treatment of Torticollis
Catching and addressing any potential issues early can significantly reduce therapy time and ensure smoother development down the road. Ideally, babies with any tilt or rotation preference should see a pediatric physical therapist before one month of age, if at all possible.
If your baby is already older than one month and you are noticing a tilt, Torticollis is still fairly easily to treat in the 0-5 month range, after 5 months it gets progressively difficult; however, should still be treated.
A Simple Newborn Exercise: Back to Sidelying
This exercise is fantastic for newborns and can be started right away. It’s designed to encourage equal movement on both sides, preparing them for rolling and preventing any asymmetries. It also is a great way to introduce vestibular input in the horizontal plane, which will set them up for rolling back to side and back to belly.
How to Do the Exercise:
Start Position: Lay your baby on their back.
Tuck the bottom: gently tuck your baby’s bottom so that their back is rounded (see the video below for real life example!)
Movement: Gently roll your baby from their back to their side, alternating sides. Use your hands to support their pelvis, and ensure their head follows the movement naturally. If the head stays tilted the other direction, gently encourage the head to stay in line with the body before rotating the opposite way.
Frequency: Perform this movement for 1-2 minutes or 10-20 repetitions. Aim for a duration that feels comfortable for your baby, giving them breaks as needed.
Tips for Success:
If your baby struggles to tilt their pelvis up, it might indicate they’re not ready for this exercise. In that case, consider stepping back to focus on pelvis tilting exercises before attempting this one again. My book, Tummy Time and Learning to Roll explains why tilting of the pelvis might be difficult and walks you through different exercises you can do to help decrease this possible tightness or discomfort with this position.
Working with Twins or Older Babies
The principles of this exercise remain the same as your baby grows. For older babies or twins, the focus on tucking the pelvis and ensuring the head follows the body’s movement is key.
For twins especially, this exercise can help you notice if there is any potential tightness in one twin vs the other, often due to crowding in utero one twin might be more susceptible to muscle tightness than the other, or to be honest both are at risk, so monitoring symmetrical movement can be helpful to catch any tightness early.
Adjust your support based on your baby's size and strength, always aiming for smooth, comfortable transitions from back to side. Once babies start rolling on their side on their own, this exercise needs to be upgraded to rolling exercises!
What to Do If You Notice Difficulties
If you find this exercise challenging for your baby, or if you observe any signs of discomfort, asymmetry, or difficulty in following the movement with their head, it may be a good sign to consult a pediatric physical therapist. This could help address any underlying issues early on. If you notice a head tilt, rotation preference, or flat spot on the back of the head consult a pediatric PT as soon as possible.
for the most comprehensive information including a demonstration on a newborn, please watch the video below.
TIMESTAMPS:
1:28 newborn exercise: back to sidelying
3:25 exercise with 2-3 month old twins
7:15 recap of most important aspects
7:18 what to do if baby has difficulty tucking pelvis
7:35 exercise with 6 month old
TOY IDEAS:
Pacifier
Best Toys for Babies Learning to Roll
Best Toys for Babies
PT Approved Equipment/Containers for Babies
Tummy Time Toys
Curious About Learning More on Tummy Time, Rolling, or Both?
The absolute best book for parents on tummy time and rolling is: Tummy Time and Learning to Roll: A Baby Development Book for Ambitious Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers to Help Babies Learn to Roll Independently. The book comes with a free online video course to help parents fully understand how to complete the different exercises, printable checklists to know exactly where your baby is at, and when to reach out for additional help.
This book was written by Dr. Lauren Baker, PT, DPT, ATC, MTC, who is a Pediatric Physical Therapist in Boise, Idaho, trained in helping parents learn how to help their babies move and master their milestones. She loves teaching parents how to see how their babies are moving as well as how to influence those movements though play positions and exercises to help babies move with confidence and ease.
Tummy Time and Learning to Roll is the first book in the Proactive Play series written by Pediatric Physical Therapist Dr. Lauren Baker in order to help Ambitious Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers learn how to help babies master tummy time and learn to roll. It is meant to help ambitious parents understand baby development from birth to six months (tummy time to rolling).
This book is a mix of easy-to-follow and more in-depth information than is typically found in baby development books because Dr. Baker believes parents deserve to have all the information at their fingertips.
This book breaks down each piece of movement in checklists so that parents know what their babies need for tummy time and rolling. It also covers what areas might limit a child with rolling, why it is so important, and when to seek help from a pediatric PT.
This book comes with colored photos and easy-to-follow demonstration videos that can help parents implement safe, strategic play-based exercises with their babies in 20 minutes per day.
A Great Resource For:
Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers of babies 0-6 months
Parents of babies who are struggling with tummy time, rolling back to belly, belly to back, or only to one side
Access to simple, easy-to-follow videos of play positions and exercises
Learning the four pillars of movement needed in order to master rolling
240+ Color Photo Examples of:
Tummy Time, Sidelying, and Back Play
Developmental Toys and Equipment
Hand Placement and Strategic Play Positions
Common Areas of Restriction or Weakness
When To Reach Out For Help
What If You Want Extra Help?
If you have concerns about their movement, remember, you can always reach out to a pediatric physical therapist. It's your right as a parent to advocate for your child's development.
Sometimes, a few tips and tricks are all you need to get your baby moving better. We're here to support you and release those mama worries. If you are looking for in home pediatric physical therapy, check our listing of therapists.
For those eager to learn more or seeking personalized guidance, I offer online video parent consultations internationally which can be scheduled by clicking here. I am dedicated to answering questions and providing tailored play activities for each unique developmental journey.
When Should Babies Receive Pediatric Physical Therapy?
Parents can call and schedule with a Pediatric Physical Therapist at any time, for any concern in all fifty states without a referral from their Pediatrician.
Pediatric Physical Therapy is medically indicated in all babies who are not rolling in all four directions by six months (back to belly over their right arm AND left arm + belly to back over their right arm AND left arm).
Pediatric Physical Therapy is medically indicated if you notice a flat spot on the back of an infants head (possible plagiocephaly), a tilt of their head consistently to one side (ear to shoulder - possible torticollis), or a rotation preference of their neck (consistently look only to the right or left - possible torticollis).
Many Pediatric Physical Therapists including Dr. Baker, can successfully treat flat spots (Plagiocephaly) without a helmet with a combination of therapy and positioning strategies if seen prior to 4 months (0-3 months is ideal). Dr. Baker uses the Baby Begin Method of repositioning.
Flat spots can be due to in-utero positioning, rotational preference (right sided flatness most common) and babies are at an increased risk for flatness if they are male, were breech, multiple birth, premature, have difficulty with tummy time, or are in containers > 2 hr/day.
Final Thoughts
Thank you for joining me on this journey to support your baby’s earliest movements!
Understanding and incorporating simple exercises like back to sidelying can have a significant impact on your baby's physical development, making future milestones like rolling much smoother.
If you have any questions or concerns about your baby’s movement or if you’re interested in learning more proactive play strategies, don’t hesitate to reach out for a one-on-one parent consultation. Together, we can ensure your baby has the best start possible on their movement journey.
For more tips, tricks, and exercises to support your baby’s development, make sure to check out my book, "Tummy Time and Learning to Roll." It’s packed with valuable information to guide you through each stage of your baby's physical growth.
Remember, every little bit of proactive play makes a big difference in your baby’s world. Keep up the great work, and here’s to many more joyful and active days ahead with your little one!
How to Check Infant Neck Strength | Torticollis Explained
this blog contains affiliate links
In this blog post we are going to go over how to check for infant neck strength, in infants 3 months+, as well as the best markers for infants < 3 months for neck strength. We are also going to go over torticollis and plagiocephaly (head shape/head flatness) because these both can influence neck strength in infants significantly and all parents need to screen their infants for Torticollis and Plagiocephaly from day one.
Torticollis: A Quick Overview
First things first, let's talk about torticollis. This condition involves a tilt to one side and a rotation to the other, often due to tightness in the sternocleidomastoid muscle. But it's not just a neck issue; it can involve the whole body – from the arms and shoulders down to the pelvis.
Right vs. Left Torticollis: The side of the torticollis is named after the side of the TILT. The sternocleidomastoid muscle tilts to the same side as the muscle, but rotates to the opposite side, which makes it kind of confusing to parents.
Right Torticollis: If your baby has a tilt to the right and rotates more easily to the left, it's the right sternocleidomastoid that's tight.
Left Torticollis: If your baby has a tilt to the left and rotates more easily to the right, it's the left sternocleidomastoid that's tight.
Why Early Intervention Matters
The earlier we catch and address any signs of torticollis or neck weakness, the better. Ideally, babies should be seen by a pediatric physical therapist before they turn one month old. Truthfully though, we are a LONG WAY OFF from this being the norm in the United States (hopefully it’s more common in other countries!).
Most of the time at one month old, parents are barely able to get in to the pediatrician, let alone in to see a Pediatric Physical Therapist or know that this is something that could be beneficial for them.
Luckily, a lot of Pediatric Physical Therapists like myself are sick of parents getting frustrated that they didn’t know they could’ve done something earlier and we are here, hanging out on the internet, trying to get our knowledge in YOUR hands, if you need it.
Early intervention can significantly reduce the amount of therapy needed compared to starting after one month of age.
The national data for Pediatric Physical Therapy results with Torticollis is as follows:
0-1 month: 1.5 months average time of treatment
1-3 months: 5.9 month average time of treatment
3-6 months: 7.9 month average time of treatment
6-12 months: 8.9 month average time of treatment
The good news, though, is that Pediatric Physical Therapists who specialize in infants can often see quicker results in infants who are within the 0-5 month range closer to 3 months average length of weekly Pediatric Physical Therapy with sometimes needed but much less frequent visits up to six months, especially if a child is also receiving craniosacral therapy, chiropractic care, or infant massage.
The take home message is this: the earlier the better, not just because it doesn’t take as long, but also because the baby’s experience is so much easier when they are younger. Tightness in the body does not feel good and older babies can be cranky trying to help them resolve Torticollis and the movement struggles that are caused by unresolved Torticollis.
Plagiocephaly: Linked to Torticollis
Plagiocephaly, or flat head syndrome, often goes hand-in-hand with torticollis. A baby with a rotation preference might develop flatness on one side of their head (the side of the rotation preference), emphasizing the importance of early and proactive physical therapy.
This both make the Torticollis AND the Plagiocephaly worse. They’re like the worst kind of frenemies of new parents.
However, Plagiocephaly can also occur in utero, so monitoring head shape from birth is vitally important, especially because treating head shape without a helmet is only effective if the baby is seen by 3 months (some change possible 4-5 months but much less time to complete program, which results in decreased results and often a referral for a head shape scan/helmet after 5 months).
Testing Head and Neck Strength
Now, let's get into the nitty-gritty – how you can test your baby's head and neck strength at home. This simple check can help you spot any imbalances and take action. I recommend only doing this after the age of 3 months.
Prior to the age of three months, the best test of neck strength is whether a baby can tolerate tummy time and lift their head off the ground to 90 degrees and push through their elbows to lift their chest.
Age-Appropriate Expectations:
At 3 months: babies should keep their head horizontal
3 to 4 months: they should lift it slightly above horizontal
4 to 6 months and beyond: they should lift it significantly above horizontal, increasing in height as they age.
How to Test Neck Strength:
Start facing a mirror or set up your camera (I like the front facing view so you can see if you’re in the frame!).
Right Side Test: Place your right arm through your baby's legs, fingers on their abdomen. Your left arm goes between their bottom arm and chest, supporting them horizontally. Check how far the baby can lift their right ear towards their shoulder, holding for 5 seconds.
Left Side Test: Switch arms for testing the left side. Place your left arm through your baby's legs, fingers on their abdomen. Your right arm goes between their bottom arm and chest, supporting them horizontally. Check how far your baby can lift their left ear towards their shoulder against gravity.
Note if there is any difference side to side, if not, and your baby is consistent with the age recommendations, then your baby likely has equal strength side to side, if there is no rotation preference and no head tilt you are good to go!
If there is a difference side to side, your baby has a head tilt, rotation preference, or flatness in the back of their head a consultation with a Pediatric Physical Therapy is recommended.
Strengthening Exercises
If you find your baby struggles with maintaining head strength in the horizontal position, start in a more vertical position where gravity is less of an enemy. Gradually increase the challenge by tilting them more horizontally as they build strength. This gentle progression helps them develop neck muscle strength comfortably and effectively.
Recommendations for How Long
Start with 5 seconds, then increase to 15-30 seconds at a time for a total of 1-2 minutes split between sides. Always do both sides to make sure that neck strength stays equal.
Resources for Further Help
If you're eager for more detailed guidance or if you've noticed any concerns with your baby's neck strength or symmetry, my latest book, "Tummy Time and Learning to Roll," is a treasure trove of information.
It covers everything from the basics of torticollis and plagiocephaly to comprehensive exercises and strategies for ensuring your baby's development is on the right track.
for the most comprehensive information, including demonstration of how to do the check and exercises please watch the video below.
TIMESTAMPS:
0:47 Torticollis explained: What is torticollis? What does Torticollis look like? What causes Torticollis? Does my baby have right or left Torticollis?
2:03 which side is most common in babies for Torticollis or Plagiocephaly
2:20 when to see a Pediatric Physical Therapist and why you need to be seen by this age for quickest results
3:29 Plagiocephaly explained: why plagiocephaly (flat head in infants) is often associated with Torticollis, what plagiocephaly looks like
6:20 what normal neck strength in infants looks like based on age
8:39 how to check neck strength in infants on the right side
9:25 how to check neck strength in infants on the left side
10:00 how to use this position to increase neck strength in infants
LINKS IN VIDEO:
Physical Therapy Tshirt
Baby Begin for head shape consultations
TOY IDEAS:
Best Toys for Babies Learning to Roll
Best Toys for Babies
PT Approved Equipment/Containers for Babies
Tummy Time Toys
Curious About Learning More on Tummy Time, Rolling, or Both?
The absolute best book for parents on tummy time and rolling is: Tummy Time and Learning to Roll: A Baby Development Book for Ambitious Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers to Help Babies Learn to Roll Independently. The book comes with a free online video course to help parents fully understand how to complete the different exercises, printable checklists to know exactly where your baby is at, and when to reach out for additional help.
This book was written by Dr. Lauren Baker, PT, DPT, ATC, MTC, who is a Pediatric Physical Therapist in Boise, Idaho, trained in helping parents learn how to help their babies move and master their milestones. She loves teaching parents how to see how their babies are moving as well as how to influence those movements though play positions and exercises to help babies move with confidence and ease.
Tummy Time and Learning to Roll is the first book in the Proactive Play series written by Pediatric Physical Therapist Dr. Lauren Baker in order to help Ambitious Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers learn how to help babies master tummy time and learn to roll. It is meant to help ambitious parents understand baby development from birth to six months (tummy time to rolling).
This book is a mix of easy-to-follow and more in-depth information than is typically found in baby development books because Dr. Baker believes parents deserve to have all the information at their fingertips.
This book breaks down each piece of movement in checklists so that parents know what their babies need for tummy time and rolling. It also covers what areas might limit a child with rolling, why it is so important, and when to seek help from a pediatric PT.
This book comes with colored photos and easy-to-follow demonstration videos that can help parents implement safe, strategic play-based exercises with their babies in 20 minutes per day.
A Great Resource For:
Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers of babies 0-6 months
Parents of babies who are struggling with tummy time, rolling back to belly, belly to back, or only to one side
Access to simple, easy-to-follow videos of play positions and exercises
Learning the four pillars of movement needed in order to master rolling
240+ Color Photo Examples of:
Tummy Time, Sidelying, and Back Play
Developmental Toys and Equipment
Hand Placement and Strategic Play Positions
Common Areas of Restriction or Weakness
When To Reach Out For Help
What If You Want Extra Help?
If you have concerns about their movement, remember, you can always reach out to a pediatric physical therapist. It's your right as a parent to advocate for your child's development.
Sometimes, a few tips and tricks are all you need to get your baby moving better. We're here to support you and release those mama worries. If you are looking for in home pediatric physical therapy, check our listing of therapists.
For those eager to learn more or seeking personalized guidance, I offer online video parent consultations internationally which can be scheduled by clicking here. I am dedicated to answering questions and providing tailored play activities for each unique developmental journey.
When Should Babies Receive Pediatric Physical Therapy?
Parents can call and schedule with a Pediatric Physical Therapist at any time, for any concern in all fifty states without a referral from their Pediatrician.
Pediatric Physical Therapy is medically indicated in all babies who are not rolling in all four directions by six months (back to belly over their right arm AND left arm + belly to back over their right arm AND left arm).
Pediatric Physical Therapy is medically indicated if you notice a flat spot on the back of an infants head (possible plagiocephaly), a tilt of their head consistently to one side (ear to shoulder - possible torticollis), or a rotation preference of their neck (consistently look only to the right or left - possible torticollis).
Many Pediatric Physical Therapists including Dr. Baker, can successfully treat flat spots (Plagiocephaly) without a helmet with a combination of therapy and positioning strategies if seen prior to 4 months (0-3 months is ideal). Dr. Baker uses the Baby Begin Method of repositioning.
Flat spots can be due to in-utero positioning, rotational preference (right sided flatness most common) and babies are at an increased risk for flatness if they are male, were breech, multiple birth, premature, have difficulty with tummy time, or are in containers > 2 hr/day.
Final Thoughts
Watching your baby grow and develop is one of life's most beautiful journeys, and being proactive about their physical development can make all the difference. Whether you're testing neck strength, working on exercises, or just seeking more information, remember: you're doing an incredible job. Your baby is so lucky to have you.
For any questions or if you need personalized advice, don't hesitate to reach out. I'm here to support you every step of the way in this amazing adventure of parenthood. Let's ensure our little ones have the strongest start possible, together.
Easy Exercises to Help Your Baby Roll Over Back to Belly
this blog contains affiliate links
Today, we’re going over how to help our adorable little ones master the art of rolling over from their back to their belly. Back to belly rolling occurs between 4-6 months, but often if a little is struggling or not showing signs of rolling on their own at 5 months, that is a great time to start strategic proactive play.
Rolling is a milestone that sets the stage for many future achievements, and I'm here, your pediatric physical therapy bestie to guide you through it with ease and confidence.
Understanding Rolling Back to Belly
First off, it's crucial to know when to expect your baby to start rolling from back to belly. Typically, this developmental milestone happens between 4 to 6 months.
But if your baby is around 6 months and hasn't mastered rolling yet, don't fret! I've got some easy exercises for you to try out. If you notice significant improvements quickly, you're on the right track.
Otherwise, reaching out to a pediatric physical therapist after the 6-month mark is a wise move, especially since mastering rolling is pivotal for crawling on hands and knees – a key milestone linked to future academic skills like reading and writing.
Back to belly rolling involves a lot of factors including mobility, strength, and coordination. Rolling is one of the first milestones other than eating, where a baby has to coordinate their muscles by turning different groups on and off, which can sometimes be a little more difficult than they thought.
Gravity is also really tough for babies, because it’s always throwing them to the floor. When babies go to roll from their back to their bellies, they have to have enough strength to counteract gravity pushing their arms back toward the floor.
Sometimes, this is a lot to ask of babies and they end up looking less interested in rolling and happy on their backs, while this isn’t a problem necessarily, we want to make sure that it isn’t because something is holding them back from rolling.
There is a difference between not being able to roll and being able to roll easily but just not doing all day every single day. Most babies if given the choice, would definitely pick rolling because their little bodies were made to move.
Why Some Babies Struggle with Rolling
Several factors can contribute to delays in rolling over, including:
Limited Arm Mobility: For a baby to roll over smoothly, they need to be able to move their arms above their head and across their body past the midline (an imaginary line that goes from the top of the head down the middle of the body through the belly button).
Any tightness in the chest or neck could hinder this movement.
Coordination Challenges: Bringing both arms together in one direction requires high levels of coordination. Some babies might find this tricky and require some help to master it.
Restricted Trunk Mobility: A baby needs to rotate their upper body in one direction while keeping the lower half stable. Tightness or inability to do so can make rolling over challenging.
Helping Your Baby Roll Back to Belly: Exercise Breakdown
To bridge the gap between not rolling and rolling over back to belly easily, let's break down the movements into manageable parts.
This approach, known as partial tasking, allows babies to focus on mastering one component at a time. Here's a simple exercise to get started. Make sure to watch the video linked below for an example with a baby and for the most comprehensive information on this technique.
Exercise #1: Reaching to the Right
Positioning: Lay your baby on their back.
Engagement: Hold a toy towards their opposite shoulder to encourage them to reach across with their left arm.
Support: Gently guide their shoulder and arm across the body towards the right.
Follow Through: Once their arm is across, assist their hips to follow, rolling them onto their belly.
Repeat: Try different toys to maintain their interest and repeat the movement, ensuring both arms get a chance to lead.
Exercise #2: Reaching to the Left
Switch Sides: Now focus on using the right arm to reach.
Guidance and Support: This side might be more challenging, so offer more support and use tactile cues to encourage movement if needed.
Hip Assistance: Once their arm is in position, gently guide their hips to complete the roll.
Troubleshooting: If an arm gets stuck, apply gentle pressure to the pelvis and help free the arm to ensure a smooth roll.
Exercise #3: Reaching When on Their Side
If reaching across the body while the baby is lying on their back it too difficult or they struggle with staying engaged (a sign that it could take more effort than they have to give) –
Start with the baby lying on their side and practice reaching and playing with toys with the hand at shoulder level, once this is easy, move the toy above shoulder level and have the baby practice reaching there. Do this on both sides so babies get practice using both arms, once this is easy, move back to exercises 1 and 2.
Resources for Further Learning
For those eager to dive deeper and tackle rolling from every angle, my book "Tummy Time and Learning to Roll" is your go-to resource. It's packed with insights, exercises, and a free video course to visually guide you through each step.
Grab your copy [linked in the video description, pinned comment, and here] and discover how to support your baby's journey towards rolling and beyond.
Screening for Trunk Rotation
A vital part of ensuring smooth rolling transitions is checking your baby's trunk rotation. This movement is crucial for rolling efficiently. Don't miss my next video, where I'll show you how to assess if your baby's trunk rotation is on track.
remember: watch the video below for the most comprehensive guide to this technique and to watch it be done on a real life baby :)
TIMESTAMPS:
2:00 the missing link to rolling back to belly
5:15 how this exercise helps babies learn to roll from back to belly
5:50 the best resource for parents to help babies learn to roll on their own
6:58 exercise #1: reaching to the right
9:07 exercise #2: reaching to the left
TOY IDEAS:
Baby Einstein Music Toy
Crinkle Toys: Bee | Dino | Deer | Sloth | Octopus | Racoon
Best Toys for Babies Learning to Roll
Best Toys for Babies
PT Approved Equipment/Containers for Babies
Tummy Time Toys
Curious About Learning More on Tummy Time, Rolling, or Both?
The absolute best book for parents on tummy time and rolling is: Tummy Time and Learning to Roll: A Baby Development Book for Ambitious Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers to Help Babies Learn to Roll Independently. The book comes with a free online video course to help parents fully understand how to complete the different exercises, printable checklists to know exactly where your baby is at, and when to reach out for additional help.
This book was written by Dr. Lauren Baker, PT, DPT, ATC, MTC, who is a Pediatric Physical Therapist in Boise, Idaho, trained in helping parents learn how to help their babies move and master their milestones. She loves teaching parents how to see how their babies are moving as well as how to influence those movements though play positions and exercises to help babies move with confidence and ease.
Tummy Time and Learning to Roll is the first book in the Proactive Play series written by Pediatric Physical Therapist Dr. Lauren Baker in order to help Ambitious Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers learn how to help babies master tummy time and learn to roll. It is meant to help ambitious parents understand baby development from birth to six months (tummy time to rolling).
This book is a mix of easy-to-follow and more in-depth information than is typically found in baby development books because Dr. Baker believes parents deserve to have all the information at their fingertips.
This book breaks down each piece of movement in checklists so that parents know what their babies need for tummy time and rolling. It also covers what areas might limit a child with rolling, why it is so important, and when to seek help from a pediatric PT.
This book comes with colored photos and easy-to-follow demonstration videos that can help parents implement safe, strategic play-based exercises with their babies in 20 minutes per day.
A Great Resource For:
Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers of babies 0-6 months
Parents of babies who are struggling with tummy time, rolling back to belly, belly to back, or only to one side
Access to simple, easy-to-follow videos of play positions and exercises
Learning the four pillars of movement needed in order to master rolling
240+ Color Photo Examples of:
Tummy Time, Sidelying, and Back Play
Developmental Toys and Equipment
Hand Placement and Strategic Play Positions
Common Areas of Restriction or Weakness
When To Reach Out For Help
What If You Want Extra Help?
If you have concerns about their movement, remember, you can always reach out to a pediatric physical therapist. It's your right as a parent to advocate for your child's development.
Sometimes, a few tips and tricks are all you need to get your baby moving better. We're here to support you and release those mama worries. If you are looking for in home pediatric physical therapy, check our listing of therapists.
For those eager to learn more or seeking personalized guidance, I offer online video parent consultations internationally which can be scheduled by clicking here. I am dedicated to answering questions and providing tailored play activities for each unique developmental journey.
When Should Babies Receive Pediatric Physical Therapy?
Parents can call and schedule with a Pediatric Physical Therapist at any time, for any concern in all fifty states without a referral from their Pediatrician.
Pediatric Physical Therapy is medically indicated in all babies who are not rolling in all four directions by six months (back to belly over their right arm AND left arm + belly to back over their right arm AND left arm).
Pediatric Physical Therapy is medically indicated if you notice a flat spot on the back of an infants head (possible plagiocephaly), a tilt of their head consistently to one side (ear to shoulder - possible torticollis), or a rotation preference of their neck (consistently look only to the right or left - possible torticollis).
Many Pediatric Physical Therapists including Dr. Baker, can successfully treat flat spots (Plagiocephaly) without a helmet with a combination of therapy and positioning strategies if seen prior to 4 months (0-3 months is ideal). Dr. Baker uses the Baby Begin Method of repositioning.
Flat spots can be due to in-utero positioning, rotational preference (right sided flatness most common) and babies are at an increased risk for flatness if they are male, were breech, multiple birth, premature, have difficulty with tummy time, or are in containers > 2 hr/day.
Final Thoughts
Thank you for joining me on this exciting journey to support your baby's development. Your dedication to understanding and nurturing their growth warms my heart. If you have any questions, drop them in the comments below the video—I love engaging with you all and offering help where I can.
Remember, every little effort you put in makes a big difference in your baby's world. Keep up the fantastic work, and I can't wait to hear about all the rolling success stories!
Tummy Time Parent Resource | Tummy Time & Learning to Roll Book Launch
this blog contains affiliate links
I'm beyond excited to share something that's been a labor of love and anticipation for me. My fourth book, "Tummy Time and Learning to Roll," has officially launched on Amazon! The video linked below is my launch video when the book was first live on Amazon in October 2023.
I hope you enjoy this look back in time at what it was like to launch my fourth book as well as how it can help parents help their babies learn to roll over.
This journey of creating a resource for both ambitious parents and pediatric healthcare providers has been incredibly rewarding, and I couldn't wait to dive into this live session to celebrate with you all (then) and write this blog post to relive that celebration now.
The Birth of a Book
In the video I show you what an author proof looks like, what they send authors to make sure that the book looks how they want it and is being printed in the correct manner. These books have a ribbon around the book cover, so it’s easy to see that they are not meant to be resold.
My author proof that I showed in the video was marked with edits and adjustments, representing countless hours of passion poured onto these pages. When I edit my books, I read them out loud and then make any changes if it doesn’t sound or come across exactly how I wanted it to, in my head.
It might sound crazy but I read this book out loud twice for a total of 80 hours of editing, JUST in that one way. I also utilized grammarly and a few beta readers to help with grammar and make sure that things made sense not just to therapists but also to parents of babies who are 4-6 months old.
It's a bit surreal to see the transition from rounds of edits to a live listing on Amazon. For those curious, I've dropped the link in the description of the video and it is also located in the blog post here.
Why This Book?
Navigating the realms of tummy time and rolling can sometimes feel to parents like they need to decode a mystery.
They have questions like, "Why does my baby roll one way but not the other?" or "Why do they seem to prefer rolling over one arm?" and those questions inspired me to compile a guide that offers clear, comforting answers and actionable strategies.
Because the truth is, often our answers to what is blocking a baby from moving in all directions, can be found in HOW they are choosing to move. The movements they are already making are meaningful and if you had the information to understand the movements, you’d be able to influence them and help your kid.
Diving Deep into Development
Let's peel back the cover and explore what makes this book a must-have:
Comprehensive Guidance: With over 240 pictures, this book illustrates various playful interactions, outdoor activities, and toy suggestions to enhance your baby's tummy time experience. It's a visual party designed to inspire and educate.
My favorite is the newborn section, because those babies are so little and sweet, plus it’s often hard to find examples of tummy time for newborns but we’ve got it here. Not just tummy time, too, newborn play in all positions.
Beyond Tummy Time: The journey from tummy time through to rolling is filled with building blocks - sidelying play, back play, and the intricacies of muscular and musculoskeletal development. This book covers them all, ensuring you have a holistic understanding of your baby's physical growth.
For The Proactive Parent: I know you're not just looking for a "what to do" but a "why to do it." This book delves into how each aspect of movement connects to future milestones, equipping you with the knowledge to support your baby's journey effectively.
A Resource for Every Step
What excites me most about this book is its potential to be a starting point for anyone. Whether you're navigating the initial stages of tummy time with a newborn or facing challenges with a five-month-old not rolling yet, there's something here for you.
This book emphasizes a philosophy dear to my heart - building slowly over time, respecting your baby's tolerance, and appreciating that every little progress (even 15 seconds!) is a victory.
A Sneak Peek into Strategic Play
Let me share a bit more about what's inside.
Modified Positions: Understanding that not every baby will take to tummy time like a duck to water, the book provides modified positions and strategies to make this crucial activity more enjoyable for both you and your baby.
In fact, for most babies, I love modified positions because it allows them to build their endurance because the workload of being in a modified position is less than being flat on the floor.
The Foundation of Rolling: The book explores the various play positions (right side, left side, back, and tummy time) as foundational elements for rolling, offering insights into how you can support your baby's development in each area.
It also talks about what is happening in the body in order for a baby to be successful in rolling, did you know there are two different types of rolling for both back to belly and belly to back? All four are explained in the book.
A Special Invitation
Alongside the book, you'll gain access to a free online video course (it’s linked in the book!). Because sometimes, seeing the movement in action can clarify what words on a page can only hint at. It's like having a pediatric physical therapist right there with you, guiding you through each step.
Looking Ahead
This book marks the beginning of the Proactive Play Series, with more resources on the way to cover sitting, crawling, and walking. Even if the books for these stages aren't available yet, the rolling course provides a foundation and access to further learning through the included online courses.
A Heartfelt Thank You
To everyone who's joined this live session or is catching up later (and now reading this blog post!), thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your proactive approach to parenting, your thirst for knowledge, and your dedication to your baby's development inspire me every day.
Curious About Learning More on Tummy Time, Rolling, or Both?
The absolute best book for parents on tummy time and rolling is: Tummy Time and Learning to Roll: A Baby Development Book for Ambitious Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers to Help Babies Learn to Roll Independently. The book comes with a free online video course to help parents fully understand how to complete the different exercises, printable checklists to know exactly where your baby is at, and when to reach out for additional help.
This book was written by Dr. Lauren Baker, PT, DPT, ATC, MTC, who is a Pediatric Physical Therapist in Boise, Idaho, trained in helping parents learn how to help their babies move and master their milestones. She loves teaching parents how to see how their babies are moving as well as how to influence those movements though play positions and exercises to help babies move with confidence and ease.
Tummy Time and Learning to Roll is the first book in the Proactive Play series written by Pediatric Physical Therapist Dr. Lauren Baker in order to help Ambitious Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers learn how to help babies master tummy time and learn to roll. It is meant to help ambitious parents understand baby development from birth to six months (tummy time to rolling).
This book is a mix of easy-to-follow and more in-depth information than is typically found in baby development books because Dr. Baker believes parents deserve to have all the information at their fingertips.
This book breaks down each piece of movement in checklists so that parents know what their babies need for tummy time and rolling. It also covers what areas might limit a child with rolling, why it is so important, and when to seek help from a pediatric PT.
This book comes with colored photos and easy-to-follow demonstration videos that can help parents implement safe, strategic play-based exercises with their babies in 20 minutes per day.
A Great Resource For:
Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers of babies 0-6 months
Parents of babies who are struggling with tummy time, rolling back to belly, belly to back, or only to one side
Access to simple, easy-to-follow videos of play positions and exercises
Learning the four pillars of movement needed in order to master rolling
240+ Color Photo Examples of:
Tummy Time, Sidelying, and Back Play
Developmental Toys and Equipment
Hand Placement and Strategic Play Positions
Common Areas of Restriction or Weakness
When To Reach Out For Help
What If You Want Extra Help?
If you have concerns about their movement, remember, you can always reach out to a pediatric physical therapist. It's your right as a parent to advocate for your child's development.
Sometimes, a few tips and tricks are all you need to get your baby moving better. We're here to support you and release those mama worries. If you are looking for in home pediatric physical therapy, check our listing of therapists.
For those eager to learn more or seeking personalized guidance, I offer online video parent consultations internationally which can be scheduled by clicking here. I am dedicated to answering questions and providing tailored play activities for each unique developmental journey.
When Should Babies Receive Pediatric Physical Therapy?
Parents can call and schedule with a Pediatric Physical Therapist at any time, for any concern in all fifty states without a referral from their Pediatrician.
Pediatric Physical Therapy is medically indicated in all babies who are not rolling in all four directions by six months (back to belly over their right arm AND left arm + belly to back over their right arm AND left arm).
Pediatric Physical Therapy is medically indicated if you notice a flat spot on the back of an infants head (possible plagiocephaly), a tilt of their head consistently to one side (ear to shoulder - possible torticollis), or a rotation preference of their neck (consistently look only to the right or left - possible torticollis).
Many Pediatric Physical Therapists including Dr. Baker, can successfully treat flat spots (Plagiocephaly) without a helmet with a combination of therapy and positioning strategies if seen prior to 4 months (0-3 months is ideal). Dr. Baker uses the Baby Begin Method of repositioning.
Flat spots can be due to in-utero positioning, rotational preference (right sided flatness most common) and babies are at an increased risk for flatness if they are male, were breech, multiple birth, premature, have difficulty with tummy time, or are in containers > 2 hr/day.
Final Thoughts
If you have any questions about tummy time, rolling, or anything related to your baby's journey, please drop them in the comments of the video linked above. Whether you're here live or tuning in later, your thoughts and experiences matter. Let's continue to learn, grow, and celebrate each milestone together.
If you’ve already bought the tummy time and learning to roll book and found it helpful, please consider leaving a review by going to your orders on amazon, scrolling until you find the book, and clicking on the “leave a product review” button. Reviews are the number one thing you can do to help me increase the amount of parents who know this book exists.
Here's to tummy time, to rolling, and to every precious moment of discovery and growth ahead. You're doing an amazing job, and I'm here cheering you on every step of the way.
Book on How to Do Tummy Time | Author Unboxing of Tummy Time and Learning to Roll
this blog contains affiliate links
👋 Hello everyone! This is a blog post based on the youtube live I did to celebrate unboxing my new book: Tummy Time and Learning to Roll: A Baby Development Book for Ambitious Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers in October 2023!
When I initially did the youtube live to share the moment with my channel and subscribers, it was quite an adventure with technology (I mean of course!). I loved sharing my new book with them and I am excited to share it here with you as well.
To watch the unboxing of my new book, "Tummy Time and Learning to Roll," check out the video linked below.
This book, crafted for ambitious parents and pediatric providers, aims to demystify the often challenging stages of tummy time and rolling, offering guidance to help babies roll independently.
Released in October 2023, when I first held it in my hands it felt surreal, and I'm thrilled to take you through this journey to share more about why I wrote this book and what it’s like to be a self-published author FOUR TIMES now :)
Why This Book?
As a pediatric physical therapist, I've seen firsthand how tummy time can be a struggle for both babies and parents. And rolling? Well, that's another story, with its own set of complexities.
Parents often ask me (or Google) questions like:
Why is my baby rolling in one direction but not the other?
Why over one arm but not the other?
Why does my baby hate tummy time?
When should my baby roll over?
What does it mean if my baby is not rolling over?
And…
Why is my baby not rolling over by… 4 months, 5 months, 6 months, 7 months, etc.
These questions often linger in the minds of parents, and I wanted to create a resource that not only answers these but also provides a comprehensive guide to understanding and facilitating these crucial developmental stages.
I believe that parents are completely capable of influencing how their children move, if they are given access to information.
Do some children absolutely need Pediatric Physical Therapy? Yes.
But could parents truly influence their children’s ability to move if Physical Therapists took the time to educate them in a way that is accessible to the masses? Also, absolutely yes.
That is one of the reasons I feel so called to write books, because they are accessible internationally. In places where Pediatric Physical Therapy might not be.
So I am here, with those resources, for you to take action if that is something you are ready to do.
A Peek Inside Tummy Time and Learning to Roll:
A Baby Development Book for Parents
Let's dive into what makes this book a must-have for parents, caregivers, and pediatric providers:
Tailored for Parents and Providers: Initially titled for a clinician audience, I quickly realized my primary aim was to empower parents.
This book is, first and foremost, for you, the ambitious parent eager to support your baby's development. Pediatric healthcare providers looking to deepen their understanding of baby movement from a pediatric PT's perspective will find it equally beneficial.
The truth is, I included EVERYTHING – because some parents want that, heck some parents who do not have access to a Pediatric Physical Therapist in their area NEED THAT.
If you don’t, it’s totally encouraged to skip the more in depth sections – in fact – there is a “beginners route,” and a more “advanced route,” just so you know in advance which chapters might be a little more in depth.
Trust me, if it feels overwhelming, I would much rather you skip it than try to take on too much. Use this book as a workbook, in any way that feels right to you. It will always be there if you feel ready to tackle more.
More Than Just a Book: What sets this apart is its approachability and practicality. It's almost like having a pediatric PT in your pocket!
With checklists and step-by-step guides, it's designed to be your companion, helping you navigate the nuances of tummy time and rolling with confidence.
I don’t know about you, but I am ALL ABOUT A GOOD CHECKLIST.
When I have a problem, I want a step by step on how to solve: it’s how my brain works and I was happy to create three for you that are located in this book: tummy time, rolling back to belly, and rolling belly to back.
Unlocking the Free Online Video Course: Yes, you read that right. The book comes with a free online video course to visually guide you through each exercise and concept. This is about making sure you have all the tools and support you need, right at your fingertips.
If you have questions, parents can also find my Online Parent Consultation link to book 1:1 time throughout the course.
From Proofs to the Final Product
Receiving the author proofs was a moment of validation and anticipation. It allowed me to refine and ensure the book's message was clear: This is for parents and caregivers, ready to embark on a developmental journey with their little ones.
The final product, with its vibrant cover and detailed content, is something I'm incredibly proud of. I can’t quite explain what it’s like to hold something that you envisioned in your mind, in real life.
After countless hours and hours over eight months, I was finally able to hold all my work in my hands. It is absolute joy to know it exists to help others, if they need it or are curious about learning more on how babies develop what they need in order to roll.
If you’re curious, here are a few things about the writing process that might surprise you:
My favorite part: writing the book, while sitting at the lake house in GA with a cup of coffee, knowing that my words were some day going to help parents help their littles move well. I was also really surprised about how many mamas were excited to share photos of their babies to help make the book even better.
The hardest part: EDITING. oh my Lord, it is mentally exhausting. This is my longest book yet, and while it is best practice to hire an editor, at the time, I did not feel comfortable about putting the $1,000 to put up front (we were moving and I did not have a job and limited income coming in at the time).
I interviewed a few editors to see if the process would be helpful or needed. The honest part is that I felt kind of crappy NOT hiring an editor, even though this is book #4 and I haven’t hired one yet.
I do think, generally speaking, that hiring an editor is smart. In my case, instead, I had a few Physical Therapists read through the drafts and I paid a Mom friend with a baby in the rolling age to read through the entire book, bonus that she has an English degree.
Then once that was done, I read the entire book out loud twice.
And yes, I most definitely lost my voice on those days. But the amount of changes I made were definitely worth it.
The most creative part: I first felt called to write these books on NYE last year, when I created four book covers on accident in canva. I just thought it sounded like an awesome idea at the time. Once I had the covers created, they were so cute, I honestly couldn’t help myself but put my booty in a chair and write the book.
We’re now over a year from the moment that I first started writing this book (February 2023) and have three more to do, so onto Learning to Sit, in quarter two (April 2024).
The part that used to be really hard but was easy this time: formatting photos so that they look okay in kindle format. For those who haven’t done this before, you might not know that the way you create a book for paperback is MUCH easier than the format you need for it to be read-able on a kindle device. If you have pictures, a lot of authors will make it only available in pdf via kindle, which means you cannot access it on a kindle e-reader, much to my horror when purchasing these books on my own.
I was definitely refusing to be one of those authors, but to be honest, I’ve learned how to do everything from youtube myself so it took a bit of getting used to for the photos to not go completely crazy every time I uploaded it into the kindle website and previewed it (thank goodness for this function!).
When we created our first e-book in 2020, The Pediatric Exercise Handbook, it took me literally an entire month of 20+ hour weeks to figure out how to make it work well, and to be honest, by the end I wasn’t sure how I had even managed it.
This time, I did a little more research to format the pictures the correct way: “move with text,” and “in line with text.” And by correct, I mean it worked this time and hopefully it will next time. Either way it did not give me any trouble and took a few days instead of an entire month!
Inside the Book: A Closer Look
Tailored Sections for Every Stage: Whether you're a new parent figuring out newborn tummy time or a caregiver looking to address specific rolling challenges, there's something for everyone.
The book acknowledges that tummy time looks different for newborns and provides modified ways to make it more enjoyable and beneficial.
Inclusive and Empowering: I've ensured the book reflects the diverse roles in a baby's life, with images that include dads, uncles, and grandpas. It's important for every caregiver to see themselves in this journey, feeling empowered to engage in meaningful developmental play.
Beyond Tummy Time: Rolling involves more than just mastering tummy time. There are four essential positions, and this book covers them all, providing ideas, exercises, and insights to ensure a well-rounded developmental experience for your baby.
Practical Checklists and Exercises: The book is designed to be interactive, offering checklists and exercises that guide you through assessing and enhancing your baby's development. It encourages a proactive approach, empowering you to identify and address potential challenges early on.
to watch the full un-boxing watch the video below :)
Curious About Learning More on Tummy Time, Rolling, or Both?
The absolute best book for parents on tummy time and rolling is: Tummy Time and Learning to Roll: A Baby Development Book for Ambitious Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers to Help Babies Learn to Roll Independently. The book comes with a free online video course to help parents fully understand how to complete the different exercises, printable checklists to know exactly where your baby is at, and when to reach out for additional help.
This book was written by Dr. Lauren Baker, PT, DPT, ATC, MTC, who is a Pediatric Physical Therapist in Boise, Idaho, trained in helping parents learn how to help their babies move and master their milestones. She loves teaching parents how to see how their babies are moving as well as how to influence those movements though play positions and exercises to help babies move with confidence and ease.
Tummy Time and Learning to Roll is the first book in the Proactive Play series written by Pediatric Physical Therapist Dr. Lauren Baker in order to help Ambitious Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers learn how to help babies master tummy time and learn to roll. It is meant to help ambitious parents understand baby development from birth to six months (tummy time to rolling).
This book is a mix of easy-to-follow and more in-depth information than is typically found in baby development books because Dr. Baker believes parents deserve to have all the information at their fingertips.
This book breaks down each piece of movement in checklists so that parents know what their babies need for tummy time and rolling. It also covers what areas might limit a child with rolling, why it is so important, and when to seek help from a pediatric PT.
This book comes with colored photos and easy-to-follow demonstration videos that can help parents implement safe, strategic play-based exercises with their babies in 20 minutes per day.
A Great Resource For:
Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers of babies 0-6 months
Parents of babies who are struggling with tummy time, rolling back to belly, belly to back, or only to one side
Access to simple, easy-to-follow videos of play positions and exercises
Learning the four pillars of movement needed in order to master rolling
240+ Color Photo Examples of:
Tummy Time, Sidelying, and Back Play
Developmental Toys and Equipment
Hand Placement and Strategic Play Positions
Common Areas of Restriction or Weakness
When To Reach Out For Help
What If You Want Extra Help?
If you have concerns about their movement, remember, you can always reach out to a pediatric physical therapist. It's your right as a parent to advocate for your child's development.
Sometimes, a few tips and tricks are all you need to get your baby moving better. We're here to support you and release those mama worries. If you are looking for in home pediatric physical therapy, check our listing of therapists.
For those eager to learn more or seeking personalized guidance, I offer online video parent consultations internationally which can be scheduled by clicking here. I am dedicated to answering questions and providing tailored play activities for each unique developmental journey.
When Should Babies Receive Pediatric Physical Therapy?
Parents can call and schedule with a Pediatric Physical Therapist at any time, for any concern in all fifty states without a referral from their Pediatrician.
Pediatric Physical Therapy is medically indicated in all babies who are not rolling in all four directions by six months (back to belly over their right arm AND left arm + belly to back over their right arm AND left arm).
Pediatric Physical Therapy is medically indicated if you notice a flat spot on the back of an infants head (possible plagiocephaly), a tilt of their head consistently to one side (ear to shoulder - possible torticollis), or a rotation preference of their neck (consistently look only to the right or left - possible torticollis).
Many Pediatric Physical Therapists including Dr. Baker, can successfully treat flat spots (Plagiocephaly) without a helmet with a combination of therapy and positioning strategies if seen prior to 4 months (0-3 months is ideal). Dr. Baker uses the Baby Begin Method of repositioning.
Flat spots can be due to in-utero positioning, rotational preference (right sided flatness most common) and babies are at an increased risk for flatness if they are male, were breech, multiple birth, premature, have difficulty with tummy time, or are in containers > 2 hr/day.
Final Thoughts
Writing "Tummy Time and Learning to Roll" has been a labor of love. My goal is to democratize access to pediatric physical therapy knowledge, ensuring every parent and caregiver has the information and tools they need to support their baby's growth and development.
If you're embarking on this journey, know that you're not alone. This book, coupled with the online resources, is here to support you every step of the way. Here's to embracing each milestone with knowledge, confidence, and joy.
For those interested, you'll find a link to purchase the book in the video description but also here and throughout this blog post. If you’ve already got the book and enjoyed it or found it helpful, please consider leaving a review and rating through amazon.
If you go to your orders on amazon, then find the book purchase, “leave a product review” should be the bottom button. I love reading about your feedback, experiences, and where the books have ended up. If you have questions they are always welcome, just book a 1:1 online parent consultation or leave a comment on the video linked above.
Let's continue this conversation and make sure you feel supported as you nurture your little ones' developmental journeys.
When Should Babies Roll Over?
this blog contains affiliate links
Hey there 👋 parents and caregivers! I'm Dr. Lauren Baker, your go-to pediatric physical therapist, and today, I'm diving into a topic that many of you have asked about: When should your baby start rolling over?
I'm excited to share everything you need to know to support your baby's developmental journey, so let’s roll ;)
Understanding the Rolling Milestone
Rolling over, both from the belly to back and back to belly, is a significant milestone in your baby's development. It marks the beginning of your little one exploring the world around them in a whole new way. But when exactly should this happen?
Here's the scoop:
Belly to Back: Typically, babies master this skill within the 3 to 5-month age range.
Many find the motivation to roll out of tummy time a tad earlier since tummy time can be quite the challenge!
If this is the case, it wouldn’t be atypical for babies to do this in the beginning when tummy time is really really tough and then go a bit without doing it. That would indicate that without the tummy time difficulty motivation, the baby isn’t sure how to complete the motion, indicating it is not yet mastered.
Other times, babies roll from belly to back without controlling the movement and they can bang their head on the ground, this usually indicates an underlying tightness or relaxation difficulty while they are completing the motion.
Back to Belly: This one usually comes a bit later, around the 4 to 6-month mark. It requires a bit more core strength, coordination, and flexibility, as your baby learns to bring both arms to one side to initiate the roll.
They often start rolling back to side first, then once they gain enough strength and coordination they straighten the bottom leg and are able to finish and roll over onto their belly.
If your baby seems to have everything except being able to get all the way onto their belly, check to see if the bottom leg is straight, that might be tripping them up (although, rolling is fairly complex so it could also be more than one thing).
Normal Variation in Rolling is... Normal!
Remember, there's a broad spectrum of normal when it comes to developmental milestones. Typically you will see the style of rolling develop into more complex movement as babies get stronger and their movement improves.
By six months, babies should be able to roll equally in all directions and fluidly without any stiffness noted. Stiffness or underlying muscle (usually trunk) tightness would be present if a baby didn’t seem to be twisting at the trunk (think top half of the body moves in different directions than the bottom half of the body) during rolling (belly to back and back to belly).
Early Rollers: What to Watch For
Seeing your baby roll over early can be exciting, but it's also essential to ensure that it's part of healthy development and not due to increased tension in their body or other issues. Here's what you should consider if your baby is showing signs of rolling and they are younger than four months.
Increased Tension: Sometimes, early rolling (less than 4 months) can indicate tension in the muscle or fascial layers. Keep an eye out for signs of discomfort or stiff movements.
Feeding Concerns: Issues like tethered oral tissues (tongue-tie) can sometimes accompany early rolling. If you notice feeding difficulties alongside early rolling, consulting with a lactation consultant, occupational feeding therapist, and/or a pediatric physical therapist might be a good idea.
Supporting Your Baby's Rolling Skills
Helping your baby develop the strength and coordination for rolling is all about creating opportunities for movement and play. Here's how you can encourage them:
Tummy Time: Regular tummy time is crucial for strengthening the muscles needed for rolling. Aim for a few minutes at a time, several times a day. This is important to build up from a few minutes to 5-10 by the time they are 4-5 months.
The most important aspects of tummy time are these:
Is their head up to 90 degrees (perpendicular to the floor) and able to rotate over their shoulder in both directions
Are they pushing through both elbows equally to lift their chest off the floor
By five months, babies should be strong enough to push onto extended elbows, but they might not if they haven’t been pushing equally through both elbows in their earlier months. Elbows out to the side or back (Landau reflex and totally normal if not interfering with rolling) might not help babies move onto their next milestone.
Engage and Play: Use toys and engaging activities to encourage your baby to reach, stretch, and eventually roll over in pursuit of an interesting object. Reaching forward is good, reaching to the side is even better (but also harder, so start with toys in front first!).
Observe and Support: Watch for signs of readiness to roll, and gently encourage the movement. Babies should get lots of time to play on their own, but parents should never feel like helping their babies move is going to inhibit their ability to learn.
Resources at Your Fingertips
If you're looking for detailed strategies, exercises, and more insights into helping your baby master rolling (and beyond), my book has you covered. It's designed to be a comprehensive resource for parents eager to support their baby's development effectively.
What If My Baby Isn't Rolling Yet?
If your baby hasn't started rolling by six months, it's a good idea to consult with a pediatric physical therapist. An individualized session can help pinpoint any areas your baby might need a bit more support in, ensuring they're on track for healthy development.
If a baby is not rolling in all four directions by six months, there is also likely an underlying block that is keeping them from doing so and consulting with a Pediatric Physical Therapist who specializes in infants can help uncover those blocks.
If you’d like to start trying to uncover what is going on, the book has three checklists: tummy time, rolling back to belly, and rolling belly to back to help you narrow down what might be the struggle for your baby and help you get started in the right areas.
Curious About Learning More on Tummy Time, Rolling, or Both?
The absolute best book for parents on tummy time and rolling is: Tummy Time and Learning to Roll: A Baby Development Book for Ambitious Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers to Help Babies Learn to Roll Independently. The book comes with a free online video course to help parents fully understand how to complete the different exercises, printable checklists to know exactly where your baby is at, and when to reach out for additional help.
This book was written by Dr. Lauren Baker, PT, DPT, ATC, MTC, who is a Pediatric Physical Therapist in Boise, Idaho, trained in helping parents learn how to help their babies move and master their milestones. She loves teaching parents how to see how their babies are moving as well as how to influence those movements though play positions and exercises to help babies move with confidence and ease.
Tummy Time and Learning to Roll is the first book in the Proactive Play series written by Pediatric Physical Therapist Dr. Lauren Baker in order to help Ambitious Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers learn how to help babies master tummy time and learn to roll. It is meant to help ambitious parents understand baby development from birth to six months (tummy time to rolling).
This book is a mix of easy-to-follow and more in-depth information than is typically found in baby development books because Dr. Baker believes parents deserve to have all the information at their fingertips.
This book breaks down each piece of movement in checklists so that parents know what their babies need for tummy time and rolling. It also covers what areas might limit a child with rolling, why it is so important, and when to seek help from a pediatric PT.
This book comes with colored photos and easy-to-follow demonstration videos that can help parents implement safe, strategic play-based exercises with their babies in 20 minutes per day.
A Great Resource For:
Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers of babies 0-6 months
Parents of babies who are struggling with tummy time, rolling back to belly, belly to back, or only to one side
Access to simple, easy-to-follow videos of play positions and exercises
Learning the four pillars of movement needed in order to master rolling
240+ Color Photo Examples of:
Tummy Time, Sidelying, and Back Play
Developmental Toys and Equipment
Hand Placement and Strategic Play Positions
Common Areas of Restriction or Weakness
When To Reach Out For Help
What If You Want Extra Help?
If you have concerns about their movement, remember, you can always reach out to a pediatric physical therapist. It's your right as a parent to advocate for your child's development.
Sometimes, a few tips and tricks are all you need to get your baby moving better. We're here to support you and release those mama worries. If you are looking for in home pediatric physical therapy, check our listing of therapists.
For those eager to learn more or seeking personalized guidance, I offer online video parent consultations internationally which can be scheduled by clicking here. I am dedicated to answering questions and providing tailored play activities for each unique developmental journey.
When Should Babies Receive Pediatric Physical Therapy?
Parents can call and schedule with a Pediatric Physical Therapist at any time, for any concern in all fifty states without a referral from their Pediatrician.
Pediatric Physical Therapy is medically indicated in all babies who are not rolling in all four directions by six months (back to belly over their right arm AND left arm + belly to back over their right arm AND left arm).
Pediatric Physical Therapy is medically indicated if you notice a flat spot on the back of an infants head (possible plagiocephaly), a tilt of their head consistently to one side (ear to shoulder - possible torticollis), or a rotation preference of their neck (consistently look only to the right or left - possible torticollis).
Many Pediatric Physical Therapists including Dr. Baker, can successfully treat flat spots (Plagiocephaly) without a helmet with a combination of therapy and positioning strategies if seen prior to 4 months (0-3 months is ideal). Dr. Baker uses the Baby Begin Method of repositioning.
Flat spots can be due to in-utero positioning, rotational preference (right sided flatness most common) and babies are at an increased risk for flatness if they are male, were breech, multiple birth, premature, have difficulty with tummy time, or are in containers > 2 hr/day.
Final Thoughts: The Journey
Remember, rolling over is just one of the many milestones in your baby's incredible journey of growth and learning. By providing supportive and engaging environments, you're setting the foundation for their continued exploration and development.
If you have any questions or if there's more you'd like to know about baby development, feel free to drop a comment in the video linked above. I'm here to support you and your little one every step of the way!
Until next time, keep rolling forward, and cherish these beautiful moments of growth and discovery with your baby.
Is Rolling Over A Milestone and When Do Babies Roll Over?
this blog contains affiliate links
A lot of parents are googling, “is rolling a milestone for babies?” And I am here to help you answer that question. 👋 Hi, I’m Dr. Lauren Baker, a pediatric physical therapist and I believe the more educated eyeballs we have on our babies, the better off our babies are. I do that through blogs like this on the website and youtube videos, so make sure to check out the full youtube video down below for the most comprehensive information.
The Importance of Rolling
First things first, let's address the burning question: Is rolling a milestone?
Absolutely!
Rolling from belly to back and vice versa is not just a nice-to-have skill; it's a crucial developmental milestone that signals healthy progression in your baby's physical abilities.
Here's why it's so important:
Indicates Symmetrical Development: Rolling helps us observe if the baby is developing strength and flexibility equally on both sides of the body.
Prepares for Future Milestones: Mastering rolling is essential for the next stages, such as sitting up independently and crawling. Sometimes, the impact of not rolling in all directions isn't visible until more complex skills are expected.
It might seem fine if a baby skipped rolling because it doesn’t always impact sitting on their own (but it can because rolling develops core strength, which is needed for sitting). Most of the time, babies who struggled with rolling or skipped rolling end up struggling much more with crawling than sitting.
Crawling is one of the most difficult movement milestones and it requires a lot of rotation, just like rolling. If you haven’t mastered rolling, which develops those motions, then your baby may have an underlying block that may make it more difficult to master crawling.
Encourages Exploration: It's a baby's first step towards moving independently, sparking curiosity and exploration of their surroundings.
Rolling: How Many Ways Can A Baby Do It?
Rolling involves four distinct directions:
Belly to back over the right arm
Belly to back over the left arm
Back to belly over the right arm
Back to belly over the left arm
Each direction requires different muscle movements, and if a baby struggles with any, it's crucial to understand why. This could indicate areas where your baby might need extra support or practice.
Like for example:
If a baby can roll belly to back over the right arm and Back to belly over the left arm but not in the opposite directions, they may be able to rotate their trunk to the left, but not to the right.
If a baby can roll belly to back over the left arm and Back to belly over the right arm but not in the opposite directions, they may be able to rotate their trunk to the right, but not to the left.
Baby trunk tightness is often the underlying block a baby struggles with when they struggle with rolling. You can find out more about how this fits together in my book Tummy Time and Learning to Roll, along with mobility exercises to make sure your baby can rotate in both directions equally.
Guidance from My Book: Tummy Time and Learning to Roll
To dive deeper into this subject, I've detailed everything about rolling, its significance, and practical exercises in my book, Tummy Time and Learning to Roll. It's designed to be an accessible resource for parents and pediatric healthcare providers alike. It is by far the most comprehensive resource on the topic, because it’s my entire brain on rolling, on paper + with 240+ pictures and a free online video course to put it all together.
If you notice any difficulties with rolling in your baby, the book offers checklists and step-by-step guides to support their development. Plus, you get access to that free video course and printable PDF downloads for hands-on learning and tracking progress.
CDC Milestone Updates
In 2020, the CDC updated its milestones, which stirred some confusion around rolling. I cover these changes extensively in my book, highlighting the importance of keeping a keen eye on rolling as a developmental milestone, despite these updates.
For parents information, despite what the CDC may or may not say, if you ask any PT/OT/SLP, babies should roll in all four directions by the age of six months, if they are not, there is likely an underlying reason that can be influenced by parents or healthcare providers, to assist babies in achieving their rolling milestones.
How Can You Support Your Baby's Rolling Skills?
Encourage Tummy Time: Regular tummy time from the time they are a day old strengthens neck, shoulder, and arm muscles, laying the foundation for rolling over, but hint: it’s not the ONLY play position babies need to roll (there are three others and all are listed in the book along with example photos on how parents have helped their babies play in them in their homes).
Use Toys for Motivation: Place toys slightly out of reach during tummy time to encourage your baby to stretch, reach, and eventually roll towards them. Make sure to place toys first in front, but then to the side. Toys at eye level will also help babies lift their arms to shoulder level, further prompting weight shifting and building muscles and experiences that help with rolling.
Be Patient and Supportive: Every baby develops within a range (4-6 months). Provide encouragement and gentle assistance, but allow them to achieve milestones, if they are older than 6 months, it is recommended to reach out to a Pediatric Physical Therapist for assistance.
Monitor All Directions: Keep an eye on your baby's progress in all four directions of rolling. If you notice any delays or asymmetries, consult a healthcare provider for personalized advice.
Curious About Learning More on Tummy Time, Rolling, or Both?
The absolute best book for parents on tummy time and rolling is: Tummy Time and Learning to Roll: A Baby Development Book for Ambitious Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers to Help Babies Learn to Roll Independently. The book comes with a free online video course to help parents fully understand how to complete the different exercises, printable checklists to know exactly where your baby is at, and when to reach out for additional help.
This book was written by Dr. Lauren Baker, PT, DPT, ATC, MTC, who is a Pediatric Physical Therapist in Boise, Idaho, trained in helping parents learn how to help their babies move and master their milestones. She loves teaching parents how to see how their babies are moving as well as how to influence those movements though play positions and exercises to help babies move with confidence and ease.
Tummy Time and Learning to Roll is the first book in the Proactive Play series written by Pediatric Physical Therapist Dr. Lauren Baker in order to help Ambitious Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers learn how to help babies master tummy time and learn to roll. It is meant to help ambitious parents understand baby development from birth to six months (tummy time to rolling).
This book is a mix of easy-to-follow and more in-depth information than is typically found in baby development books because Dr. Baker believes parents deserve to have all the information at their fingertips.
This book breaks down each piece of movement in checklists so that parents know what their babies need for tummy time and rolling. It also covers what areas might limit a child with rolling, why it is so important, and when to seek help from a pediatric PT.
This book comes with colored photos and easy-to-follow demonstration videos that can help parents implement safe, strategic play-based exercises with their babies in 20 minutes per day.
A Great Resource For:
Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers of babies 0-6 months
Parents of babies who are struggling with tummy time, rolling back to belly, belly to back, or only to one side
Access to simple, easy-to-follow videos of play positions and exercises
Learning the four pillars of movement needed in order to master rolling
240+ Color Photo Examples of:
Tummy Time, Sidelying, and Back Play
Developmental Toys and Equipment
Hand Placement and Strategic Play Positions
Common Areas of Restriction or Weakness
When To Reach Out For Help
What If You Want Extra Help?
If you have concerns about their movement, remember, you can always reach out to a pediatric physical therapist. It's your right as a parent to advocate for your child's development.
Sometimes, a few tips and tricks are all you need to get your baby moving better. We're here to support you and release those mama worries. If you are looking for in home pediatric physical therapy, check our listing of therapists.
For those eager to learn more or seeking personalized guidance, I offer online video parent consultations internationally which can be scheduled by clicking here. I am dedicated to answering questions and providing tailored play activities for each unique developmental journey.
When Should Babies Receive Pediatric Physical Therapy?
Parents can call and schedule with a Pediatric Physical Therapist at any time, for any concern in all fifty states without a referral from their Pediatrician.
Pediatric Physical Therapy is medically indicated in all babies who are not rolling in all four directions by six months (back to belly over their right arm AND left arm + belly to back over their right arm AND left arm).
Pediatric Physical Therapy is medically indicated if you notice a flat spot on the back of an infants head (possible plagiocephaly), a tilt of their head consistently to one side (ear to shoulder - possible torticollis), or a rotation preference of their neck (consistently look only to the right or left - possible torticollis).
Many Pediatric Physical Therapists including Dr. Baker, can successfully treat flat spots (Plagiocephaly) without a helmet with a combination of therapy and positioning strategies if seen prior to 4 months (0-3 months is ideal). Dr. Baker uses the Baby Begin Method of repositioning.
Flat spots can be due to in-utero positioning, rotational preference (right sided flatness most common) and babies are at an increased risk for flatness if they are male, were breech, multiple birth, premature, have difficulty with tummy time, or are in containers > 2 hr/day.
Final Thoughts: Let's Stay Connected
I'm passionate about empowering parents with the knowledge and tools to support their children's development. If you've used the book and found it helpful, I'd love it if you could write a review, they help self-published authors like myself SO MUCH and I love reading them all! PS not sure where reviews are located? Go to your amazon account —> orders —> write a product review button (white button on the bottom!).
Drop your questions in the comments of the video linked above or share your experiences via DM on instagram @drlaurenbaker. Your feedback not only enriches our community but also supports the mission of making developmental information widely accessible.
Remember, you're not alone on this journey. Together, we can ensure our little ones have the strong, healthy start they deserve. Until next time, keep connecting with your babies through proactive play.
Why a 5 Month Old Baby Can't Roll From Tummy to Back
this blog contains affiliate links
Today, I'm excited to share with you some invaluable insights on a topic that can make parents a little worried: helping your baby roll from belly to back, especially if they are 5 months old and not yet doing this milestone on their own!
This essential milestone can sometimes be a puzzle, but this blog post will hopefully fill in some gaps. The youtube video linked below, is the most comprehensive conversation on the topic, so make sure to watch the video.
If we haven’t met yet, Hi! I’m Dr. Baker, a pediatric physical therapist, who helps children 0-4 master their milestones and move with confidence and ease. I believe the more educated eyeballs we have on our babies, the better off our babies are! I am so glad that you are here, learning more about how to help your little move.
Understanding the Rolling Belly to Back Milestone
Rolling from belly to back is more than just a fun milestone to watch babies master; it's a crucial skill that lays the foundation for future milestones like sitting, crawling, and eventually walking.
Around the age of five months, babies are prime for mastering this skill, yet some might need a bit more encouragement and practice. We want all babies to have mastered rolling belly to back by six months of age. If you've noticed your little one is a bit hesitant or struggling with this movement, you're in the right place!
Why Some Babies Struggle with Rolling Belly to Back
There isn't a one-size-fits-all reason why some babies find rolling challenging. It can vary greatly from baby to baby, but common factors include limited tummy time, struggle with coordinating movements, tightness in their body, or simply not having enough practice in various play positions.
The Four Key Play Positions
There are four play positions that are foundational for your baby's physical development:
Tummy Time: Essential for strengthening the neck, shoulders, and upper body. Most important, is that the baby is pushing through both of their elbows to lift both their head and chest off the ground for 5-10 minutes.
Sidelying Play (Right and Left): Helps with balance and coordination, core strength, and neck strength. Sidelying is one of the foundation movements for babies before they can roll on their own, it’s also the most often un-talked about play position (almost NO parents know this is important and I am on a mission to change that!).
Back Play: Important for visual tracking, coordination, head movement, and arm strengthening in a different way than tummy time.
Incorporating these positions into daily play can significantly enhance your baby's ability to roll and master other milestones. Parents always ask, “how much or how long should I do each play position for?” The answer is always: the amount your baby tolerates multiple times a day, with the focus on pushing it a little, tiny bit further each time.
My main goal is often to start at 30 seconds to 1 minute if a baby has a low tolerance and build up 15-30 seconds at a time until the baby is able to tolerate each position for 2-3 minutes. Tummy time should start from day 1 and can include multiple options, when a baby is ready to roll they typically need to be able to first tolerate 5-10 minutes on their belly to have enough strength and coordination to roll out of it or into it.
For the most comprehensive guide, check out the video below as I walk you through how to use my Tummy Time and Learning to Roll book, to help your baby unblock rolling belly to back.
Tips and Tricks for Mastering Rolling Belly to Back
Here are some practical tips to encourage your baby to roll from belly to back, drawn directly from the Tummy Time and Learning to Roll Book.
Increase Tummy Time: Gradually work up to 10-15 minutes of tummy time in a row without breaks, exploring different modifications to keep it engaging and comfortable for your baby. Modifications are easier and typically involve the baby’s shoulders higher than the level of their hips.
This can include tummy time on a wedge, on your chest, on a tummy time pillow, on an exercise ball, or with some support under the chest to help babies build up the strength in their arms to lift their chest on their own without the support. If you need examples, check out the book for a ton of ideas with photographs.
Practice Sidelying Play: This often-overlooked position is crucial. Use cushions or your leg to support your baby in a sidelying position, encouraging them to play and interact from this new perspective.
Place toys at eye level or chest level at first so that babies can play with toys at midline, then as they get stronger move the toys to shoulder level or above shoulder level so the baby can build arm strength in this position to assist with rolling.
Use Toys for Motivation to Reach: Position toys to encourage reaching and turning, which naturally promotes rolling motions. First start with having the baby turn their head to the right and left, making sure they are able to turn both directions equally.
Then start placing toys to the side so that babies can reach their hand out in extension to play while holding their weight on one elbow and reaching with their other hand. Babies need to be able to shift their weight to one elbow without collapsing through their arms, make sure their chest is still lifted from the ground, and reach forward with one hand to the level of their shoulder.
Once this is mastered, babies then need to be able to do the same thing while reaching to the side (harder than reaching forward!). This exercise with photo examples is located in the book.
Make Sure There’s Mobility: In order to successfully roll from belly to back, babies need to be able to rotate the upper half of their body on the lower half of their body. Think of how you need to twist the top half of your body in order to look all the way behind you, that’s the same thing that happens when babies need to roll belly to back, they’re just doing it while lying on their belly and while gravity is trying to just slam them to the ground (so it’s even harder than in sitting!).
Babies need to be able to rotate the top half of their body, their bottom half of their body, and both their top half and bottom half in opposite directions at the same time. If a baby is lacking mobility in their trunk, rolling (in either belly to back or back to belly directions) can be blocked.
OR you might find that a baby literally throws themselves from their belly to their back, almost like they’re vaulting over their elbow, which can result in babies hitting their head on the ground because they don’t have the rotational mobility in their trunk to roll belly to back gently.
All mobility exercises are described along with photo examples in the book.
Be Patient and Positive: Every baby develops at their own pace, but if a baby is over 6 months and still not rolling on their own, they may have a block in their movement and need more help from a Pediatric physical therapist. Know that all of your efforts are building up and that at any time you can reach out for support on your journey. Celebrate small victories and keep the atmosphere positive and encouraging.
If you’re curious how the book can help you solve any blocks holding a baby back from rolling belly to back, watch the video below for a step by step guide on how to use the book to solve this problem.
Curious About Learning More on Tummy Time, Rolling, or Both?
The absolute best book for parents on tummy time and rolling is: Tummy Time and Learning to Roll: A Baby Development Book for Ambitious Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers to Help Babies Learn to Roll Independently. The book comes with a free online video course to help parents fully understand how to complete the different exercises, printable checklists to know exactly where your baby is at, and when to reach out for additional help.
This book was written by Dr. Lauren Baker, PT, DPT, ATC, MTC, who is a Pediatric Physical Therapist in Boise, Idaho, trained in helping parents learn how to help their babies move and master their milestones. She loves teaching parents how to see how their babies are moving as well as how to influence those movements though play positions and exercises to help babies move with confidence and ease.
Tummy Time and Learning to Roll is the first book in the Proactive Play series written by Pediatric Physical Therapist Dr. Lauren Baker in order to help Ambitious Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers learn how to help babies master tummy time and learn to roll. It is meant to help ambitious parents understand baby development from birth to six months (tummy time to rolling).
This book is a mix of easy-to-follow and more in-depth information than is typically found in baby development books because Dr. Baker believes parents deserve to have all the information at their fingertips.
This book breaks down each piece of movement in checklists so that parents know what their babies need for tummy time and rolling. It also covers what areas might limit a child with rolling, why it is so important, and when to seek help from a pediatric PT.
This book comes with colored photos and easy-to-follow demonstration videos that can help parents implement safe, strategic play-based exercises with their babies in 20 minutes per day.
A Great Resource For:
Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers of babies 0-6 months
Parents of babies who are struggling with tummy time, rolling back to belly, belly to back, or only to one side
Access to simple, easy-to-follow videos of play positions and exercises
Learning the four pillars of movement needed in order to master rolling
240+ Color Photo Examples of:
Tummy Time, Sidelying, and Back Play
Developmental Toys and Equipment
Hand Placement and Strategic Play Positions
Common Areas of Restriction or Weakness
When To Reach Out For Help
What If You Want Extra Help?
If you have concerns about their movement, remember, you can always reach out to a pediatric physical therapist. It's your right as a parent to advocate for your child's development.
Sometimes, a few tips and tricks are all you need to get your baby moving better. We're here to support you and release those mama worries. If you are looking for in home pediatric physical therapy, check our listing of therapists.
For those eager to learn more or seeking personalized guidance, I offer online video parent consultations internationally which can be scheduled by clicking here. I am dedicated to answering questions and providing tailored play activities for each unique developmental journey.
When Should Babies Receive Pediatric Physical Therapy?
Parents can call and schedule with a Pediatric Physical Therapist at any time, for any concern in all fifty states without a referral from their Pediatrician.
Pediatric Physical Therapy is medically indicated in all babies who are not rolling in all four directions by six months (back to belly over their right arm AND left arm + belly to back over their right arm AND left arm).
Pediatric Physical Therapy is medically indicated if you notice a flat spot on the back of an infants head (possible plagiocephaly), a tilt of their head consistently to one side (ear to shoulder - possible torticollis), or a rotation preference of their neck (consistently look only to the right or left - possible torticollis).
Many Pediatric Physical Therapists including Dr. Baker, can successfully treat flat spots (Plagiocephaly) without a helmet with a combination of therapy and positioning strategies if seen prior to 4 months (0-3 months is ideal). Dr. Baker uses the Baby Begin Method of repositioning.
Flat spots can be due to in-utero positioning, rotational preference (right sided flatness most common) and babies are at an increased risk for flatness if they are male, were breech, multiple birth, premature, have difficulty with tummy time, or are in containers > 2 hr/day.
Final Thoughts
Remember, you're not alone in this journey. Every baby is unique but we want to make sure that babies have everything they need to master their movement and that we are taking proactive steps to help them resolve any blocks to movement they may be experiencing.
It is important to provide a variety of playful, supportive experiences that encourage movement exploration. For the most comprehensive resource, make sure to check out Tummy Time and Learning to Roll, a fantastic resource packed with exercises, play positions, and expert advice to support you and your baby through this exciting developmental stage.
If you have any concerns or questions, never hesitate to reach out to a healthcare professional who can provide you with tailored advice and support, I love encouraging parents to book with a local Pediatric PT but also offer video online parent consultations to answer questions.
Here's to joyful playtime in cozy homes filled with love and celebrating each new roll, tumble, and turn along the way!
Why Cant My Baby Roll Back To Belly? Insights From A Pediatric Physical Therapist
this blog contains affiliate links
Hello, I'm Dr. Lauren Baker, a pediatric physical therapist with a passion for supporting early childhood development. Today, I want to address a concern many parents share: "Why can't my baby roll from back to belly?"
This question is really common as parents are curious about their baby’s development, but also because they want to make sure their baby has every opportunity to master their milestones.
Rolling is a key developmental milestone that sets the foundation for future movements and it’s important that every baby has a chance to move freely in all four of the rolling directions.
Drawing upon my experience and the insights from my latest book, "Tummy Time and Learning to Roll," I aim to shed light on this topic, providing both explanations and solutions for proactive parents and healthcare providers who want to help babies roll back to belly.
I believe that parents can influence how their children move, with a little bit of knowledge and a whole lot of courage. I am here for the knowledge piece and you’re already mastering the courage, by looking for answers on google from movement experts like pediatric physical therapists.
Understanding the Rolling Back to Belly Milestone
Rolling from back to belly is a significant achievement in a baby's motor skill development, typically occurring between four to six months. It's a complex action that integrates several physical abilities, marking a baby's first foray into dynamic movement.
This milestone is crucial for promoting further developmental skills, such as crawling and sitting up. However, when babies face challenges with rolling, it can be a sign to delve deeper into their motor skills development and help them unlock the things that may be blocking them from rolling.
Exploring the Reasons Behind Rolling Challenges
Head and Neck Mobility
One of the first abilities a baby needs for rolling is the ability to turn their head from side to side while on their back. This movement is often motivated by visual or auditory stimuli that encourage the baby to reach or turn towards something of interest. Limited mobility in the neck can impede this, sometimes indicating conditions like torticollis, where a baby has a preferred side that they rotate to and often an opposite side head tilt.Neck and Upper Body Strength
For a successful roll, babies must have sufficient strength in their neck and upper body to lift and tilt their head and chest (think moving your body in an “I’m a little teapot” motion, but while lying on the floor on your side).
This strength is crucial for transitioning from laying flat to rolling over onto their belly. Weakness in these areas can significantly hinder their ability to roll, because babies have to fight gravity in order to lift their shoulders off the ground to initiate going from back to their side then onto their belly.Crossing the Midline and Arm Coordination
The ability to move arms across the body's midline is essential for rolling and further developmental skills. This action requires coordination and strength, allowing the baby to use their arms to aid in the rolling motion. Delays in this ability can slow down the rolling process.
This motion is really tough, because as babies try to lift their arms to shoulder level, gravity is always pushing their arms back down to the ground. If they haven’t been able to develop enough strength in their arms (usually through spending 5-10 minutes pushing through their elbows in tummy time), they may not be able to start the motion of rolling back to belly.
Another way that babies can begin to use their arms to roll from back to belly, is by grabbing their feet with both hands and then rolling to the side. This requires a lot of strength from their lower bellies and is often seen by the time a baby is 5 months. This is a beginner form of rolling because the babies do not have to lift their arms as high as they do when completing the more advanced version of rolling back to belly (reaching up to shoulder level and then crossing the midline of the body and reaching toward their opposite shoulder).Core Strength and Mobility
Strong core muscles are vital for rolling over, as they enable the baby to both lift their pelvis (grabbing their feet with their hands) and twist their body (to complete the roll from lying on their side to belly or for the more advanced version of rolling by reaching toward their opposite shoulder).
Core strength supports the entire rolling motion, from initiating the turn to successfully completing the roll onto the belly. Rolling helps develop core strength in multiple directions, which support future milestones.
Rolling supports core develop in the following ways:
The lower core: baby grabs feet with hands and lifts their bum off the floor
The side core: baby has to bend their trunk when on their side against gravity to finish rolling from their side to their belly (this also helps bring their bottom arm out from under their belly)
The rotational core: Baby has to be able to twist their body in order to roll back to belly, this is a combination of strength in the core and mobility in the core to be able to complete. This is often the struggle if a baby can roll back to belly on one side but not the other
Supporting Your Baby's Rolling Development
Encouraging your baby's rolling ability involves a combination of tummy time, playful interaction, and targeted exercises. Tummy time strengthens neck, shoulder, and core muscles, which helps with rolling both back to belly and rolling belly to back. Back play helps babies engage with toys and objects that can motivate your baby to reach, turn, and eventually roll. Sidelying play is essential for building strength in the arms and core to assist with babies lifting their arms to shoulder level against gravity.
For babies showing a preference for rolling over one arm or struggling with certain aspects of rolling, tailored exercises and activities can promote symmetry and strength. The book: Tummy Time and Learning to Roll: A Baby Development Book for Ambitious Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers to Help Babies Roll Independently has 240+ color photos of these exercises and also includes a free online video course to walk you through all the proactive play ideas that can your baby roll back to belly.
For the most comprehensive information on how to help babies roll back to belly, see the video below.
Curious About Learning More on Tummy Time, Rolling, or Both?
The absolute best book for parents on tummy time and rolling is: Tummy Time and Learning to Roll: A Baby Development Book for Ambitious Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers to Help Babies Learn to Roll Independently. The book comes with a free online video course to help parents fully understand how to complete the different exercises, printable checklists to know exactly where your baby is at, and when to reach out for additional help.
This book was written by Dr. Lauren Baker, PT, DPT, ATC, MTC, who is a Pediatric Physical Therapist in Boise, Idaho, trained in helping parents learn how to help their babies move and master their milestones. She loves teaching parents how to see how their babies are moving as well as how to influence those movements though play positions and exercises to help babies move with confidence and ease.
Tummy Time and Learning to Roll is the first book in the Proactive Play series written by Pediatric Physical Therapist Dr. Lauren Baker in order to help Ambitious Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers learn how to help babies master tummy time and learn to roll. It is meant to help ambitious parents understand baby development from birth to six months (tummy time to rolling).
This book is a mix of easy-to-follow and more in-depth information than is typically found in baby development books because Dr. Baker believes parents deserve to have all the information at their fingertips.
This book breaks down each piece of movement in checklists so that parents know what their babies need for tummy time and rolling. It also covers what areas might limit a child with rolling, why it is so important, and when to seek help from a pediatric PT.
This book comes with colored photos and easy-to-follow demonstration videos that can help parents implement safe, strategic play-based exercises with their babies in 20 minutes per day.
A Great Resource For:
Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers of babies 0-6 months
Parents of babies who are struggling with tummy time, rolling back to belly, belly to back, or only to one side
Access to simple, easy-to-follow videos of play positions and exercises
Learning the four pillars of movement needed in order to master rolling
240+ Color Photo Examples of:
Tummy Time, Sidelying, and Back Play
Developmental Toys and Equipment
Hand Placement and Strategic Play Positions
Common Areas of Restriction or Weakness
When To Reach Out For Help
What If You Want Extra Help?
If you have concerns about their movement, remember, you can always reach out to a pediatric physical therapist. It's your right as a parent to advocate for your child's development.
Sometimes, a few tips and tricks are all you need to get your baby moving better. We're here to support you and release those mama worries. If you are looking for in home pediatric physical therapy, check our listing of therapists.
For those eager to learn more or seeking personalized guidance, I offer online video parent consultations internationally which can be scheduled by clicking here. I am dedicated to answering questions and providing tailored play activities for each unique developmental journey.
When Should Babies Receive Pediatric Physical Therapy?
Parents can call and schedule with a Pediatric Physical Therapist at any time, for any concern in all fifty states without a referral from their Pediatrician.
Pediatric Physical Therapy is medically indicated in all babies who are not rolling in all four directions by six months (back to belly over their right arm AND left arm + belly to back over their right arm AND left arm).
Pediatric Physical Therapy is medically indicated if you notice a flat spot on the back of an infants head (possible plagiocephaly), a tilt of their head consistently to one side (ear to shoulder - possible torticollis), or a rotation preference of their neck (consistently look only to the right or left - possible torticollis).
Many Pediatric Physical Therapists including Dr. Baker, can successfully treat flat spots (Plagiocephaly) without a helmet with a combination of therapy and positioning strategies if seen prior to 4 months (0-3 months is ideal). Dr. Baker uses the Baby Begin Method of repositioning.
Flat spots can be due to in-utero positioning, rotational preference (right sided flatness most common) and babies are at an increased risk for flatness if they are male, were breech, multiple birth, premature, have difficulty with tummy time, or are in containers > 2 hr/day.
Final Thoughts
Every baby develops at their own pace, but understanding and supporting their journey can make a significant difference. As a parent, it's natural to worry about your baby's development, but understanding the complexity of physical milestones like rolling can ease your concerns. By recognizing the factors that influence rolling and how to support your baby's development, you can actively participate in their growth journey.
If you're concerned about your baby's ability to roll from back to belly or have noticed delays in other developmental milestones, don't hesitate to seek advice and support.
For personalized guidance tailored to your baby's needs, consider booking an online parent consultation with a pediatric physical therapist. Together, we can ensure your baby's development is on the right track, laying the foundation for a lifetime of movement and exploration.
In navigating the path of your baby's development, remember, you're not alone. With the right support and strategies, your baby can overcome the challenges of rolling and continue to achieve new milestones, one roll at a time.
Is Your Baby Sitting But Not Rolling Over? Here’s Why
this blog contains affiliate links
Hello, proactive parents! I'm Dr. Lauren Baker, a pediatric physical therapist, and I'm here to share some wisdom on a common question I receive: "Why is my baby sitting but not rolling over?"
If you've found yourself wondering this, you're in the right place. I've dedicated my career to assisting proactive parents like you in supporting your baby’s movement milestones with ease and confidence.
The journey from tummy time to sitting up is an exciting adventure, filled with significant milestones that each play a crucial role in your baby's growth. But what happens when your baby masters sitting up before conquering the art of rolling over?
Let's dive in together and try to figure out a few reasons why this might be.
The Significance of Rolling Over
Rolling over is a milestone that typically occurs between 3 to 6 months, most commonly between 4 to 6 months.
It's not just about moving from back to belly or vice versa; it's a complex coordination of muscles, balance, and movement across different planes. This skill is foundational, setting the stage for future movements and milestones, including crawling (in my opinion, the hardest of them all!).
If babies do not have all of the things they need in order to roll over, such as struggling with tummy time, not being introduced to sidelying play (don’t worry almost no one tells parents about it unless they have a pediatric PT as a friend or family member!), or they have tension in their body — they could be at risk of not rolling over OR not rolling over in all four directions.
The Transition to Sitting Up
Sitting up, usually achieved between 6-9 months, signifies a new level of independence and strength for your baby. Often babies enjoy being upright, so they are highly motivated to master this milestone.
Other things, like babies being in sit me ups or seated containers like bumbos can get babies extra comfortable in the sitting position, which can actually make them less inclined to do the hard work involved with rolling or other movement patterns compared to their peers who spent more time on the floor.
It’s recommended that babies only spend up to 15 minutes in a seated device or any container that does not allow a baby to move freely on the floor (pack n plays or baby gated areas don’t count since babies can roll or move freely).
Sitting, especially in the beginning involves a different set of skills and muscle groups than rolling. Babies are primarily focusing on stability and balance, trying to simply stay upright against gravity and their legs in ring sit act as kickstands to assist in keeping them up.
Since babies tend to enjoy being in an upright position, most of the time babies struggle more with rolling than they do learning to sit. Especially because rolling is a much more dynamic motion that requires flexibility, strength, and coordination.
The Milestone Mix-Up: Sitting Without Rolling
Many parents notice their babies hitting the sitting milestone without mastering rolling over, which typically precedes it. When this happens, parents might wonder if it’s okay that their babies skipped or did not fully master rolling. The truth is, babies who skip rolling are often struggling with an underlying blockage to their movement patterns.
Rolling is much harder than sitting 99% of the time for babies. It requires mobility, strength, coordination, and is honestly a beautiful symphony of movement when they can do it well. But because it requires them to master a lot of moving pieces and building blocks, instead of just staying upright, they tend to go toward the path of least resistance: sitting.
The Role of Movement Planes in Rolling
Rolling is not just about moving from point A to point B; it involves a sophisticated dance across multiple planes of movement. This complexity makes rolling a challenging milestone for some babies, especially if their movement in one or multiple planes is restricted.
Human movement, including your baby's developmental milestones, occurs across three primary planes:
Sagittal Plane: Involves forward and backward movements, like walking or going up/down stairs
Frontal/Coronal Plane: Encompasses side-to-side movements or the I’m a little teapot motion
Transverse Plane: This is where rotation happens and usually it requires one half of the body to move on another half of the body, which makes it even more complex
Rolling is unique because it predominantly occurs in the rotational (transverse) plane, making it more complex and challenging for some babies. Sitting for example, is in the sagittal plane mostly as babies often either go forward or backwards when they are first learning to sit.
As sitting evolves, it can incorporate all three planes, but if rolling was skipped or a struggle you might find that more advanced sitting skills can become impacted like going from sitting into all fours (which requires rotation like rolling!).
For the most comprehensive information on this topic, please watch the video below as it includes picture examples and walks you through how you would use the book Tummy Time and Learning to Roll as a resource to help babies struggling with rolling.
TIMESTAMPS:
1:30 what ages babies roll over
2:40 what plane of movement rolling occurs in (this is important to understand why babies would skip rolling)
3:50 why rotation is the hardest plane of movement
4:30 why sitting is easier than rolling
6:43 does the baby have a mobility block in the rotational plane? and how to use Tummy Time and Learning to Roll book to figure this out
9:45 Neck mobility screens and exercises
10:40 upper trunk mobility screen and exercises
11:40 weakness in upper trunk, chest, and arm/shoulders and why tummy time is important regardless of age
13:20 most important aspect if a baby is sitting but not rolling
15:00 why having the right amount of flexibility and strength is important for everyone including babies
17:33 container use considerations, what not to use, and what to do instead
19:23 happy sitters and future consequences and how rolling helps crawling
23:40 jump ahead past break
25:21 top four things you want to focus on if a baby is sitting but not rolling
ALTERNATIVE CONTAINER IDEAS:
Upseat
Ingenuity Seat
PT Approved Equipment/Containers for Babies
TOY IDEAS:
Best Toys for Babies Learning to Roll
Best Toys for Babies
Tummy Time Toys
Identifying the Challenge: Mobility or Strength?
When a baby sits without rolling, it prompts us to investigate whether the challenge lies in mobility or strength.
Mobility First
Mobility issues often hinder the ability to roll over. A tight muscle or restricted movement in one direction can be enough to make rolling a challenge. I recommend starting with mobility screens to ensure your baby can move freely in all directions and if not, figure out which directions are more difficult and might be limiting their movement.
The mobility screens to look at include:
Neck flexibility
Arm flexibility
Upper Trunk flexibility
Lower Trunk flexibility
Upper and Lower Trunk combined flexibility
All mobility exercises recommended for rolling are linked in the mobility screen sections of the Tummy Time and Learning to Roll book, included in 240 color photographs and a free online video course that comes with the book.
Building Strength
After addressing mobility, the next step is building the strength necessary for rolling. This includes strengthening the neck, shoulders, back, and core muscles to support the complex movements involved in rolling over. Ensuring your baby has the muscular support to perform rolling movements is crucial. The book outlines exercises that target the necessary muscles for rolling, including the neck, shoulders, and core.
Typical exercises for babies to improve rolling include focusing on:
Core strength
Neck strength
Ability to tolerate Tummy Time
Sidelying Play
Arm strength
All strength exercises recommended for rolling are linked in the exercise sections of the book, included in 240 color photographs and a free online video course that comes with the book.
Practical Tips for Encouraging Rolling and Sitting
Let's put theory into practice with some actionable steps to support your baby's journey to rolling over:
1. Limit Container Use
Avoid over-reliance on devices that restrict movement, such as bouncers or seats. These can hinder the natural exploration and strengthening needed for rolling. Limit container use for maximum 15 minutes at a time up to 2 hours per day.
Floor play or “yes space,” play such as a baby gated area or pack n play can help babies explore safely. Floor play helps babies develop muscles more than containers, in fact, most containers restrict movement or promote non-optimal movement patterns.
2. Engage in Targeted Play
Incorporate exercises and play that encourage rotation and lateral movement. The strategies in my book, Tummy Time and Learning to Roll: A Baby Development Book for Ambitious Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers to Help Babies Learn to Roll Independently are designed to be fun and engaging, making tummy time a more fun experience for both you and your baby.
3. Seek Professional Insight
If rolling remains elusive by six months, a consultation with a pediatric physical therapist can provide personalized guidance tailored to your baby's unique needs.
4. Embrace the Journey
Remember, every baby's developmental path is unique. Celebrating small victories and maintaining a positive, proactive approach will make the journey more rewarding.
Why Does It Matter?
Understanding and addressing the reasons behind a baby sitting but not rolling is more than just about hitting milestones.
It's about ensuring a well-rounded development that lays the groundwork for future skills like crawling, walking, and beyond. Moreover, it highlights the importance of movement diversity from an early age, encouraging a range of motions that promote strength, coordination, and balance.
If a baby does not roll in all four directions, they are limited by something and typically it can be easily solved with some strategic exercises.
If babies are blocked in rotation and skip rolling they are at risk of skipping crawling as getting in and out of sitting and into all fours requires rotation and side bending both motions that are utilized in rolling (and often the reasons why rolling is not occurring).
Babies who skip crawling are at risk for having difficulty with pre-academic skills such as reading and writing as the foundational movement patterns needed for those skills are first developed in the all fours position.
Curious About Learning More on Tummy Time, Rolling, or Both?
The absolute best book for parents on tummy time and rolling is: Tummy Time and Learning to Roll: A Baby Development Book for Ambitious Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers to Help Babies Learn to Roll Independently.
The book comes with a free online video course to help parents fully understand how to complete the different exercises, printable checklists to know exactly where your baby is at, and when to reach out for additional help.
This book was written by Dr. Lauren Baker, PT, DPT, ATC, MTC, who is a Pediatric Physical Therapist in Boise, Idaho, trained in helping parents learn how to help their babies move and master their milestones.
She loves teaching parents how to see how their babies are moving as well as how to influence those movements though play positions and exercises to help babies move with confidence and ease.
Tummy Time and Learning to Roll is the first book in the Proactive Play series written by Pediatric Physical Therapist Dr. Lauren Baker in order to help Ambitious Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers learn how to help babies master tummy time and learn to roll. It is meant to help ambitious parents understand baby development from birth to six months (tummy time to rolling).
This book is a mix of easy-to-follow and more in-depth information than is typically found in baby development books because Dr. Baker believes parents deserve to have all the information at their fingertips.
This book breaks down each piece of movement in checklists so that parents know what their babies need for tummy time and rolling. It also covers what areas might limit a child with rolling, why it is so important, and when to seek help from a pediatric PT.
This book comes with colored photos and easy-to-follow demonstration videos that can help parents implement safe, strategic play-based exercises with their babies in 20 minutes per day.
A Great Resource For:
Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers of babies 0-6 months
Parents of babies who are struggling with tummy time, rolling back to belly, belly to back, or only to one side
Access to simple, easy-to-follow videos of play positions and exercises
Learning the four pillars of movement needed in order to master rolling
240+ Color Photo Examples of:
Tummy Time, Sidelying, and Back Play
Developmental Toys and Equipment
Hand Placement and Strategic Play Positions
Common Areas of Restriction or Weakness
When To Reach Out For Help
What If You Want Extra Help?
If you have concerns about their movement, remember, you can always reach out to a pediatric physical therapist. It's your right as a parent to advocate for your child's development.
Sometimes, a few tips and tricks are all you need to get your baby moving better. We're here to support you and release those mama worries. If you are looking for in home pediatric physical therapy, check our listing of therapists.
For those eager to learn more or seeking personalized guidance, I offer online video parent consultations internationally which can be scheduled by clicking here. I am dedicated to answering questions and providing tailored play activities for each unique developmental journey.
When Should Babies Receive Pediatric Physical Therapy?
Parents can call and schedule with a Pediatric Physical Therapist at any time, for any concern in all fifty states without a referral from their Pediatrician.
Pediatric Physical Therapy is medically indicated in all babies who are not rolling in all four directions by six months (back to belly over their right arm AND left arm + belly to back over their right arm AND left arm).
Pediatric Physical Therapy is medically indicated if you notice a flat spot on the back of an infants head (possible plagiocephaly), a tilt of their head consistently to one side (ear to shoulder - possible torticollis), or a rotation preference of their neck (consistently look only to the right or left - possible torticollis).
Many Pediatric Physical Therapists including Dr. Baker, can successfully treat flat spots (Plagiocephaly) without a helmet with a combination of therapy and positioning strategies if seen prior to 4 months (0-3 months is ideal). Dr. Baker uses the Baby Begin Method of repositioning.
Flat spots can be due to in-utero positioning, rotational preference (right sided flatness most common) and babies are at an increased risk for flatness if they are male, were breech, multiple birth, premature, have difficulty with tummy time, or are in containers > 2 hr/day.
Final Thoughts
As we've explored, sitting without rolling is a common scenario that, with the right strategies, can be addressed effectively. By understanding the intricacies of baby movement, focusing on mobility and strength, and applying targeted exercises, you can support your baby in mastering both sitting and rolling.
If you're navigating this developmental puzzle, know that you're not alone. I'm here to support you every step of the way, because I believe parents can influence how their children move when they are armed with knowledge, strategies, and a whole lot of heart.
Together, we can ensure your little one achieves their milestones with confidence and joy.
Thank you for joining me in this exploration of baby movement. Your dedication to your baby's development inspires me every day. Here's to many more milestones achieved and happy, healthy development for all our little ones!
Note: Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new exercise regimen with your baby. This information is meant to inform and support, not replace, professional medical advice.
Why Is My Baby Not Crawling or Rolling? Parents Need To Test Their Baby’s Lower Trunk Side Bend
this blog contains affiliate links
Hey There Proactive Parents! I'm Dr. Lauren Baker, your go-to pediatric physical therapy bestie, and I'm thrilled to share some invaluable insights on helping your babies move with confidence, especially in rolling and crawling!
Today, we're diving into the magical world of helping your little ones learn to roll over (or crawl!) focusing on enhancing trunk mobility in a gentle, effective way.
Grab a cozy spot, and your favorite warm beverage (my current favorite is LMNT hot chocolate with some coconut milk!) and let's embark on this journey together.
Understanding Trunk Mobility
If this is your first blog post that you’ve read on my website, you might not know this but trunk mobility is BY FAR one of my most favorite topics to explain to parents.
The reason is because it's crucial to baby development, especially as a baby learns to roll over belly to back and back to belly. It’s the first time that as a parent, you might notice that there is a struggle, if they are lacking trunk mobility.
But often, parents are not educated that their babies even need trunk mobility, let alone that it’s essential for them to have in order to roll or crawl or heck even get from sitting into all fours to attempt crawling!
If your baby tends to favor one side such as only rolling over their left arm but not their right, or struggles with pivoting on their belly to the left or right, they might have a tight muscle preventing full range of motion.
With crawling, it can limit crawling all together or it often shows up as hitch crawling or booty scooting, both of which are not ideal ways for babies to crawl (we want hands and knees on the floor, and if they’re not moving in that way, then we want to know why!).
Hitch Crawling or Janky Crawling is when a baby is crawling with both hands on the floor, but only one knee. Typically the other knee is up near their trunk and their foot is on the ground. Typically THAT side of their trunk (the side of the foot on the ground) is tight.
Booty Scooting is when babies scoot forward/backwards on their bottom. This is typically due to multiple underlying reasons, one often being trunk tightness.
But don't worry, today we’re here to learn one option for helping babies resolve this tightness!
Total Motion Release (TMR)
Total Motion Release (TMR) is a gentle, innovative approach to improving mobility without the traditional stretching methods that might cause damage to the muscles. Traditional stretching pulls on muscles to lengthen them, which can cause micro damage to the muscle fibers, often resulting in soreness.
The TMR technique focuses on utilizing your baby's easier side of movement to encourage relaxation and increased mobility on the tighter side. It's a game-changer, especially for babies, as it's non-invasive, pretty relaxing, and highly effective.
Key Points of TMR:
Focuses on the "easy" side: TMR targets the side where movement is more effortless, enhancing mobility without strain.
Gentle and effective: Unlike traditional stretching, TMR avoids potential muscle damage, making it ideal for babies.
Recommended professional evaluation: It's best to have your child evaluated by a trained provider before attempting TMR techniques at home see this list of tmr trained therapists to see if there is one in your area.
How to Test and Apply TMR
Testing Side Bending Range of Motion:
Lie your baby on their back
Use the "C" hand shape (watch video for full explanation) by placing your fingers and palm on your baby’s buttocks with your thumbs between their legs
Gently guide your baby's pelvis towards one side like you are sliding along the floor (do not lift at all, keep full body in contact with the floor) until their trunk makes a “C” or backwards “C” shape. If the baby’s trunk does not easily make a C shape, stop at the level of resistance.
You may need to place your foot between their armpit and trunk on the opposite side if their upper trunk is trying to move away.
Identify the easier side: Observe which side your baby bends towards more comfortably, this is the easy side. If both sides go easily and make a full C shape at the trunk, the baby likely does not have any tightness in this direction. See our other directions of TMR here: category TMR link.
TIMESTAMPS:
0:46 ways to increase range of motion
2:36 how TMR is different than stretching
4:00 testing side bending range of motion in babies
6:15 using TMR lower trunk sidebend to improve mobility
10:23 figuring out which side to do on your child
12:56 UT / LT rotation TMR release
TOY IDEAS:
Similar Teething Toy
Teething pacifier
Best Toys for Babies Learning to Roll
Best Toys for Babies
PT Approved Equipment/Containers for Babies
Tummy Time Toys
Applying TMR for Lower Trunk Side Bend:
Choose the easy side: Start with the side your baby naturally bends towards more easily.
Hold the position: Gently create a backward "C" shape with your baby's trunk on the easy side and hold for about two minutes, ensuring comfort and no resistance from your baby. If they kick out of it, allow them to move out of the position, distract them, and attempt again. Focus on 2 total minutes not counting the amount of time a baby needs for a short break.
Entertain and comfort: Offer your baby a toy or engage with funny faces and sounds to keep them calm and distracted during the hold. Teethers or small toys they can hold in their hands are great.
Incorporate vestibular motions: Following the TMR session, gently bounce your baby for 30 seconds to a minute to help regulate their central nervous system and cement the newly gained range of motion.
Practice what’s difficult: directly after bouncing, practice a play position or milestone that is difficult such as tummy time, sidelying play, back play, rolling, all fours, getting in/out of sitting, or crawling with support.
Retest mobility: After the hold, gently test both sides again to observe any improvements in mobility.
Repeat if necessary: If the sides still aren't equal, you may repeat the hold, always ensuring your baby's comfort. Often I encourage families to complete this 2-3x/day if possible only on the easy side and always following up with 30 seconds to 1 minute of bouncing.
Curious About Learning More on Tummy Time, Rolling, or Both?
The absolute best book for parents on tummy time and rolling is: Tummy Time and Learning to Roll: A Baby Development Book for Ambitious Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers to Help Babies Learn to Roll Independently. The book comes with a free online video course to help parents fully understand how to complete the different exercises, printable checklists to know exactly where your baby is at, and when to reach out for additional help.
This book was written by Dr. Lauren Baker, PT, DPT, ATC, MTC, who is a Pediatric Physical Therapist in Boise, Idaho, trained in helping parents learn how to help their babies move and master their milestones. She loves teaching parents how to see how their babies are moving as well as how to influence those movements though play positions and exercises to help babies move with confidence and ease.
Tummy Time and Learning to Roll is the first book in the Proactive Play series written by Pediatric Physical Therapist Dr. Lauren Baker in order to help Ambitious Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers learn how to help babies master tummy time and learn to roll. It is meant to help ambitious parents understand baby development from birth to six months (tummy time to rolling).
This book is a mix of easy-to-follow and more in-depth information than is typically found in baby development books because Dr. Baker believes parents deserve to have all the information at their fingertips.
This book breaks down each piece of movement in checklists so that parents know what their babies need for tummy time and rolling. It also covers what areas might limit a child with rolling, why it is so important, and when to seek help from a pediatric PT.
This book comes with colored photos and easy-to-follow demonstration videos that can help parents implement safe, strategic play-based exercises with their babies in 20 minutes per day.
A Great Resource For:
Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers of babies 0-6 months
Parents of babies who are struggling with tummy time, rolling back to belly, belly to back, or only to one side
Access to simple, easy-to-follow videos of play positions and exercises
Learning the four pillars of movement needed in order to master rolling
240+ Color Photo Examples of:
Tummy Time, Sidelying, and Back Play
Developmental Toys and Equipment
Hand Placement and Strategic Play Positions
Common Areas of Restriction or Weakness
When To Reach Out For Help
What If You Want Extra Help?
If you have concerns about their movement, remember, you can always reach out to a pediatric physical therapist. It's your right as a parent to advocate for your child's development.
Sometimes, a few tips and tricks are all you need to get your baby moving better. We're here to support you and release those mama worries. If you are looking for in home pediatric physical therapy, check our listing of therapists.
For those eager to learn more or seeking personalized guidance, I offer online video parent consultations internationally which can be scheduled by clicking here. I am dedicated to answering questions and providing tailored play activities for each unique developmental journey.
When Should Babies Receive Pediatric Physical Therapy?
Parents can call and schedule with a Pediatric Physical Therapist at any time, for any concern in all fifty states without a referral from their Pediatrician.
Pediatric Physical Therapy is medically indicated in all babies who are not rolling in all four directions by six months (back to belly over their right arm AND left arm + belly to back over their right arm AND left arm).
Pediatric Physical Therapy is medically indicated if you notice a flat spot on the back of an infants head (possible plagiocephaly), a tilt of their head consistently to one side (ear to shoulder - possible torticollis), or a rotation preference of their neck (consistently look only to the right or left - possible torticollis).
Many Pediatric Physical Therapists including Dr. Baker, can successfully treat flat spots (Plagiocephaly) without a helmet with a combination of therapy and positioning strategies if seen prior to 4 months (0-3 months is ideal). Dr. Baker uses the Baby Begin Method of repositioning.
Flat spots can be due to in-utero positioning, rotational preference (right sided flatness most common) and babies are at an increased risk for flatness if they are male, were breech, multiple birth, premature, have difficulty with tummy time, or are in containers > 2 hr/day.
Final Thoughts
Congratulations on taking this step towards enhancing your baby's mobility! Remember, every baby is unique, so observing and understanding their specific needs is key. If you're eager to learn more or need personalized advice, don't hesitate to reach out for a one-on-one online parent consultation. Together, we can ensure your little one moves confidently and joyously.
Remember, you're doing an amazing job, and by seeking out ways to support your baby's development, you're setting the stage for a lifetime of healthy, happy movement. Let's keep learning and growing together! If you haven’t yet, consider subscribing to the youtube channel for more support on milestones for infants to toddlers.
Thank you for joining me on this journey. Here's to many more milestones and joyful moments with your little ones!
Trunk Stretching Exercises For Babies To Help Them With Rolling or Crawling
this blog contains affiliate links
Hi there, proactive parents! I'm Dr. Lauren Baker, your pediatric physical therapy bestie, dedicated to helping proactive parents like you support their babies in moving with confidence and ease.
Today, we're diving into an essential aspect of your baby's development: trunk rotation. Understanding and fostering this ability can significantly enhance your baby's progress towards milestones such as rolling, transitioning in and out of sitting, and even future activities like walking, running, and hopping.
Let's explore why trunk rotation is crucial and share two easy exercises you can do to improve it.
Why Trunk Rotation Matters
Trunk rotation refers to the ability of the top half of your child's body to move separately from the bottom half.
This skill is vital for:
Complex Movements: It enables actions like rolling, which require the upper body to rotate in one direction while the lower body rotates in the opposite direction.
Developmental Milestones: Trunk rotation is foundational for rolling over (both ways!), sitting independently, crawling, and the more complex motions your child will eventually tackle, like jumping and hopping.
Often we need flexibility before we are able to fully utilize the muscles that allow our bodies to move in the ways we want (or need) them to.
The Importance of Stretching in Trunk Rotation
A baby's trunk can move in three main planes:
Side to side — like the “I'm a little teapot” dance
Front and back — how we walk or go up stairs
Rotation — think of sitting in a chair and looking behind you
For functional movements, especially rolling, your baby needs to twist one part of their trunk in one direction while the other part remains in the opposite direction.
Ensuring your baby can move equally well in both directions is crucial for their overall mobility and the development of symmetrical movement patterns aka we need babies to move equally in both directions and the same on each side.
Before we go into the exercise, we need to talk about two methods that can get us to the same destination. Before filming this video I ONLY had heard about traditional stretching, where we bring a body part to feel the stretch, hold it for at least 30 seconds, and then do the opposite side so we’re balanced.
Since this video has been published, I have been additional trained in Total Motion Release Tots or TMR Tots.
TMR uses a different approach to increase motion. It shortens the muscle to relax it, then increases body awareness through bouncing or another option. This ONLY happens on the easy side.
So going forward, you can use either of these exercises by using Traditional Stretching by doing both sides OR TMR approach where you ONLY use one side, the easy side holding for 1-2 minutes, and follow up with 30 seconds to 1 minute of bouncing.
I personally prefer the TMR approach because it feels a little like magic, babies fight it less, relax into it more, and overall I get the best results when using this option.
That being said, traditional stretching is not WRONG – it’s simply a different route to get to the same destination, I just happen to find that the TMR approach has less traffic lights :)
Ideally, regardless of which option you use, you follow up with some tummy time, sidelying play, back play, or rolling/crawling/sitting practice.
For the most comprehensive information, it’s recommended to watch the full video below.
Exercise 1: Stretching Baby's Trunk Rotation on Their Back
This first exercise is designed to improve your baby's trunk rotation while they're lying on their back. It's a gentle way to stretch and promote flexibility.
How to Do It:
Lay your baby on their back.
Gently hold under one of your baby's knees and bring it across their body towards the opposite elbow. Keep your hand resting on their same side shoulder to note when it start to lift off the ground, this shows you when you have taken up all the available range. The baby is now in trunk in rotation.
Repeat on the other side, noting if one side feels tighter or more challenging to stretch than the other. Only go to the baby’s available range and not past.
You can use this position to increase range of motion in the following ways if a baby shows tightness in both directions (both shoulders are off the ground) or one (just one shoulder is off the ground more than the other).
Traditional Stretching: Like it says in the video, you can hold both of these positions for 30 seconds to 2 minutes based on the baby’s attention span and tolerance. This is going to increase range of motion by pulling on the shortened tissue and you might find that the baby resists the “tight” or difficult side. This can be frustrating for parents if a baby kicks out of a position while they are trying to improve their mobility. Always allow babies to move out of positions if they are uncomfortable and never push past the level of resistance present.
TMR Tots Approach: ONLY hold the baby in the easy direction for 1-2 minutes and follow up with 30 seconds to a minute of bouncing. This often gets quicker results (you can always check both directions before/after for a quick bit but only HOLD the EASY side) because the baby is able to easily relax into the easy direction thus allowing the muscles to relax and improves in overall flexibility on both sides.
It often feels a little bit odd when I teach it to parents, but I do really like this approach and use it almost exclusively.
Exercise 2: Holding Position for Trunk Rotation
My favorite exercise doesn't require dedicated time out of your day because it can be incorporated into how you hold your baby as you go about your routine. It's a fantastic way to stretch your baby's trunk rotation while engaging with them.
How to Perform:
Hold your baby with their back against your chest, keeping their trunk steady against your body.
Slide one hand between the FRONT of your baby's legs and then rest your hand on their bottom cheek that is the same side as your arm – if your left arm is holding the baby, your other hand is going to go through the front of their legs and rest your hand on their left buttock or vice versa.
Gently rotate your baby's pelvis by bringing your bottom elbow backwards/behind you to the level of their available range (as far as they easily go and not past). Make sure to keep their shoulders aligned with yours (their chest does not move and they should stay vertical).
The motion at your elbow creates a gentle twist in their trunk by moving their pelvis (think of like how you would twist out a wet wash cloth but instead of horizontal, it’s vertical).Walk around, allowing your baby to see the world from this new perspective. This not only helps with trunk rotation but also provides sensory stimulation.
Traditional Stretching: Like it says in the video, you can hold both of these positions for 30 seconds to 2 minutes based on the baby’s attention span and tolerance. This is going to increase range of motion by pulling on the shortened tissue and you might find that the baby resists the “tight” or difficult side. This can be frustrating for parents if a baby kicks out of a position while they are trying to improve their mobility. Always allow babies to move out of positions if they are uncomfortable and never push past the level of resistance present.
TMR Tots Approach: ONLY hold the baby in the easy direction for 1-2 minutes and follow up with 30 seconds to a minute of bouncing. This often gets quicker results (you can always check both directions before/after for a quick bit but only HOLD the EASY side) because the baby is able to easily relax into the easy direction thus allowing the muscles to relax and improves in overall flexibility on both sides.
**to determine the easy side, use the floor exercise (exercise #1) to determine which shoulder is closest to the ground.
Right shoulder closest to ground = Right Upper Trunk Rotation is Easy = YOUR RIGHT ARM goes around their chest.
Left shoulder closest to ground = LEFT Upper Trunk Rotation is Easy = YOUR LEFT ARM goes around their chest.
TIMESTAMPS:
0:48 what trunk rotation is needed for
1:07 why trunk rotation in babies is important and why they need to stretch in trunk rotation
3:00 exercise 1: how to stretch a baby in trunk rotation on their back
3:53 the easier way to stretch a baby in trunk rotation
4:43 exercise 2 holding position that helps stretch a baby in trunk rotation
6:00 this philosophy is different than traditional stretching and is called TMR (total motion release) for this type of release please see video here: Total Motion Release Technique for more explanations
TOY IDEAS:
Best Toys for Babies Learning to Roll
Best Toys for Babies
PT Approved Equipment/Containers for Babies
Tummy Time Toys
Understanding Trunk Rotation
Why It's Effective: These exercises stretch the upper and lower parts of the trunk in opposite directions, mirroring the essential movement patterns needed for rolling and other developmental milestones.
Why This Matters
Investing a few minutes daily in these simple exercises can make a significant difference in your baby's physical development. Trunk rotation is a cornerstone of movement, and by fostering this skill early on, you're paving the way for your baby to achieve milestones with greater ease and confidence.
Working Together for Your Baby's Best Start
If you've tried these exercises and have questions or if you're seeking more personalized guidance, I'm here for you. Check the pinned comment for a link to book a one-on-one consultation with me or schedule right here. We can dive deeper into your baby's developmental journey, ensuring you have all the tools and knowledge to support their growth every step of the way.
Curious About Learning More on Tummy Time, Rolling, or Both?
The absolute best book for parents on tummy time and rolling is: Tummy Time and Learning to Roll: A Baby Development Book for Ambitious Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers to Help Babies Learn to Roll Independently. The book comes with a free online video course to help parents fully understand how to complete the different exercises, printable checklists to know exactly where your baby is at, and when to reach out for additional help.
This book was written by Dr. Lauren Baker, PT, DPT, ATC, MTC, who is a Pediatric Physical Therapist in Boise, Idaho, trained in helping parents learn how to help their babies move and master their milestones. She loves teaching parents how to see how their babies are moving as well as how to influence those movements though play positions and exercises to help babies move with confidence and ease.
Tummy Time and Learning to Roll is the first book in the Proactive Play series written by Pediatric Physical Therapist Dr. Lauren Baker in order to help Ambitious Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers learn how to help babies master tummy time and learn to roll. It is meant to help ambitious parents understand baby development from birth to six months (tummy time to rolling).
This book is a mix of easy-to-follow and more in-depth information than is typically found in baby development books because Dr. Baker believes parents deserve to have all the information at their fingertips.
This book breaks down each piece of movement in checklists so that parents know what their babies need for tummy time and rolling. It also covers what areas might limit a child with rolling, why it is so important, and when to seek help from a pediatric PT.
This book comes with colored photos and easy-to-follow demonstration videos that can help parents implement safe, strategic play-based exercises with their babies in 20 minutes per day.
A Great Resource For:
Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers of babies 0-6 months
Parents of babies who are struggling with tummy time, rolling back to belly, belly to back, or only to one side
Access to simple, easy-to-follow videos of play positions and exercises
Learning the four pillars of movement needed in order to master rolling
240+ Color Photo Examples of:
Tummy Time, Sidelying, and Back Play
Developmental Toys and Equipment
Hand Placement and Strategic Play Positions
Common Areas of Restriction or Weakness
When To Reach Out For Help
What If You Want Extra Help?
If you have concerns about their movement, remember, you can always reach out to a pediatric physical therapist. It's your right as a parent to advocate for your child's development.
Sometimes, a few tips and tricks are all you need to get your baby moving better. We're here to support you and release those mama worries. If you are looking for in home pediatric physical therapy, check our listing of therapists.
For those eager to learn more or seeking personalized guidance, I offer online video parent consultations internationally which can be scheduled by clicking here. I am dedicated to answering questions and providing tailored play activities for each unique developmental journey.
When Should Babies Receive Pediatric Physical Therapy?
Parents can call and schedule with a Pediatric Physical Therapist at any time, for any concern in all fifty states without a referral from their Pediatrician.
Pediatric Physical Therapy is medically indicated in all babies who are not rolling in all four directions by six months (back to belly over their right arm AND left arm + belly to back over their right arm AND left arm).
Pediatric Physical Therapy is medically indicated if you notice a flat spot on the back of an infants head (possible plagiocephaly), a tilt of their head consistently to one side (ear to shoulder - possible torticollis), or a rotation preference of their neck (consistently look only to the right or left - possible torticollis).
Many Pediatric Physical Therapists including Dr. Baker, can successfully treat flat spots (Plagiocephaly) without a helmet with a combination of therapy and positioning strategies if seen prior to 4 months (0-3 months is ideal). Dr. Baker uses the Baby Begin Method of repositioning.
Flat spots can be due to in-utero positioning, rotational preference (right sided flatness most common) and babies are at an increased risk for flatness if they are male, were breech, multiple birth, premature, have difficulty with tummy time, or are in containers > 2 hr/day.
Final Thoughts
As parents, taking the time to understand and support your baby's development is one of the greatest gifts you can give. Trunk rotation is just one piece of the developmental puzzle, but it's a critical one. By incorporating these simple exercises into your daily routine, you're not only bonding with your baby but also actively contributing to their future success in rolling, crawling, and beyond.
Thank you for joining me on this journey to support your baby's development. Remember, you're doing an incredible job, and I'm here to support you. Stay tuned for more tips and insights to help your baby move with confidence and ease! If you haven’t yet, consider subscribing to the youtube channel for more videos for baby to toddler development.
How to Test A Baby’s Trunk Flexibility With This Rolling and Crawling Exercise
this blog contains affiliate links
Hello there, proactive parents! I'm Dr. Lauren Baker, a pediatric physical therapist, here to share some valuable insights into your baby's development.
Think of me as your pediatric PT bestie for all things related to helping your little ones move with confidence and ease. Today, we're diving into a topic that's both fascinating and crucial for your baby's growth: trunk mobility.
To be honest, it sounds kind of boring, but let me tell you – once you know about it, you will be able to unlock secret, hidden blocks that your baby might be experiencing if rolling or crawling is a struggle.
So, let's get started on this journey together!
Introduction to Trunk Mobility in Babies
You might not realize it, but trunk mobility is a big deal for babies. It's the foundation upon which many gross motor milestones like rolling, sitting, crawling, and walking are built.
However, many parents aren't aware that babies can have restrictions in their trunk, leading to a preference for moving in one direction or not being able to access the motion necessary in both directions, causing them to stay in one position like sitting or lying on their back.
This can cause muscle imbalances and make those milestones especially rolling and crawling more challenging than necessary.
Why It Matters to Test A Baby’s Trunk Flexibility
Muscle Imbalances: Tightness in the trunk can lead to asymmetrical movement patterns (this means that one side moves well, while the other doesn’t), potentially impacting your baby's ability to reach milestones smoothly. This can also occur globally if babies are tight in both directions.
Gross Motor Milestones: Proper trunk mobility is essential for rolling back to belly and belly to back, sitting independently, crawling, and eventually walking.
Quick Trunk Mobility Test: Elbow to Knee
For the most comprehensive information and examples on a baby please watch the youtube video below.
I'm excited to share a simple mobility test that you can do at home to check for trunk tightness or decreased mobility in your infant. This test can reveal if there's a significant difference in mobility from one side to the other.
How to Perform the Infant Trunk Mobility Test
Positioning: Gently place your baby on their back, then grasp under their left knee with one hand and behind their elbow with your other.
Movement: Gently hold beneath your baby's elbow and try to touch it to the opposite knee, only going as far as their resistance allows (never pushing past their resistance and always stopping when there is no more slack available).
Notice the motion of the knee coming to the elbow occurs at your baby's pelvis not their actual hip joint. The bottom of the baby should lift up into flexion (baby’s back and bottom are rounded).
Observation: Notice if one side seems easier or more difficult for your baby compared to the other. If one side the elbow and knee easily come together, touching or almost touching but the opposite is 3-4 inches a part, note the side that is difficult and approximately how far away the knee is from the elbow.
TIMESTAMPS:
2:32 Test for Babys Trunk Flexibility
3:14 indepth breakdown of how to complete the test
4:27 what this means and how it could impact crawling or rolling
TOY IDEAS:
Best Toys for Babies Learning to Roll
Best Toys for Babies
PT Approved Equipment/Containers for Babies
Tummy Time Toys
Understanding the Infant Trunk Mobility Test Results
If you find that there's a noticeable difference between the two sides, it might indicate trunk restrictions. This doesn't mean your baby won't hit their milestones, but they might face more difficulties.
It is important to note trunk restrictions, especially if a baby if struggling with a functional task, in their cases movement milestones like rolling, sitting, crawling, or walking.
What Differences Mean and How to Break Them Down
Every child is different, so the follow is a typical understanding of movement limitations; however, not every single child will present this way and it’s important to note how your child is moving and if there is any tightness present AND difficulty with milestones, to reach out to a pediatric PT to further assist in resolving.
Right Elbow – Left Knee is difficult or not as close: This is likely due to decreased range of motion or mobility in the right rotation of the upper trunk and/or left side bend of the lateral trunk (upper and/or lower trunk).
Babies may experience difficulty with:
Back to belly over the left arm
Belly to back over the right arm
Pivoting on their belly to the left
Sit to all fours to the right
Crawling on all fours
They may also present with Hitch crawling with R foot on the ground and L knee on the ground
Left Elbow – Right Knee is difficult or not as close: This likely is due to decreased range of motion or mobility in the left rotation of the upper trunk and/or right sidebend of the lateral trunk (upper and/or lower trunk).
Babies may experience difficulty with:
Back to belly over the left arm
Belly to back over the right arm
Pivoting on their belly to the right
Sit to all fours to the left
Crawling on all fours
They may also present with Hitch crawling with L foot on the ground and R knee on the ground
Both are difficult or pretty far apart > 1 inch: Babies may show difficulty in back to belly / belly to back / crawling / or transitioning in/out of all fours. They may also be okay with one direction but not all directions ie back to belly or belly to back over one arm but not in all four directions (belly to back over R arm, belly to back over L arm, back to belly over R arm, back to belly over L arm).
They may also present with booty scooting or prolonged army crawling, because these positions do not require side to side (side bend) or rotation directions.
If You Notice Asymmetries
Seek Professional Help: A pediatric physical therapist can provide hands-on assessment and personalized strategies for babies or speaking to a pediatric physical therapist through an online parent consultation can help you understand the movement that your child is presenting with and assist in finding either proactive play strategies or providers in your area.
Don't Panic: Consider any limitations as a data point to be proactive rather than a cause for alarm. Often, these “tests” are orthopedic in nature indicating that the baby is struggling with muscle tightness, not necessarily difficulty in coordinating the movement together.
Pediatric physical therapists can help you figure out any red flags for development if you do have more global concerns.
The Impact of Infant Trunk Mobility on Development
Restrictions in trunk mobility can influence various developmental milestones because these activities require multi-plane movements, such as rotating the trunk while also bending at the trunk, while fighting gravity.
Rolling is the most specific milestone in which trunk rotation and side bending can significantly limit a baby’s experience and achievement of movement milestones. See the Learning to Roll book, that I released in October 2023 for a comprehensive guide to improve trunk mobility and master tummy time and rolling in all four directions.
When a baby is beginning to sit independently they need trunk mobility is key to maintaining balance and posture, trunk mobility allows the muscles to turn on and off in sequence during different demands of gravity such as reaching to the front or side.
When babies move from their back to sitting and sitting to all fours, they need both side bending and rotation in order to do it. Most babies who struggle with rotation, begin to choose alternative, disadvantageous movement patterns such as booty scooting instead of crawling on all fours.
This is often due to them not having the available movement and with focused intention and support, they can often achieve crawling on hands and knees.
If you're concerned about your baby's trunk mobility or just want to ensure they're on the right track, remember, I'm here to help, you can schedule an online parent consultation at any time.
Curious About Learning More on Tummy Time, Rolling, or Both?
The absolute best book for parents on tummy time and rolling is: Tummy Time and Learning to Roll: A Baby Development Book for Ambitious Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers to Help Babies Learn to Roll Independently. The book comes with a free online video course to help parents fully understand how to complete the different exercises, printable checklists to know exactly where your baby is at, and when to reach out for additional help.
This book was written by Dr. Lauren Baker, PT, DPT, ATC, MTC, who is a Pediatric Physical Therapist in Boise, Idaho, trained in helping parents learn how to help their babies move and master their milestones. She loves teaching parents how to see how their babies are moving as well as how to influence those movements though play positions and exercises to help babies move with confidence and ease.
Tummy Time and Learning to Roll is the first book in the Proactive Play series written by Pediatric Physical Therapist Dr. Lauren Baker in order to help Ambitious Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers learn how to help babies master tummy time and learn to roll. It is meant to help ambitious parents understand baby development from birth to six months (tummy time to rolling).
This book is a mix of easy-to-follow and more in-depth information than is typically found in baby development books because Dr. Baker believes parents deserve to have all the information at their fingertips.
This book breaks down each piece of movement in checklists so that parents know what their babies need for tummy time and rolling. It also covers what areas might limit a child with rolling, why it is so important, and when to seek help from a pediatric PT.
This book comes with colored photos and easy-to-follow demonstration videos that can help parents implement safe, strategic play-based exercises with their babies in 20 minutes per day.
A Great Resource For:
Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers of babies 0-6 months
Parents of babies who are struggling with tummy time, rolling back to belly, belly to back, or only to one side
Access to simple, easy-to-follow videos of play positions and exercises
Learning the four pillars of movement needed in order to master rolling
240+ Color Photo Examples of:
Tummy Time, Sidelying, and Back Play
Developmental Toys and Equipment
Hand Placement and Strategic Play Positions
Common Areas of Restriction or Weakness
When To Reach Out For Help
What If You Want Extra Help?
If you have concerns about their movement, remember, you can always reach out to a pediatric physical therapist. It's your right as a parent to advocate for your child's development.
Sometimes, a few tips and tricks are all you need to get your baby moving better. We're here to support you and release those mama worries. If you are looking for in home pediatric physical therapy, check our listing of therapists.
For those eager to learn more or seeking personalized guidance, I offer online video parent consultations internationally which can be scheduled by clicking here. I am dedicated to answering questions and providing tailored play activities for each unique developmental journey.
When Should Babies Receive Pediatric Physical Therapy?
Parents can call and schedule with a Pediatric Physical Therapist at any time, for any concern in all fifty states without a referral from their Pediatrician.
Pediatric Physical Therapy is medically indicated in all babies who are not rolling in all four directions by six months (back to belly over their right arm AND left arm + belly to back over their right arm AND left arm).
Pediatric Physical Therapy is medically indicated if you notice a flat spot on the back of an infants head (possible plagiocephaly), a tilt of their head consistently to one side (ear to shoulder - possible torticollis), or a rotation preference of their neck (consistently look only to the right or left - possible torticollis).
Many Pediatric Physical Therapists including Dr. Baker, can successfully treat flat spots (Plagiocephaly) without a helmet with a combination of therapy and positioning strategies if seen prior to 4 months (0-3 months is ideal). Dr. Baker uses the Baby Begin Method of repositioning.
Flat spots can be due to in-utero positioning, rotational preference (right sided flatness most common) and babies are at an increased risk for flatness if they are male, were breech, multiple birth, premature, have difficulty with tummy time, or are in containers > 2 hr/day.
Final Thoughts
Your role in your baby's developmental journey is monumental, and by being proactive, you're setting the stage for their future success. If you have any questions or need guidance, feel free to reach out. If you haven’t yet, please consider subscribing to the youtube channel or share it with a parent friend.
Together, we can ensure your baby moves with confidence and joy!
Thank you for joining me today, and remember, you're doing an incredible job as a parent. Stay tuned for more tips and insights to support your baby's growth and development!
How to Improve Head Control in Babies with the Pull To Sit Exercise
this blog contains affiliate links
Hey there, proactive parents! I'm Dr. Lauren Baker, a pediatric physical therapist, author, and your guide to learn how to help your babies move with confidence and ease.
Today, I'm thrilled to share with you a fun exercise known as the "pull to sit" – that's not just a game-changer for your baby's core strength but also a milestone checker used by pediatricians worldwide.
Why is the Pull to Sit Exercise a Milestone Checker?
Because it is a good gauge to see if a child is able to tuck their chin and hold it in that position against gravity when their body is going up and going down.
This shows that the neck muscles on the front (deep neck flexors) are working both in their ability to activate AND in their ability to hold that position for a prolonged period of time (long enough to not give up half way through the motion).
Babies three months and older have appropriate neck strength if they can complete a chin tuck while being brought into a sitting position and back into a lying position without letting their head fall backwards, what healthcare providers call a “head lag.”
Head lags mean that babies lack the neck strength to hold their heads in the chin tucked position throughout that movement, either because the muscles are weak or tight.
This position can also be used as an exercise to help build that neck strength in babies who are typically developing or who have developmental delays.
This exercise is truly all about empowering your little one to build the muscles needed for rolling, sitting independently, crawling, and beyond. Let's dive into making your baby's movement milestones memorable and fun!
Why the Pull to Sit Exercise is a Must-Try and Must Master Movement
Pull to sit is fundamentally a test that checks for your baby's ability to activate their deep neck flexors, tuck their chin, and use their shoulder girdle and abdomen to sit up from a lying position.
Typically Pediatricians check this motion by placing their fingers in both of a baby’s hands and the baby pulls themselves into a sitting position.
Not all Pediatricians will check both the “up” and “down,” component of the movement and traditionally if a baby is able to do the “up” portion, they are deemed appropriate in age development.
This milestone typically emerges around three months, signaling that your baby is on the right track with their head control and is ready to tackle the world—one sit-up at a time.
Observing Your Baby's Response to the Pull to Sit Exercise
Normal Response: A baby tucks their neck and uses their arms and abdomen to pull into a sitting position. The baby uses their arms to PULL themselves into sitting, meaning they bend their elbows and bring their chest forward the full way.
If a baby does not bend their elbows to pull themselves into the sit position and both of their arms stay straight DO NOT pull them into a sitting position with their arms straight. This automatically demonstrates difficulty with this movement and go into the exercise portion with your hands supporting behind their shoulders.
Weakness/Not Mastered:
Head Lag: If your baby’s head goes backward (into extension) and they are not able to keep their chin tucked during ANY part of this test (going up or going down).
This can happen if a baby hasn't had ample tummy time, hasn’t practiced this motion before, struggles to grab their feet, has tightness in their neck or chest, or hasn’t been introduced to sidelying play.
Head lag can be at the beginning, in the middle where a baby seems to “give up” and their head falls backward, or a forceful “no longer interested” by flinging their head/body backwards.
Most times, going down is going to be more difficult than going up and keeping your fingers available to support the head so it doesn’t go backwards if a baby stops maintaining the chin tuck is always encouraged.
Not using the arms to pull and keeping the elbows straight: Sometimes parents pull their babies into a sitting position with the baby’s arms straight, this can cause damage to their arm and shoulder muscles because the baby is not engaging their shoulders and bringing themselves into sitting.
When testings at the arms/hands, parents should encourage the baby to do all the work, going as slowly as needed. If the baby is not bending their arms to pull themselves into sitting, immediately provide support behind the shoulder blades and complete the screen that way.
When completing as an exercise I always continue to provide support behind the shoulder blades when doing 5-10 repetitions. I will “test” 1-2 at the hands to make sure they can do it, but prefer to always support at the shoulders to focus more on the trunk and neck strength vs arm strength.
How to Practice the Pull to Sit Exercise Safely and Effectively
For the most comprehensive information and examples using babies, please watch the youtube video below
For Babies Not Yet Pulling Actively: Modification
If your baby isn't engaging their muscles during pull to sit, don't fret! We'll start with modifications to build up their strength gently.
Elevate: Start with your baby elevated where their shoulders are above the level of the hips. I do this usually by placing their shoulders and upper back lying backwards on a boppy, but parents can do this using a wedge, cushion, or throw pillow.
Elevating the baby pulls out the toughest first 25% of the motion as gravity is the meanest between 0-25 degrees when going from lying on your back to sitting (either on your own or with help). By elevating, we simply remove that difficult portion to build strength in the easier range.
Once we master the modified version by completing x10 repetitions, moving onto harder version will be easier.
Support and Slow Motion: Support your baby under their shoulders, moving slowly to encourage them to tuck their chin and engage their core. You can add into toys in their lap when coming into sitting or using a pacifier to keep them engaged and calm.
Calming Techniques Between Reps: Offering gentle bounces or a snuggle between reps can soothe your baby, making the exercise more enjoyable.
For Babies Ready for More Challenge
Go Flat: Using an incline, like a boppy pillow, reduces the challenge by focusing on the upper 50% of the movement, making it easier for your baby to practice the pull to sit. Once they can complete x10 in a row on a boppy with chin tucked in both going up and going down, move them to flat on the floor and build up to x10 there.
Bonus for Parents & Babies: For older babies, encourage them to use their hands to pull up from the ground or from your lap. When parents place the baby on their lap they even get a core workout too.
TIMESTAMPS:
0:41 introduction to pull to sit and what it is and why doctors test pull to sit
1:43 what happens if a baby has a head lag in pull to sit
1:58 what to do if your baby is not using their arms in pull to sit
2:38 pull to sit 3-6 month olds
3:03 how many pull to sits should you do with your baby
3:15 calming techniques for babies why cry during exercises
3:30 how to support the head and neck with supine to sit
4:00 how babies tend to compensate if they have weak neck muscles
4:36 vibrating oral toy to increase the effectiveness of pull to sit
5:15 how to build the most strength for head control
5:35 what to do if your baby is struggling with pull to sit
8:07 modified pull to sit on an elevated surface
9:16 advanced pull to sit on parents legs using arms
10:03 pull to sit with hands from the ground (older baby)
TOY IDEAS:
Z Vibe Teether
Z Vibe Tips
Vibrating pull toy (similar)
Small Tummy Time Boppy
Prop a pillar
Wedge
Best Toys for Babies Learning to Roll
Best Toys for Babies
PT Approved Equipment/Containers for Babies
Tummy Time Toys
Key Takeaways for Successful Pull to Sit Exercise Sessions
Watch for Compensations: If your baby tries to use upper trunk extension instead of tucking their chin, support them under their shoulders to encourage core engagement.
Use Props: A small, vibrating oral motor toy can encourage your baby to grasp with both hands, promoting a tucked position and engagement of the right muscles.
Praise and Encouragement: Celebrate every effort, no matter how small, with lots of praises and cuddles.
Understanding Your Baby's Strength and Tolerance
Babies have varying levels of tolerance for exercises. If your baby can only handle a few repetitions before needing a break, that's perfectly okay. The goal is to encourage movement without pushing too hard, respecting your baby's limits and celebrating their progress.
Every single repetition will build on itself, if a baby has to start with x3 from an elevated surface done 5x/day, that is fine. Add them into diaper changes.
Once x3 are consistently tolerated (and may even enjoyed!) start adding repetitions until you can successful get to x10 in a row. THEN make it more challenging by going flat on the floor or decreasing the height of the incline (wedge to boppy to small throw pillow to floor).
Why Gravity Matters
Gravity is the invisible force that your baby battles with every pull to sit. Initially, gravity pushes babies harder because it is stronger in a perpendicular direction than it is at an angle, making the first part of the movement from floor to 25 degrees incline more challenging.
As your baby pulls up, gravity then goes from pushing them down to being less intense to even at times assisting them.
Curious About Learning More on Tummy Time, Rolling, or Both?
The absolute best book for parents on tummy time and rolling is: Tummy Time and Learning to Roll: A Baby Development Book for Ambitious Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers to Help Babies Learn to Roll Independently. The book comes with a free online video course to help parents fully understand how to complete the different exercises, printable checklists to know exactly where your baby is at, and when to reach out for additional help.
This book was written by Dr. Lauren Baker, PT, DPT, ATC, MTC, who is a Pediatric Physical Therapist in Boise, Idaho, trained in helping parents learn how to help their babies move and master their milestones. She loves teaching parents how to see how their babies are moving as well as how to influence those movements though play positions and exercises to help babies move with confidence and ease.
Tummy Time and Learning to Roll is the first book in the Proactive Play series written by Pediatric Physical Therapist Dr. Lauren Baker in order to help Ambitious Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers learn how to help babies master tummy time and learn to roll. It is meant to help ambitious parents understand baby development from birth to six months (tummy time to rolling).
This book is a mix of easy-to-follow and more in-depth information than is typically found in baby development books because Dr. Baker believes parents deserve to have all the information at their fingertips.
This book breaks down each piece of movement in checklists so that parents know what their babies need for tummy time and rolling. It also covers what areas might limit a child with rolling, why it is so important, and when to seek help from a pediatric PT.
This book comes with colored photos and easy-to-follow demonstration videos that can help parents implement safe, strategic play-based exercises with their babies in 20 minutes per day.
A Great Resource For:
Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers of babies 0-6 months
Parents of babies who are struggling with tummy time, rolling back to belly, belly to back, or only to one side
Access to simple, easy-to-follow videos of play positions and exercises
Learning the four pillars of movement needed in order to master rolling
240+ Color Photo Examples of:
Tummy Time, Sidelying, and Back Play
Developmental Toys and Equipment
Hand Placement and Strategic Play Positions
Common Areas of Restriction or Weakness
When To Reach Out For Help
What If You Want Extra Help?
If you have concerns about their movement, remember, you can always reach out to a pediatric physical therapist. It's your right as a parent to advocate for your child's development.
Sometimes, a few tips and tricks are all you need to get your baby moving better. We're here to support you and release those mama worries. If you are looking for in home pediatric physical therapy, check our listing of therapists.
For those eager to learn more or seeking personalized guidance, I offer online video parent consultations internationally which can be scheduled by clicking here. I am dedicated to answering questions and providing tailored play activities for each unique developmental journey.
When Should Babies Receive Pediatric Physical Therapy?
Parents can call and schedule with a Pediatric Physical Therapist at any time, for any concern in all fifty states without a referral from their Pediatrician.
Pediatric Physical Therapy is medically indicated in all babies who are not rolling in all four directions by six months (back to belly over their right arm AND left arm + belly to back over their right arm AND left arm).
Pediatric Physical Therapy is medically indicated if you notice a flat spot on the back of an infants head (possible plagiocephaly), a tilt of their head consistently to one side (ear to shoulder - possible torticollis), or a rotation preference of their neck (consistently look only to the right or left - possible torticollis).
Many Pediatric Physical Therapists including Dr. Baker, can successfully treat flat spots (Plagiocephaly) without a helmet with a combination of therapy and positioning strategies if seen prior to 4 months (0-3 months is ideal). Dr. Baker uses the Baby Begin Method of repositioning.
Flat spots can be due to in-utero positioning, rotational preference (right sided flatness most common) and babies are at an increased risk for flatness if they are male, were breech, multiple birth, premature, have difficulty with tummy time, or are in containers > 2 hr/day.
Final Thoughts
Thank you for joining me on this journey to strengthen your baby's core muscles through the pull to sit exercise.
Remember, every baby develops at their own pace, and the goal is to support them with love, patience, and encouragement. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out for an online parent consultation.
Together, we can ensure your baby builds the strength they need to explore the world around them with confidence.
Stay tuned for more tips and tricks on helping your little one move better, and don't forget to share this post with other parents in your circle. If you haven’t yet, make sure to subscribe to the youtube channel and share it with other parents looking for proactive play ideas for their babies.
Here's to happy, healthy development for all our littles!
How To Stretch A Baby’s Neck and Arm Muscles With Baby Backbends
this blog contains affiliate links
Hello, proactive parents! I'm Dr. Lauren Baker, a pediatric physical therapist with a passion for helping active parents and their little ones move better. Today, I’m super excited to share with you a playful and effective exercise to stretch your baby’s abdomen, neck, and arms.
This routine is not just fun but crucial for developing flexibility, supporting milestones like rolling, sitting, crawling, walking, and addressing conditions like torticollis. Our goal is to make movement a magical experience, for both parents and babies.
As a bonus, this exercise also incorporates the vestibular system, an important sensory system that helps your baby begin to understand where they are in space and help them balance.
Stretching the Neck, Arms, and Belly: Baby Backbends on a Stability Ball
This exercise is often a baby favorite, don’t be surprised if you find them giggling and loving this exercise because it is new and novel.
This exercise uses a stability or exercise ball to help your baby ensure they have the flexibility they need in the front part of their body. Often babies can have tightness in the front of their necks, sides of their trunks/under their arms, and the front of their bellies.
The stability ball provides a gentle and supported way to help babies relax in this position, while incorporated gentle backward/forward motion in order to help facilitate the stretches.
How to Do It
for the best and most comprehensive information, make sure to watch the youtube video down below
Type of Ball: The first thing you’re going to need for this exercise is a stability ball or exercise ball. Often families have one in the home already, but if not one can be purchased off amazon, at target, or walmart, second hand or even borrowed from a family member or friend.
The best size is between 45-65 centimeters and can depend on the size of the baby. Babies that are small and 3-4 months I often recommend small stability balls closer to 45cm but most babies do well on a 55cm stability ball.
Sometimes, 65cm balls can be tough for smaller parents get close to their baby, so I don’t often recommend that big of a ball, but if that is what you have at home, just deflate it a little bit so it isn’t too tall.
When you are on your knees, you want to be able to have your baby lying back on the ball at approximately your hip/lower chest level. You want to make sure you can comfortably bring your chest over the top of the ball to bring them back into a supported sitting or held position.
Position: Keep your body close to your baby and gently lay your baby on their back on the top of the stability ball, with their feet near your body, face up, and the top of their head pointing away from you.
Support: Place your hands securely on their pelvis, I prefer to keep both hands on the top of the pelvis, you want to make sure the baby’s legs lay straight and don’t curl up toward their bellies. You want the baby to be in a gentle backbend.
Action: Gently roll the ball forward and backward, allowing your baby’s head to relax and stretch out the belly. The baby’s neck should be open with their head resting on the ball.
Benefits: This movement stretches the abdomen, neck, and arm muscles and provides vestibular input, which is calming and helps with sensory integration.
TIMESTAMPS:
0:50 stretch for babys neck and belly exercise #1 backbends on stability ball
1:21 stretch for babys neck exercise #2 both hands down backbends on stability ball
2:25 using bounces to calm baby down and increase vestibular regulation
3:07 stretch for babys neck exercise #3 one arm down backbends on stability ball
6:03 how to use exercises to a baby's tolerance
45-75cm stability balls [multiple colors and all sizes]
TOY IDEAS:
Best Toys for Babies Learning to Roll
Best Toys for Babies
PT Approved Equipment/Containers for Babies
Tummy Time Toys
There are two options for where the arms go:
Arms at the sides to emphasize stretching the neck
Arms above the head to emphasize stretching the neck and arms
If a child has a history of torticollis, sometimes holding the arms at the sides will assist in focusing on the neck, but the truth is that sometimes it feels harder to hold the child in the right position when holding their arms down.
These days, I personally prefer allowing the child’s arms to be free, ideally overhead. A lot of children have tightness in the front of their chest and when they are lying backwards over the stability ball, their upper trunks are in extension, this makes bringing their hands overhead even hards, putting more of a stretch on the sides of their trunk.
To help encourage the relaxation of these muscles, I love when another family member or sibling is standing or kneeling by the baby’s head and gently touches the arms encouraging them to go straight.
You do not want to push the baby’s arms toward the ball, you only want to gently stroke the childs arms or tickle the arms or try to get them to reach for your hands. The goal is for the baby to relax their arms overhead over time, not the first time.
Tips for Helping Babies Relax & Stretch Their Arms & Necks
Gentle Guidance: Use your hand to gently guide the top of their chest and stretch the fascia.
Come Up With Ease:
2-5 months: To help your baby come up, bring your chest close to their body and bring your arms behind the baby to support their body and head. Bring them to your chest and lift off the ball.
6 months+: To help your baby come up, gently roll them to the side and encourage pushing up with their arm, going into a sit to sidelying to sit “sit up,” fostering a mix of strength and flexibility.
Use Bounces: Between repetitions, if your baby has head control, you can bring them into sitting and gently bounce on the ball. This can be soothing and is great for vestibular input.
How Many Times or How Long? Babies do really well with this exercise when completing 10-30 times or for 2-5 minutes total (with seated or holding breaks).
If a baby struggles with this exercise, it might be due to tightness in the front of their neck or chest. This is still a great exercise for babies with tightness in those areas to do, but parents may need to go slower to their specific baby’s tolerance.
If a baby only tolerates 5 forward/backward motions, then stop there and build 1-2 more if tolerated. It may take a few days or week to slowly build up to 10-30x.
Making It a Soothing Routine
These activities are perfect for winding down and getting ready for bed. The combination of stretching and vestibular input from bouncing can be incredibly soothing for your baby, making this routine a fantastic prelude to nighttime calmness.
This obviously should not be done before bedtime, if a baby struggles with this exercise, doing it during wake periods would be more appropriate in those cases.
Why This Matters: Babies Who Struggle With Tummy Time
This isn’t just about stretching; it’s about nurturing your baby’s development in a holistic way. These exercises promote flexibility, enhance sensory integration, and build a foundation for future milestones.
When baby’s have tightness in the front of their bodies including their arms, chest, or neck they are at risk for struggling with rolling and tummy time.
In order for babies to lift their heads in tummy time, they need both the strength in the back of their neck muscles to lift their head against gravity AND they need to have the flexibility in the muscles in the front of their neck and chest to ALLOW the head go into extension.
Additionally, babies need to be able to bring their elbows to the side and slightly in front of their shoulders in order to be able to push through the ground and lift their chest and head up.
If babies have tightness in the side of their trunks and arms, one or both arms might not be able to come forward, because the tight muscles are pulling the elbow back.
This makes it inefficient, so babies are not able to have their elbow in the appropriate position and they’re not able to push through the ground to lift their chest and head/neck as they would if they had the flexibility in the side of their trunk, their chest, and arms.
These same muscles, if they are tight, can also impact rolling both back to belly and belly to back. For more information on how tight muscles impact rolling, see the Tummy Time and Learning to Roll: A Baby Development Book for Ambitious Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers to Help Babies Learn to Roll Independently
Curious About Learning More on Tummy Time, Rolling, or Both?
The absolute best book for parents on tummy time and rolling is: Tummy Time and Learning to Roll: A Baby Development Book for Ambitious Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers to Help Babies Learn to Roll Independently. The book comes with a free online video course to help parents fully understand how to complete the different exercises, printable checklists to know exactly where your baby is at, and when to reach out for additional help.
This book was written by Dr. Lauren Baker, PT, DPT, ATC, MTC, who is a Pediatric Physical Therapist in Boise, Idaho, trained in helping parents learn how to help their babies move and master their milestones. She loves teaching parents how to see how their babies are moving as well as how to influence those movements though play positions and exercises to help babies move with confidence and ease.
Tummy Time and Learning to Roll is the first book in the Proactive Play series written by Pediatric Physical Therapist Dr. Lauren Baker in order to help Ambitious Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers learn how to help babies master tummy time and learn to roll. It is meant to help ambitious parents understand baby development from birth to six months (tummy time to rolling).
This book is a mix of easy-to-follow and more in-depth information than is typically found in baby development books because Dr. Baker believes parents deserve to have all the information at their fingertips.
This book breaks down each piece of movement in checklists so that parents know what their babies need for tummy time and rolling. It also covers what areas might limit a child with rolling, why it is so important, and when to seek help from a pediatric PT.
This book comes with colored photos and easy-to-follow demonstration videos that can help parents implement safe, strategic play-based exercises with their babies in 20 minutes per day.
A Great Resource For:
Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers of babies 0-6 months
Parents of babies who are struggling with tummy time, rolling back to belly, belly to back, or only to one side
Access to simple, easy-to-follow videos of play positions and exercises
Learning the four pillars of movement needed in order to master rolling
240+ Color Photo Examples of:
Tummy Time, Sidelying, and Back Play
Developmental Toys and Equipment
Hand Placement and Strategic Play Positions
Common Areas of Restriction or Weakness
When To Reach Out For Help
What If You Want Extra Help?
If you have concerns about their movement, remember, you can always reach out to a pediatric physical therapist. It's your right as a parent to advocate for your child's development.
Sometimes, a few tips and tricks are all you need to get your baby moving better. We're here to support you and release those mama worries. If you are looking for in home pediatric physical therapy, check our listing of therapists.
For those eager to learn more or seeking personalized guidance, I offer online video parent consultations internationally which can be scheduled by clicking here. I am dedicated to answering questions and providing tailored play activities for each unique developmental journey.
When Should Babies Receive Pediatric Physical Therapy?
Parents can call and schedule with a Pediatric Physical Therapist at any time, for any concern in all fifty states without a referral from their Pediatrician.
Pediatric Physical Therapy is medically indicated in all babies who are not rolling in all four directions by six months (back to belly over their right arm AND left arm + belly to back over their right arm AND left arm).
Pediatric Physical Therapy is medically indicated if you notice a flat spot on the back of an infants head (possible plagiocephaly), a tilt of their head consistently to one side (ear to shoulder - possible torticollis), or a rotation preference of their neck (consistently look only to the right or left - possible torticollis).
Many Pediatric Physical Therapists including Dr. Baker, can successfully treat flat spots (Plagiocephaly) without a helmet with a combination of therapy and positioning strategies if seen prior to 4 months (0-3 months is ideal). Dr. Baker uses the Baby Begin Method of repositioning.
Flat spots can be due to in-utero positioning, rotational preference (right sided flatness most common) and babies are at an increased risk for flatness if they are male, were breech, multiple birth, premature, have difficulty with tummy time, or are in containers > 2 hr/day.
Final Thoughts
Embracing Baby’s Tolerance and Celebrating Effort
Every baby is unique, with their own preferences and tolerance levels. It's crucial to follow their lead, celebrating each attempt and giving plenty of cuddles and praise. Remember, it’s not about pushing; it’s about encouraging and supporting your baby’s journey so that they learn to love and feel safe during movement.
If You Have Questions:
Never hesitate to reach out to a local pediatric physical therapist. They're the experts who can guide you through understanding and enhancing your baby’s movement. And, of course, I’m here too! I offer international parent consultations to dive deep into education and exercises for specific milestones. You can also ask any questions you have on baby development or what you’re seeing in how your child is moving.
Let’s Keep the Conversation Going
Your experiences, questions, and insights are invaluable. Drop a comment below the video, share your stories, and let’s create a community where all of us, together, can empower our little ones to move with joy and confidence.
Subscribe for More Videos & Tips
By subscribing to the channel, you’re not just gaining access to a wealth of knowledge; you’re also helping other parents find these resources. Together, let’s spread the word and make a difference in the lives of babies everywhere.
Thank you for joining me in this delightful journey of movement and growth. Remember, every little stretch, every giggle, and every moment spent together builds a foundation for a lifetime of healthy movement. Here’s to happy, healthy babies!
How To Help An Infant Learn To Roll Over Using The Simple Open Book Exercise
this blog contains affiliate links
Hi there! I’m Dr. Lauren Baker, a Pediatric Physical Therapist, and I’m here to be your guide on this exciting journey of helping your baby learn to roll over with confidence and ease.
Today, we’re diving into one of my favorite exercises designed to increase upper trunk rotation, a crucial skill for babies learning to roll from belly to back.
This exercise is especially helpful for babies who are learning or struggling to roll over from their belly to their backs, but can also be used for general rolling development.
The Key: Upper Trunk Rotation
For a baby to roll smoothly and repeatedly in both directions, they need to master rotating the top half of their body independently from the bottom half.
The best way to think about this is to imagine sitting and rotating your upper body while keeping your lower body still; like sitting in a chair with your legs pointing forward and rotating your shoulders to look behind you.
This is also what we aim for our little ones to achieve, because without this motion, they will likely get stuck. Sometimes, babies do have this motion but only in one direction. That’s why I love this exercise because it can be done on both sides.
Sometimes we forget that babies need a handful of things in order to be able to do one simple action like rolling. They need strength, coordination, AND mobility of their body and not just ONE part of their body, but multiple parts: their head/neck, arms, eyes, upper trunk, lower trunk, and legs.
This exercise is also great for babies who roll belly to back on their own, but smash their sweet, soft little heads on the ground. They basically are catapulting themselves from belly to back, often because they have good arm strength (yay!) but are lacking trunk mobility.
So because they do not yet have the flexibility they need to do it smoothly and softly, they end up throwing themselves over their arms/shoulders and landing kind of hard on their backs because gravity is always trying to push them to the ground.
When they catapult themselves over their shoulders, gravity takes that force they generated and increases their speed, which then results in a hard “bounce” on their back and potentially their heads!
The Exercise That Will Help You Learn How To Teach Baby To Roll From Tummy To Back
For the most comprehensive information, please watch the youtube video here. It will go through exactly how to do this on a real baby :)
Positioning: Start with your baby in a belly (prone/tummy time) position.
The Roll: Gently roll your baby over to their side, ensuring their elbow is tucked in front of their body. Hold them into a side lying position, stabilizing their pelvis on the top by gently holding your hand on the top part of their pelvis. This may require a little more, but still gentle force as babies will likely be confused and try to roll onto their back.
The Rotation: Bring a toy behind them so that they reach for the toy with their top hand/arm, in an “open book,” type position. This is similar to an adult stretching position where you lie on your side and bring your top arm behind you to “open and close” your chest. This is meant to encourage upper trunk rotation.
Keep Them Motivated: Babies often will engage in this position for a short period of time 15 seconds to 1 minute (closer to 1 minute is ideal) and then you will need to allow them a break to play or place the toy in their mouth. By doing this in “repetitions” to the babies tolerance you will keep them motivated and decrease their frustration, while still getting the motion you want.
Engagement: Use toys or visual cues to engage your baby, if they are disinterested or struggling, make sure that their eyes are looking at the toy as they turn. This will help encourage them to reach and explore, enhancing hand eye coordination and strengthening their muscles.
TIMESTAMPS:
3:55 trunk rotation exercise to help infant learn to roll over
TOY IDEAS:
Squigz with Rings
Orange Squigz with Rings
Squigz Bundle
Moose Toy
Bumpy Ball
Best Toys for Babies Learning to Roll
Best Toys for Babies
PT Approved Equipment/Containers for Babies
Tummy Time Toys
Key Points to Remember
Repetition: Perform this exercise in repetitions, focusing on both sides equally. Babies often have a preferred side for rotation; your goal is to encourage balance and ease in both directions.
Engagement and Breaks: Keep your baby engaged with toys and take breaks as needed. It’s essential to make the exercise enjoyable and not overwhelming.
Observation: Pay attention to your baby’s ease of movement on each side. If one side is more challenging than the other, that might be due to a mobility restriction. Use this information to tailor your approach, focusing more on the difficult side while still maintaining a balanced routine.
It is also important if there is a difference side to side to try to resolve it as much as possible, look into TMR positional releases, which are my favorite ways to assist babies in improving their mobility and being able to move equally side to side in the easiest, least stressful way possible.
Why This Exercise Matters
This exercise is not just about rolling; it's about building the foundation for future movement skills. By focusing on upper trunk rotation, you're helping your baby develop the coordination, strength, and flexibility needed for crawling, sitting, and eventually walking.
Rolling is one of the most important milestones, if rolling is mastered in all four directions (belly to back over left / belly to back over right / back to belly over left / back to belly over right) babies are at a much less risk of developing non-optimal crawling patterns or difficulty with crawling.
Crawling is one of the key movement patterns needed for pre-academic skills including reading and writing.
Additional Tips
Variety: Mix up the exercises. If you notice your baby prefers rolling to one side, incorporate activities that encourage rotation to the less preferred side.
Duration: Spend about two to five minutes on each exercise (it’s okay if it takes multiple repetitions to add up to 2-5 minutes). Start with the easier side to build confidence before moving to the more challenging side.
Integration: Combine this exercise with other activities from the rolling playlist or check the bottom of the blog post to see all our rolling content to ensure a well rounded development.
Curious About Learning More on Tummy Time, Rolling, or Both?
The absolute best book for parents on tummy time and rolling is: Tummy Time and Learning to Roll: A Baby Development Book for Ambitious Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers to Help Babies Learn to Roll Independently. The book comes with a free online video course to help parents fully understand how to complete the different exercises, printable checklists to know exactly where your baby is at, and when to reach out for additional help.
This book was written by Dr. Lauren Baker, PT, DPT, ATC, MTC, who is a Pediatric Physical Therapist in Boise, Idaho, trained in helping parents learn how to help their babies move and master their milestones. She loves teaching parents how to see how their babies are moving as well as how to influence those movements though play positions and exercises to help babies move with confidence and ease.
Tummy Time and Learning to Roll is the first book in the Proactive Play series written by Pediatric Physical Therapist Dr. Lauren Baker in order to help Ambitious Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers learn how to help babies master tummy time and learn to roll. It is meant to help ambitious parents understand baby development from birth to six months (tummy time to rolling).
This book is a mix of easy-to-follow and more in-depth information than is typically found in baby development books because Dr. Baker believes parents deserve to have all the information at their fingertips.
This book breaks down each piece of movement in checklists so that parents know what their babies need for tummy time and rolling. It also covers what areas might limit a child with rolling, why it is so important, and when to seek help from a pediatric PT.
This book comes with colored photos and easy-to-follow demonstration videos that can help parents implement safe, strategic play-based exercises with their babies in 20 minutes per day.
A Great Resource For:
Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers of babies 0-6 months
Parents of babies who are struggling with tummy time, rolling back to belly, belly to back, or only to one side
Access to simple, easy-to-follow videos of play positions and exercises
Learning the four pillars of movement needed in order to master rolling
240+ Color Photo Examples of:
Tummy Time, Sidelying, and Back Play
Developmental Toys and Equipment
Hand Placement and Strategic Play Positions
Common Areas of Restriction or Weakness
When To Reach Out For Help
What If You Want Extra Help?
If you have concerns about their movement, remember, you can always reach out to a pediatric physical therapist. It's your right as a parent to advocate for your child's development.
Sometimes, a few tips and tricks are all you need to get your baby moving better. We're here to support you and release those mama worries. If you are looking for in home pediatric physical therapy, check our listing of therapists.
For those eager to learn more or seeking personalized guidance, I offer online video parent consultations internationally which can be scheduled by clicking here. I am dedicated to answering questions and providing tailored play activities for each unique developmental journey.
When Should Babies Receive Pediatric Physical Therapy?
Parents can call and schedule with a Pediatric Physical Therapist at any time, for any concern in all fifty states without a referral from their Pediatrician.
Pediatric Physical Therapy is medically indicated in all babies who are not rolling in all four directions by six months (back to belly over their right arm AND left arm + belly to back over their right arm AND left arm).
Pediatric Physical Therapy is medically indicated if you notice a flat spot on the back of an infants head (possible plagiocephaly), a tilt of their head consistently to one side (ear to shoulder - possible torticollis), or a rotation preference of their neck (consistently look only to the right or left - possible torticollis).
Many Pediatric Physical Therapists including Dr. Baker, can successfully treat flat spots (Plagiocephaly) without a helmet with a combination of therapy and positioning strategies if seen prior to 4 months (0-3 months is ideal). Dr. Baker uses the Baby Begin Method of repositioning.
Flat spots can be due to in-utero positioning, rotational preference (right sided flatness most common) and babies are at an increased risk for flatness if they are male, were breech, multiple birth, premature, have difficulty with tummy time, or are in containers > 2 hr/day.
Final Thoughts
Thank you for joining me in learning how to support your baby’s journey to mastering rolling belly to back. Remember, every baby is unique, and progress will vary. The key is patience, consistency, and celebrating every little victory along the way.
If you have any questions or need personalized advice, feel free to reach out for an online parent consultation. Together, we can ensure your baby develops the skills they need to move confidently and with ease. Until next time, keep nurturing your baby’s movement adventures with love and encouragement. Here’s to happy rolling!
26 Videos to Help Answer “How Can I Encourage My Baby to Roll?”
this blog contains affiliate links
This blog post is a combination of videos that can help you learn how to encourage your baby to roll over. A lot of parents find helping their babies roll over to be really frustrating and often it is because they aren’t taught the building blocks necessary for babies to do it on their own.
Some babies learn all the building blocks without help but a lot of babies don’t, which is why educating parents is so important to me. If we can help babies master rolling, we can decrease the risk they will skip crawling, and improve the ease of learning academic skills in the process.
Here is a list of all 26 videos that can help you solve, “how do I encourage my baby to roll.”
General Rolling Information
Is Your Infant Not Rolling Over? How To Help Your Baby Learn To Roll Over
Tummy Time Parent Resource | Tummy Time & Learning to Roll Q&A + Book Launch
Toy Ideas for Rolling: 13 Exercises For Baby Using Bells From The Dollar Store
Book on How to Do Tummy Time | Tummy Time and Learning to Roll Unboxing
When Should A Baby Roll Over? | Tummy Time & Learning To Roll Live
Is Your Baby Sitting But Not Rolling Over? | Best Book on Baby Development
Rolling Belly to Back AND Back to BellyHow To Stretch Babys Neck Muscles | Backbends on a Stability Ball
How to Improve Head Control in Babies with Pull To Sit Exercise
Total Motion Release Technique for Babies: Upper Trunk and Lower Trunk
Learn How To Stretch a Baby in Trunk Rotation For Crawling or Rolling (traditional stretching not TMR)
Why My Baby Is Not Crawling or Rolling: Test Lower Trunk Side Bend [TMR]
How To Stretch Baby Trunk Rotation In Sitting: Upper Trunk Rotation [great for older babies 5 months+]
How To Test A Babys Trunk Flexibility - Do This For Crawling and Rolling
How to Check Neck Strength in Infants | Torticollis Explained
Simple Tips to Make Baby Side Lying Play Easier | Must Do Activity
How to Check Baby Neck Motion for Signs of Torticollis in Your Baby
Rolling Belly to Back
How To Help Infant Learn To Roll Over Using A Trunk Rotation Exercise [belly to back especially]
How To Teach Baby To Roll Over Back To Belly With TMR Release
Why a 5 Month Old Baby Cant Roll From Tummy to Back | Learning to Roll Book for Parents
Rolling Back to BellyPhysical Therapy Exercises For 3 Month Old: Posterior Pelvic Tilt
Why Cant My Baby Roll Back to Belly | Rolling Baby Development Book
Exercises for Newborn Babies and Other Ways to Strengthen a Babys Neck
For the most updated information and all the videos (including ones that are posted after the creation of this blog post), click the video below or go straight to the playlist here.
Curious About Learning More on Tummy Time, Rolling, or Both?
The absolute best book for parents on tummy time and rolling is: Tummy Time and Learning to Roll: A Baby Development Book for Ambitious Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers to Help Babies Learn to Roll Independently. The book comes with a free online video course to help parents fully understand how to complete the different exercises, printable checklists to know exactly where your baby is at, and when to reach out for additional help.
This book was written by Dr. Lauren Baker, PT, DPT, ATC, MTC, who is a Pediatric Physical Therapist in Boise, Idaho, trained in helping parents learn how to help their babies move and master their milestones. She loves teaching parents how to see how their babies are moving as well as how to influence those movements though play positions and exercises to help babies move with confidence and ease.
Tummy Time and Learning to Roll is the first book in the Proactive Play series written by Pediatric Physical Therapist Dr. Lauren Baker in order to help Ambitious Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers learn how to help babies master tummy time and learn to roll. It is meant to help ambitious parents understand baby development from birth to six months (tummy time to rolling).
This book is a mix of easy-to-follow and more in-depth information than is typically found in baby development books because Dr. Baker believes parents deserve to have all the information at their fingertips.
This book breaks down each piece of movement in checklists so that parents know what their babies need for tummy time and rolling. It also covers what areas might limit a child with rolling, why it is so important, and when to seek help from a pediatric PT.
This book comes with colored photos and easy-to-follow demonstration videos that can help parents implement safe, strategic play-based exercises with their babies in 20 minutes per day.
A Great Resource For:
Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers of babies 0-6 months
Parents of babies who are struggling with tummy time, rolling back to belly, belly to back, or only to one side
Access to simple, easy-to-follow videos of play positions and exercises
Learning the four pillars of movement needed in order to master rolling
240+ Color Photo Examples of:
Tummy Time, Sidelying, and Back Play
Developmental Toys and Equipment
Hand Placement and Strategic Play Positions
Common Areas of Restriction or Weakness
When To Reach Out For Help
What If You Want Extra Help?
If you have concerns about their movement, remember, you can always reach out to a pediatric physical therapist. It's your right as a parent to advocate for your child's development.
Sometimes, a few tips and tricks are all you need to get your baby moving better. We're here to support you and release those mama worries. If you are looking for in home pediatric physical therapy, check our listing of therapists.
For those eager to learn more or seeking personalized guidance, I offer online video parent consultations internationally which can be scheduled by clicking here. I am dedicated to answering questions and providing tailored play activities for each unique developmental journey.
When Should Babies Receive Pediatric Physical Therapy?
Parents can call and schedule with a Pediatric Physical Therapist at any time, for any concern in all fifty states without a referral from their Pediatrician.
Pediatric Physical Therapy is medically indicated in all babies who are not rolling in all four directions by six months (back to belly over their right arm AND left arm + belly to back over their right arm AND left arm).
Pediatric Physical Therapy is medically indicated if you notice a flat spot on the back of an infants head (possible plagiocephaly), a tilt of their head consistently to one side (ear to shoulder - possible torticollis), or a rotation preference of their neck (consistently look only to the right or left - possible torticollis).
Many Pediatric Physical Therapists including Dr. Baker, can successfully treat flat spots (Plagiocephaly) without a helmet with a combination of therapy and positioning strategies if seen prior to 4 months (0-3 months is ideal). Dr. Baker uses the Baby Begin Method of repositioning.
Flat spots can be due to in-utero positioning, rotational preference (right sided flatness most common) and babies are at an increased risk for flatness if they are male, were breech, multiple birth, premature, have difficulty with tummy time, or are in containers > 2 hr/day.