Rolling, rolling, rolling, keep that baby rolling (into their next sleep cycle!)

Rolling is one of the first developmental milestones babies have. And while every major developmental milestone can turn a dream sleeper into an up-all-nighter, rolling wreaks particular havoc with sleep.

When can I expect my baby to start rolling?

Babies begin rolling as early as 4 months, and most have figured out how to roll from back-to-front and from front-to-back by 6 months.

As most of you probably already know, at 4 months babies go through another big milestone with their sleep, commonly known as the 4-month sleep regression.

Combine the 4-month sleep milestone with the skill of rolling and you get a recipe for an unsettled baby when it comes time to sleep.

Why does rolling cause an issue with sleep?

The main reason rolling is problematic is that babies usually first learn to roll from their back to their front. Rolling onto their back from their belly takes more time, strength and skill. Babies are also often uncomfortable and fussy when on their tummies for extended periods, and some become uncomfortable and upset right away upon rolling onto their tummies.

When you put your baby down on their back for a nap or at bedtime, those babies who are rolling onto their belly are likely to do that shortly after being put down. Then, they find themselves stuck on their tummies and aren’t yet able to roll onto their backs again. Then they will cry out for help.

“Babies are often uncomfortable and fussy when on their tummies for extended periods, and some become uncomfortable and upset right away.”

And when you respond to your stuck baby and gently roll them onto their back again, guess what they are going to do the moment you leave the room? You guessed it! They are going to roll onto their tummy, get stuck and cry out for you to give them a hand.

This can go on and on.

What can I do to avoid or prepare for this common hiccup?

The first thing you should do is give your baby plenty of opportunities to practise rolling (from back to belly and belly to back, as well as to the left and to the right) during the day. The more practise your baby has rolling during the day, the quicker they will master that skill and the less likely it is to disrupt their sleep.

Place them on a safe, firm surface on the floor. Stay close by for encouragement. You can place toys in an arc over their head so that when they turn their head they have something to reach for and encourage them to roll.

If your baby has good neck strength and head control, they will be safe to sleep on their tummies. Many babies often feel more comfortable sleeping in this position once they learn to roll.

If your baby isn’t yet rolling onto their back from their belly, if they cry out for you when they’re supposed to be sleeping, calmly go into the room, and if they are stuck on their belly, carefully roll them onto their back. Try to do so in a way that mimics their body’s natural movement to get onto their back. Use as little effort as possible so your baby has the opportunity to engage the muscles necessary to make that action happen.

As previously mentioned, once you help them onto their back, they are likely to roll right back onto their belly or will do so shortly after you leave. At this point, you can choose to leave them to get comfortable where they are. Going in multiple times is likely to create a bit of a game and will be very stimulating, making it difficult for your baby to settle back to sleep. You might feel better if you have a video monitor with sound so you can keep an eye on them without interrupting them.

Safety first

*Always check in with your doctor to determine what is best for your baby.

**Props should never be used to keep your baby on their back or their side.

***If your swaddled baby has started rolling, you’ll need to stop swaddling. Consider a swaddle transition suit or sleep sack.

The good news

This is usually a short-lived milestone, and once they master this new skill, your baby should be sleeping like a baby… or at least as well as they were sleeping previously.