Why a 5 Month Old Baby Can't Roll From Tummy to Back
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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!
How To Help An Infant Learn To Roll Over Using The Simple Open Book Exercise
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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!
Total Motion Release for Babies: Relieve Infant Tension to Improve Motor Milestones
this blog contains affiliate links
Hello there! I'm Dr. Lauren Baker, a pediatric physical therapist. Through this blog, I'm excited to share with you an effective technique known as Total Motion Release (TMR) that I've found incredibly beneficial for babies. My aim is to guide proactive parents like you in helping your little ones release tension and move with ease. Consider me your physical therapy bestie helping you help your babies move well.
What is Total Motion Release (TMR)?
Total Motion Release is a concept that is based in osteopathic medicine called the modified strain counterstrain principle. In simpler terms, it's about shortening a muscle to help it relax, thereby gaining range of motion in the opposite direction.
This technique is gentler than traditional stretching methods, which involve lengthening the muscle, creating that resistance you feel in your muscles when you stretch. In TMR, we do the opposite - we shorten the muscle, which is especially effective for babies due to its gentle nature.
Traditional stretching sometimes is less effective in infants, because when they feel the resistance of a tight muscles being “stretched” or “lengthened,” they may interpret that as dangerous and instead of relaxing, they can tense up.
Modified strain counterstain principles such as total motion release, use a positional release construct where you ONLY shorten the muscle, going into the easy direction or side, which allows the babies to continue to say calm and relaxed, since they are not feeling that resistance.
It sounds counter-intuitive but truthfully, it often achieves amazing and often quick results.
Why TMR for Babies?
Gentleness: It's far gentler compared to stretching, making it ideal for infants.
Effectiveness: It achieves the same goal of increased range of motion but in a more comfortable way for the baby.
Upper and Lower Trunk Rotation in TMR
In today's post, we'll focus on the upper and lower trunk rotation aspects of TMR. Babies bodies need to be able to twist in opposite directions equally. Their upper half of their body needs to go to the right, while their lower half of their body goes to the left easily as well as the opposite of those directions.
Think of wringing out a wet towel, you twist your right hand and left hand in opposite directions to squeeze out the water. Babies' bodies need to be able to twist like that in order to achieve their milestones such as rolling over (both directions) and getting into all fours to crawl.
Before You Start
Professional Evaluation: Ensure your baby is evaluated by a licensed therapist (physiotherapist or physical therapist) trained in TMR before trying these techniques. Total Motion Release for babies taught by Susan Blum, utilizes multiple principles. This video covers one simple positional release technique and should not be confused with Total Motion Release as a treatment option. To find a therapist trained in total motion release, please search here.
Direction of Ease: Your therapist will guide you on the correct direction of rotation for your baby. For positional release techniques using the TMR principles, you will ONLY hold the direction of ease.
The Techniques: watch the video down below to ensure that you are doing it correctly and to learn even more in detailed why this technique works well for infants.
Upper Trunk / Lower Trunk TMR Technique
Positioning: One hand supports under the baby's arms around their chest, and the other hand goes through the baby's legs with your hand being placed on their buttocks that is the same side as the arm you are using (if your right arm is around their chest, you will rest your hand on their right buttocks/pelvis and vice versa) .
Rotation: Gently rotate the baby's upper and lower trunk in the direction of ease by bringing the elbow of the arm that is through the legs backwards and holding their trunk steady against your chest. Only complete to the level of resistance and not past.
Duration: Spend 1-3 minutes in this position, depending on the baby’s tolerance and then follow up with 30 seconds to 1 minute of bouncing to “lock in” the newly gained motion.
TIMESTAMPS:
1:03 what is total motion release (TMR)
2:53 why the total motion release technique for babies is ideal for increasing range of motion
4:29 what not to do when using total motion release techniques for babies
5:09 what to do if a baby switches directions
5:37 RR upper trunk / LR lower trunk total motion release technique
7:13 LR upper trunk / RR lower trunk total motion release technique
8:17 safety tips and explanation of tmr upper twist lower twist technique
10:03 additional tips for upper twist lower twist TMR tots release technique
TOY IDEAS:
What Not to Do
Avoid Both Sides: Don’t work on both sides as you would in stretching. Stick to the direction of ease as advised by your therapist. If you do both sides, it isn’t as effective and instead of completing a positional release using TMR principles, you would be completing traditional stretching.
Handling: Always handle the baby gently, focusing on the pelvis and lower back, not the hip joints.
Additional Tips
Movement: Feel free to gently bounce or move around during the technique. I often bring them toward a window or walk around with them in my arms throughout the house.
Observation: Watch for the baby's cues. If they show discomfort, ease off. Never hold a baby in a position if they are trying to kick out of it, always allow them to move out of the position and then once they are calm, re-attempt.
Frequency: Aim for a 2-minute session followed by 30 seconds of gentle 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, show signs of Torticollis (tilt/rotation preference) or are in containers > 2 hr/day.
Final Thoughts
I hope this guide helps you understand and apply the Total Motion Release technique for your little one. It's essential to always prioritize gentleness and follow the guidance of a trained professional. If you have questions or want to learn more about pediatric mobility, feel free to reach out or schedule a consultation with me.
Remember, every baby's journey is unique, and your proactive approach in understanding and aiding their movement is invaluable. Stay tuned for more insights and tips on various stages of your baby's movement development – crawling, walking, rolling, and more!
Look down below for more resources on rolling or click on the blog post page if your baby is working on a different milestone such as crawling.
And that's it, friends! If you find this helpful, let me know in the comments of the youtube video. I love interacting with parents committed to their children's well-being. Here's to a journey of gentle, effective proactive play for your little ones! 🌟
Baby Struggling With Rolling Belly to Back? Try This Exercise.
Are you a proactive parent determined to help your baby achieve their developmental milestones?
Dr. Lauren Baker, a pediatric physical therapist, is here to guide you on a journey towards enhancing your baby's mobility and strength. In this blog post, we will explore the importance of tummy time, discuss exercises to help your baby bear weight through their elbows (including how to help them shift their weight onto one elbow!), and discover the secrets to independent rolling. Plus, stay tuned for an exclusive offer to boost your parenting skills with Dr. Baker's book, "Tummy Time and Learning to Roll: A Baby Development Book for Ambitious Parents and Pediatric Healthcare Providers.”
The Significance of Tummy Time:
Tummy time is more than just an adorable photo opportunity; it's a crucial building block in your baby's development. Dr. Baker emphasizes that tummy time strengthens the muscles needed for rolling, crawling, and later, walking. The American Physical Therapy Association recommends that babies engage in 60 minutes of tummy time per day by three months of age. Starting tummy time from day one, lays the foundation for their journey into being able to have the foundational skills they need to roll on their own.
Weight Bearing Through Elbows:
Some parents may notice that their baby prefers pushing through one elbow during tummy time while neglecting the other. This can be due to a variety of factors, including musculoskeletal issues like torticollis, which result in muscle imbalances. The solution? Target the weaker shoulder, focus on it strategically, and bridge the gap between strength and coordination — jump to the exercise.
What if my baby only rolls belly to back in one direction?
Rolling is a multifaceted developmental milestone and it is important that a baby is able to roll belly to back in both directions (over their left arm and over their right arm).
Why is this so important? It's all about symmetry and balance. When babies consistently roll in one direction while neglecting the other, it may indicate a restriction or limitation in the less-favored direction. This condition is referred to as an "asymmetry" in pediatric physical therapy.
Babies don't naturally have a preferred rolling direction; they usually explore both sides equally. If your baby appears to favor one side, it's crucial to address this early. Neglecting one side can lead to potential problems in the future. It’s also important to figure out the underlying reason why a baby is only rolling in one direction, because often there are things parents can do to address it at home easily with access to the right information.
Rolling Exercise to Increase Arm Strength in Babies
To support your baby's transition from belly to back, you must work on weight-bearing through one elbow. This precursor activity paves the way for independent rolling. In the video below, Dr. Baker provides a hands-on demonstration of how to help your baby bear weight through both their left and right elbows while offering valuable insights into their motor development.
How to help your baby reach with one arm to build arm strength needed for rolling belly to back:
Start with the baby on their belly
Place your hand in an open cupped shape blocking their left elbow
Create a c shape with your other hand underneath their right armpit
Rotate their upper trunk to the right while also helping them reach with your pointer finger so they reach for a toy on the ground in front of them
They may need less support at the trunk to rotate and shift their weight over their left elbow and more support at their elbow to reach in front of them with a straight arm or vice versa
Complete for 30 seconds to 1 minute on left elbow and switch
Upper Trunk Rotation:
As babies attempt to roll, they encounter the need for upper trunk rotation. If your little one struggles with this movement, they may avoid lifting one hand to play with toys on their own. Lifting an arm to reach while stabilizing their other arm on the ground, is a precursor activity to rolling from belly to back.
If a baby struggles with upper trunk rotation, make sure to purchase the Tummy Time and Learning to Roll book which walks you through how to screen this motion and exercises directly related to helping improve it on both sides. It also comes with a free video course (details in the book) to help you be able to confidently complete all the motions on your own.
In addition to upper trunk rotation, babies need the ability to shift their weight from both elbows to one elbow. Shifting their weight is complex, because it requires them to hold all their body weight on one limb instead of two – kind of like how standing on one leg is much harder than standing with both feet on the ground.
It’s the same for babies on their belly, but in order to roll from belly to back, they need to first be able to shift their weight to one elbow and reach with their opposite hand for a toy or object without collapsing. If they are able to do this equally on both sides, they are one step closer to rolling belly to back on their own, symmetrically.
Curious about learning more on Tummy Time, Rolling, or Both?
For proactive parents and healthcare providers, Dr. Lauren Baker's 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 is an invaluable resource. Dive deeper into the world of baby development, understand the intricacies of tummy time and rolling, and empower yourself to support your baby's journey.
This book is packed with easy-to-follow information, checklists, colorful photos, and demonstration videos to make learning how to roll easily accessible for both you and the baby. Don't miss the chance to enhance your parenting skills and boost your baby's development.
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.
More information on the book:
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 Need Extra Help?
If your baby is struggling with rolling or 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 have any questions or want to schedule an online parent consultation with me, you can schedule anytime by clicking to the appointment tab or by clicking here. Or, consider reaching out to a local pediatric physical therapist who can provide insights and guidance.
Let’s embrace the adventure of babies learning to roll and help your little one conquer this exciting milestone! 👶🌟
In this blog post, we've uncovered the importance of tummy time, explored exercises to help your baby bear weight through their elbows including learning how to reach one hand out to play with a toy with support to boost rolling skills. Dr. Lauren Baker is your go-to resource for understanding and facilitating your baby's journey to mobility. With her book in hand, you'll have all the knowledge and guidance you need to become the proactive parent you want to be for your baby. Don't wait; take the first step toward empowering your baby's growth and development today.
To purchase or learn more about the book click here