Your baby rolling over is her first way of moving around on her own, and it’s just a preview of the exciting motor developments soon to come, like crawling, standing, and walking. Find out when your baby will take her first roll, plus how to keep your little tumbler safe.

When will your baby roll over?
She could roll herself from back to front as early as 3 months, though she might not be able to reverse the move from front to back until about 6 months of age. Anything in between is considered normal motor development.

If your baby hasn’t started rolling yet, watch for these signs, which indicate that she could start very soon: First, she’ll begin using her arms to arch her back and lift her chest. She’ll also start to rock on her stomach and kick her legs, and she might even try to make little swimming motions with her arms.

This is a very exciting time for both you and your baby, as she puts all her energy into these efforts and you encourage her. When she finally succeeds, it will be a thrilling and strong bonding moment for both of you.

If you want to help encourage your baby to roll over, there are plenty of things you can do:

1.    Use the power of eye-catching baby toys. You can place a few of your baby’s favorites just out of reach to encourage her to move toward them. 

2.    Remember tummy time. By spending time on her stomach, your baby will work to push on her arms and arch her back to lift her head and chest. These are important motor development skills and muscle-building activities that eventually lead to rolling.

3.    Be enthusiastic! Your baby will respond to the excitement in your voice and your happy expression when she does something right, so stay upbeat.

All these movements strengthen your baby’s body, preparing her to roll over for the very first time. It’s your job to be ready when she does, so always keep a close eye on her when she’s on a high surface, like the bed or her changing table. Otherwise, she might try to scoot right off.

Once your baby rolls over for the first time, there’s no stopping her! Rolling is usually the precursor to crawling -- but some babies love rolling so much, they opt to do it (or other movements like scooting or slithering) over crawling.

Finally, an important note about motor development: Most babies start rolling by the time they reach the 6-month mark. If yours hasn’t, check in with your pediatrician to make sure everything’s on track. Every baby develops at her own speed, but double-checking with the doctor and sharing your concerns is always a good idea.

Photo by João Victor Fonseca on Unsplash

Between 15 and 18 months, your toddler will make large leaps as he takes in the sights and sounds around him. A careful observer, he’ll study things closely, imitate people around him, and eventually understand that a separation from you isn’t forever. His intense curiosity about the world coupled with his developing motor skills creates potential hazards, so be sure to keep your house toddler-proof.

At this age, your toddler will alternate between fierce independence and clingy behavior. His extreme self-centeredness makes it hard for him to accept anything but the spotlight. Sharing is a foreign concept, and possessiveness over toys is common. But rest assured, your toddler is constantly learning. Here’s what you can do to encourage your child’s healthy development:

Watch your own behavior

Imitation is a major part of learning and behavior. At this age, your toddler is a master imitator, who is learning by mimicking what you do. Be careful of what you say and do since he’s apt to repeat it. Now is a good time to start spelling out what you don’t want his ears to hear!

Create short separations

Some toddlers still experience separation anxiety at this age, but are slowly becoming less anxious about being apart from their parents. Over time, brief separations may actually help your toddler become more independent. Always let your toddler know you are going out -- never sneak out -- and tell him that you’ll be back. Knowing you’ll return puts his mind at ease.  

Allow special toys

Many toddlers this age are very possessive about what belongs to them. Because your child may be territorial, it can help to set aside some special toys that are just his and are off-limits to others. Having these toys will help him feel more in control of his world.

Ban physical attacks

Toddlers this age don’t know how to control their angry impulses and are apt to lash out at other kids by hitting them. Control the combativeness by interfering and firmly stating, “Don’t hit.” Then redirect the play to something positive.

Applaud what you like

When toddlers this age do something special, they’re apt to pause and look to see if you notice. If you do, make sure to shower your toddler with praise. Your enthusiastic support will encourage your child to keep learning -- and to let you know what he’s learned!

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A typical 12-month-old toddler will have already acquired lots of mental skills, or cognitive milestones. And between his 12^th and 23^rd months, he’ll be picking up more and more.

By the time your toddler turns one, he may have reached many early childhood development milestones, including:

• Responding to his name
• Understanding a handful of words
• The ability to murmur a few of his own simple words, such as “mama” and “papa”
• Pointing to objects
• The ability to wave good-bye
• An attempt to imitate animal sounds

You can keep your active toddler engaged in the world around him through certain types of play, such as reading picture books to reinforce names of objects and taking him to the zoo or park to experience something new. Engaging activities such as these will help him reach cognitive milestones throughout his second year.

Around this time, your toddler will probably also begin to be able to:

• Realize that objects exist even when he can’t see them
• Find things in pictures when asked
• Follow easy directions
• Demonstrate an understanding of colors and shapes
• Show an increase in his memory skills

In order to strengthen these skills as your child grows, pick games that encourage him to use his memory, like a matching game, and be sure to schedule lots of playdates for him so he can work on his social skills as well.

Photo by Jelleke Vanooteghem on Unsplash