The baby should start to try to roll over between the 4th and 5th month, and by the end of the 5th month they should be able to do this completely, turning from one side to the other, lying on their stomach without help. from parents or supports.
If this does not happen, the pediatrician monitoring the child must be informed, so that they can check whether there is any type of developmental delay, or whether it is just a lack of stimulation.
Some babies are already able to do this movement at the beginning of 3 months of life, and there is no problem with faster development. This usually occurs when the baby has also started to lift its head back earlier and has learned to control it.
Games to encourage your baby to roll over
The main factor for the baby to be able to develop motor coordination well is the stimulation he receives from parents and family, in addition to the contact offered through different objects, shapes and textures.
Some games that parents can use to encourage the baby to turn over on their own are:
1. Using your favorite toy
A tip to help your baby turn around on his own is to place him on his back and leave his favorite toy next to him, so that the baby can see the object when he turns his head, but cannot reach it.
As the movement of picking up with your hands will not be enough, the baby will be encouraged to roll over, thus strengthening the muscles in the upper back and hips, which will also be very important for the baby to be able to sit up in the 6th month.
See how to do this and other techniques using toys to help your baby’s development, with physiotherapist Marcelle Pinheiro:
2. Call the baby
Leaving the baby on his side at an arm’s length away, and calling him smiling and clapping his hands, is also a tactic that, in the form of a game, helps him learn how to turn. See other games to help your baby’s development.
During this game, it is important to place a support on the baby’s back to prevent them from rolling over to the opposite side, preventing falls.
3. Use a stereo
During the 4th and 5th month of life, the baby begins to become interested in the sounds he hears, especially the sounds of nature or animals.
So that this can be used in the baby’s motor development and help him turn, parents must first place the baby on his stomach, and place a sound device, which is not too loud and not too large, on the baby’s side. side. Curiosity to know where the sound is coming from will encourage the baby to turn and roll over.
Necessary care
From the moment the baby learns to turn over, care is needed to avoid accidents, such as not leaving him alone on beds, sofas, tables, or changing tables, as the risk of falling is greater. See what first aid should be like if your baby falls.
It is still recommended not to leave objects that have sharp edges, are very hard or that could be sharp at least 3 meters from the child.
Furthermore, it is normal for the baby to learn to turn to one side first, and prefer to always turn to that side, but little by little the muscles will strengthen and it will be easier to turn to the other side as well. However, it is necessary for parents and family members to always stimulate from both sides, helping the child to develop a sense of space.
How important is stimulation?
Stimulating the baby at this stage is very important for motor development, as it is after learning to roll over that the child will crawl to finally start crawling. Check out 4 ways to help your baby start crawling.
Turning and rolling over is one of the signs that the baby is developing well, but for this to happen the previous phases must also have been completed, such as being able to lift the head back when lying on the stomach. See other things that a 3-month-old baby should do.
