4-Month-old Daughter Won't Try to Roll Over!

Updated on January 21, 2007
D.G. asks from Oklahoma City, OK
21 answers

Hi everyone. My 4 month old daughter, Savannah, will not try to roll over from her tummy to back. She almost has it the other way, and she's rolled from tummy to back in her sleep. But when she's awake she won't even attempt it. Anyone have any suggestions on how to encourage her to roll over?

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So What Happened?

Thanks for all you advice! I wasn't trying to rush her growing up....just wanted some advice on how to encourage her to want to roll over on her own! :) She did of course eventually learn to roll over...although she was almost 6 months! Ha. Well less than two months after rolling over, she took her first steps!! Just a couple of days before she turned 8 months old! About two weeks after that, walking instead of crawling became her main mode of transportation!! So she obviously will learn how to do stuff when she feels like it! Anyone think I might have a strong-willed child??? Ha.

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J.D.

answers from Kansas City on

I was worried about this with my son too when he was that age... and as soon as i stopped worrying about it he rolled over. Then he didnt do it for another two weeks, but when he started again he was rolling all over the house!! relax, she'll do it when she wants to.

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S.M.

answers from Tulsa on

Every child does things at their own time. My daughter is also 4 months old and rolls from her back to her belly all the time. She is the same way doesnt go back to her back I think she tries cause she gets mad. I think everything happens in all due time. Being able to roll to her tummy is a big thing and before you know she will go the other way.

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T.S.

answers from Kansas City on

My son didnt roll over until 7 months... even though we did tummy time every day... he was just too big to get over. There is no rush... even though baby books say "your child should be doing this now..." it is false. She will roll when she is ready. Enjoy the static position while you can... befor you know it, they will be running around crazy!

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M.H.

answers from Tulsa on

TUMMY TIME!!!! The more time she's on her tummy the quicker she'll roll over. Some babies hate it, but they really need it. I wouldn't rush it anyway. She'll get there!

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V.N.

answers from Oklahoma City on

My daughter was 5 months before she rolled over. We started encouraging more tummy time and also got a baby mirror that she could look at whilst on her tummy. After another couple of weeks she did it and han't looked back. She is now 7.5 months and crawling all over!

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T.M.

answers from Champaign on

Like the others said please don't get discouraged. My 1yr old didn't start rolling until about 6mos. There was two girls in her daycare, one born the day before her and one the day after. They were both rolling at least a month before her. But believe me, once she started, i couldn't keep an eye on her. She was rolling all over the place. Then she was walking at 10 months and the other two were still crawling at a year. They all go at their own pace. Good luck.

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G.N.

answers from St. Louis on

What I did with my son was put a toy a little out of reach if she wants it bad enough she will roll and get it, just remember all kids are different and go at there own level, just keep working with her she will eventually do it. Dont get discouraged.

Good luck

G.

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R.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Just give her time she is still little. Though you might try putting her favorite toy just out of reach where she would have to roll or scoot to get to it. My daughter has been ahead on a lot of things, but when she was just over 1 she got a hip infection and couldn't walk for about a week. Everything was given to her she was so babied both by me and her sitter and the other kids. If she wanted something she would just have to fuss. Well once she was better she still tried it for awhile if she didn't want to get up she would fuss. Well when she no-longer got what she wanted she started walking again and now doesn't stop. It all took about a week and half to be back to normal.

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B.F.

answers from Joplin on

D'Lacey D,
I really wouldn't be too very concerned abou it. You have to remember that children grow at different paces and that even though she may not roll over at 4 months old, she may start walking at 10 months. My son was sitting up at 7 months but my daughter is now 9 months and she's just starting to sit up. Just keep putting her in the floor with toys around her and she will get the idea soon enough!!!
Good luck
B.

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T.H.

answers from Bloomington on

All babies are sooo different Thank Goodness hu!!! It sure would suck to have everybody the same hu....

Be glad that not everybody does things at the same time and are the same!!!!

Some babies will turn over at 3 months... some at 4 some at 5 or later....

Lots get worried that they have to keep up with other babies...

It is fun to compair.. I am on a mommy board I love it!!!! I love to see all the post OH so in so did this... Look they are doing that.....

Ya know... their is one baby that is 1 now and still no teeth.. but It is totally normal.. safe and Okkkkkkkkk

But ya know.. lots of babies dont like tummy time... Lots hate back time!! just wait and one day poof!!!!

Keep this in mine... I saw a baby walking at 8 months!!! That is amazing!!!! My son is 1 year... and he just took his first 4 steps yesterday... still not walking but did take a few steps...

just be ready to mark your baby calendar when the day comes.. that is why their is a sticker to add when it happens.. Cuz it is not set thing...

Hope you feel better hun!!! now go give that little one a big hug!! eheehhe

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A.T.

answers from Kansas City on

My son did the same thing for about a month he would only go from his tummy to his back. He would get mad because he couldn't get back over. Babies have to strenghthen thier tummy muscles to get from back to tummy. Just keep encouraging her just don't push. She will do it before you know it.

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T.M.

answers from Kansas City on

All babies are different. My daughter walked at 10 months but my son waited till 13 months. She will get it when she is ready. Doing your job with giving tummy time is enough to get the ball rolling. Try not to worry about what she isn't doing and enjoy what she is.

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T.K.

answers from Kansas City on

Don't worry-- the old "development charts" show that babies don't usually even START doing this UNTIL they're 4 months. If Savannah IS 4 months, then it's not like she's "behind". Plus, there's a window of time they do it in. If a chart says a 4 month old starts doing "such-n-such" then really, it's anywhere between 3 and 5 months. All babies progress differently, it's just that USUALLY, they accomplish a certain skill around a certain age.
Interestingly, a recent studies showed that over the past 20 years, infants have begun to develop slower anyway, and I wouldn't doubt if they make a change in the the milestone charts.
They cited several reasons for the "slow down":
#1 -- Daycare
As opposed to 20 years ago, 44% of infants are in
daycare. Because there's only 1 adult to anywhere from 4
to 6 babies depending on state regulations, babies in
daycare spend 90% of their day in a crib, swing, or baby
bouncer type of seat and therefore don't have the freedom
to move around and explore.

#2 -- Infant products
Overuse of products that keep baby "locked down".
Bouncy seats, swings,excersaucer type of seats, and
carseats that remove from the car and double as infant
carriers.

#3 -- Sleep and play position
The SIDS scare has parents putting babies to sleep on
their backs. They used to sleep on their tummies, and therefore developed "tummy skills" like pushing up on their arms, earlier than they do now. They still recommend that babies do not sleep on their tummies, but encourage parents to place babies on their tummies to play. (Alot of baby products always place babies on their backs... the toys that they're supposed to lie under, little blankets that have stuff hanging over them, etc.) Those are great-- but babies need tummy time too, and more than they USED to, since they're spending so much more time in carseats, cribs, swings, and now even in bed, they're on their backs.

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S.G.

answers from Lawrence on

My daughter didn't roll over until she was about 6-7 months. She didn't even crawl until she was nearly a year old but less than 2 months after crawling, she was running at full speed! Heck, my oldest never even crawled. She went from rolling, to running. All babies develop at their own pace. It may take her a little longer than others but she will get there when she's ready. :)

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R.V.

answers from St. Louis on

Hey, get in touch with a good parents as teachers person, you can call your local school district to get the right person in your area. Don't worry. My son did everything early, crawled at 4 mos walked right before 10 mos, my daughter was born 9 mos ago, she never rolled from her tummy to her back, she did go from back to tummy but not until the last few days before she turned 6 mo's, she just started crawling right before Christmas... she does things at her own pase, a parent educater will keep a close eye on her and tell you when to worry about things, trust me they grow up too fast anyway, there is a big window for them to do things, and there are alot of parents who are quick to tell you, "oh mine did that at ... what ever age" and you feel like something is wrong, let her be her, there is enough pressure for kids to do more and more now days and grow up faster, enjoy her and so long as your D.. isn't saying there is an issue, she is just doing things in her own time, and after all, that is all a girl really wants, right!

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A.B.

answers from Kansas City on

I wouldn't worry about it. There isn't any reason to encourage her at this age. She'll get it in her own time.

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L.P.

answers from Rockford on

BABIES DEVELOPE AT THEIR OWN RATE AND WHEN SHE IS READY TO ROLL OVER SHE WILL. IF SHE DOES IT IN HER SLEEP THEN YOU KNOW SHE CAN DO IT. MAYBE AWAKE SHE IS TOO BUISY LOOKING AROUND IN AMAZEMENT TO WANT TO ROLL OVER.

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M.F.

answers from Springfield on

I suggest more floor time or pac n play time. Lay her on her back without overhead stimulation. Put her favorite toy around her just out of reach so that she has to move to get them. She may fuss, if that is what usually gets her what she needs, but she will eventually get past that and realize she can do it on her own. My youngest nephew couldnt roll over until he was 8 months old, it was because he was always held or put in a baby seat...letting them venture on thier own in the living room floor is great for them, just make sure there is nothing that can hurt them...but you already know that..lol. Good luck and really he isnt that far off the mark for rolling over...each child is different!

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L.T.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Wow! My son is 4 1/2 months and he's only rolled over once! I've been trying to get him to do it again so I put a musical toy behind him while he is lying on his back. He'll crane his neck to look at it and nearly turns over. I figure it is good practice! But it sounds like she is doing pretty good for 4 months!

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C.S.

answers from Kansas City on

My advice to you is that she will do it when she is ready. Kids are funny they do things when they want and they may not even do the things that you want them to do. My daughter skipped crawling and went right into walking. Even at a young age they know what they want.

C.

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D.T.

answers from Tulsa on

My youngest was like that. He was just content to lay there and look around. He would watch his brother from across the room and just giggle. I think he was about 6 months or so before the finally learned he could roll over there and play too.

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