Milestones in 5 Month Old

My son was the same way with rolling over. He didn't feel like doing it. He was a little behind in crawling, too, but then he was fully running! by 9 months, so it is just that they know what they like. Maybe he is saving his energy for the really fun stuff!! lol. Bottom line, don't worry, he is doing things so it doesn't sound like anything is wrong physically!!

Don't sweat it! I have 4 friends who had babies within 6 months of me. Sometimes you can't help but compare. My son didn't roll over until he was 6 months old. Meanwhile, my friends daughter was crawling by then and walking by 9 months. I finally started to chill about the milestones when he was about 9 months old. I decided if he goes for his wellness visits with the pediatrician, and she thinks he's fine, then he is. But I can sympathize!

K.,
I work with infants and toddlers, and he sounds just fine. It sounds like he's working a lot on his "conversation" skills right now, although his large motor (rolling, sitting, etc.) are right on target. Does he like to do a lot of things with his hands? You may find that he works on one area of development at a time- most babies will fall a little behind in one area while excelling in another, then they catch up and switch. Is he a bigger-sized baby? If he's heftier, it will take him longer to develop the muscles needed to crawl, and maybe his cousin is shaped a little longer and/or thinner? There are so many variables! If you'd like, you can can email me offline and I'll send you my phone number. I have developmental screenings that we can go through and you'll know for sure- and they're pretty fun and easy to do. And anyone else can as well....I enjoy it!

I also have a 5 month old son. He still has no interest in rolling over at all! I put him on his tummy at least once a day and that only last about 5 mins and hes done. He does love to lay on him back in the play mat though. I'm glad you asked this question after reading all your responses I'm not so worried now that my son is behind. He is also a farly big baby 20lbs 27in One thing he really likes is his Johny Jumper he would stay in there all day if I let him. However he does not like his Jumperoo.

K.,

My son seems to be a lot like yours, he rolls over from back to front, but not front to back and he doesn't even roll over often. He can do mini push ups but also does not go on his hands and knees to crawl. He does however stand pretty well with a little support like your little guy. With certain things I think my son is ahead but with others I get the same way I get a little worried. His day care teacher has been great about informing me when I ask her if I should be worried. He seems to be just fine based on my experience with my 5 month old. Hope this eases your mind.

A.

This may sound stupid but...How comes you can't lift 100 pds. Because you haven't worked out those muscles. You son needs time to build the muscle strength to do those things. You can't go lifting 100 pds over night and he can't go to rolling overnight. My son didn't crawl until he was 9 mos old. Stop worrying about what he can't do and be joyful for the things he can. Your son is fine and if your doc isn't showing signs of concern neither should you.

wow... first of all it's so great to hear that there are other moms out there with the same concerns i have! my daughter is 5.5 months old, and she can roll back to front and sit up (not get to sitting alone, but can sit for a while if i put her in a sitting position) but lately when i put her on her back, she just lays there and won't even roll at all. she is a big baby (20 or 21 lbs and 27 inches). she loves to stand and can even stand without support for a few seconds, and she loves to talk....but i was starting to get concerned as well, because it seems like other babies are doing more than she is!

what i try to do with her is spend some time on the floor everyday, "practicing" rolling and spending time on our tummies. she really likes to reach for the remote.

i think our babies are going to be okay! it sounds like heidi has some great advice--i know i'm going to take it!

(lol i just re-read this and she sounds like a couch potato!)

I have a niece 10 weeks younger than my son and they are very different children. every baby is so very different! you really can't compare them! My son never crawled, he did this weird sitting up jump over his leg thing. He'll get there, some kids never crawl and just get up and walk one day.. He's perfectly normal.. you can't worry about it, he's fine.. he'll roll when he wants to, you can try putting toys out of his reach to see if he can get to them, but really, he's perfect.

Every child is different (as you said yourself) and everything is fine. My second daughter NEVER rolled over, and she is 18 months now- I remember being concerned and asking my pediatrician about it, she said it was a "milestone" but not one that had to be made. She can obviously roll over now, but then again she can also jump from couch to couch. My point is not to worry he sounds like he is doing fine. And as for crawling (again some babies skip crawling all together and go straight to walking) both my girls were 9 months before they were moving around. Trust me he will be mobile enough in time, and you will look back with fond memories of the times he stayed in one place. Hope this helps.

There's definately no need to worry. The habit of comparing to other kids is so hard to break, but it's totally natural. I used to do it all the time with my son, and it worried me to no end when he wouldn't roll over or crawl. He was sitting up at 5 months, but he just wouldn't move when he was on the floor. And once he learned to sit up, there was nothing better! He didn't crawl until he was 7 months old! The day he crawled for the first time it was a total shock to everyone! (I'm just glad I was there to see it) I think he was just saving his energy for the fun stuff. From the first day he crawled, he only used crawling to get him closer to something he could pull up on. He walked at 9 months, and never crawled again! (and he never mastered rolling)

As everyone else already said, every baby's different. You just can't say it enough! That one little, seemingly insignificant thought has to be every mother's first thought when they get sucked into the comparison trap. (even the one's who are internally gloating over their child's apparent advancement. lol...I do that a lot) Don't worry about your son, he sounds like he's moving along just fine. My son is 2 today, and I'm wishing for those days when I could just plop him on the floor, and know he was safe!

Hi K.,

I have two kids - one 18 months and one 6 years old. My six year old NEVER crawled. She only rolled and I mean rolled to everywhere and everthing she wanted until she walked. It was quite fun to watch. She walked on her 1st birthday.

My son, slid himself around (limited rolling) but mostly dragged himself by the arms,legs loose. He then walked on his 1st birthday as well.

My daughter didn't say much past "Ma" until she was over 2 years old and my son says 2-3 word combinations at 18 months. My daughter (now 6) won't stop talking and reads a grade level above her age. No two kids are the same. Usually when they are working on verbal skills, their physical stuff slows and vice versa. Unless your gut is really saying something is wrong, he's probably just fine and moving at his own pace.

hi,
i wouldn't worry about it babies do things at different times my son never crawled he went right to walking,my daughter she crawled before she walked.Dont worry to much can can be that he just dont like to roll over it sounds like he is doing alot ore then other babies his age.Well good luck and just let him do his own thing you'll see everything will be ok.

Hi,
you will hear this over and over again.. every child is different :) as long as the doctor says that he is developing fine than everything is ok. My son didnt roll over until 6 1/2 months (the first time) but started walking at 8m... so be careful it all happens so fast and soon you will be wishing that he didnt roll over or walk at all(i have a 15m old.. i wish he just sat there :) )

It sounds like he is ahead of his time. he may just not want to roll over. My daughter is 8 months old and has been able to sit up for quite some time, but half the time she would rather lay on the floor. She can also crawl, but she chooses to army crawl instead. I think that people spend way too much time trying to teach their kids to do things ahead of time. We should all just sit back and watch the show. They will advance at their own pace. (and when they feel like it) I bet in a few weeks he will be rolling all over the place. It happens that quickly! Dont' worry, your son sounds just fine!!

My 4 1/2 month daughter is the same way, she can roll over but not quite crawl, she moves her hands and legs but can't figure out how to pick up her belly so she can move. My pediatricain says she is a little advanced, she can almost sit up too. I think they can'y quite crawl yet or roll over constantly becuase their muscles needed for these actions are still developing..and yes, all babies are different, it depends on tummy time and things like that, and babies just develope differently.

K.,
It sounds like your son is right on target, if you feel he is not rolling over enough the only thing I can recommend is that you lay on the floor with him and let him practice but it seems that you are already doing that, as for comparing him to your niece, she is a whole month older and there is a big difference. My son is six months today and he is doing lots of different things also. Don't worry so much and enjoy what is happening, it may seem like he is not doing so much because you miss the hours while your at work but there are few of us who can actually not have to work and unfortunately most of us have to work these days to support ourselves. good luck, Judy

When my son was that age he was a very large baby. He hated to be on the floor. He was late on rolling and crawling and I think that had something to do with it. I bet you find he starts walking earlier. My daughter on the other hand is 5.5 months now and loves to be on the floor. So, I try to put her on the floor more often. She practices all the time. Try putting a toy out of his reach that he likes. I did that with my daughter, and she rolled to get it. I'll put her in the middle of the floor and with in seconds she's on the other side of the livingroom. Good Luck, and I wouldn't worry he is fine some babies take a little longer. I know my son did.