Advice Needed on How to Roll over the Other Way

Updated on November 25, 2007
K.P. asks from Scottsdale, AZ
8 answers

Hi, My 7 mth old girl was sleeping 11-12 hours at night. She slept on her side or on her back in her crib. If she woke up during the night she would always be able to fall back asleep. The problem is now she rolls onto her tummy and she can't roll the other way to sleep on her back. She becomes frustrated and starts to cry. She will not go back to sleep unless I roll her onto her back. I have tried letting her cry. During playtime when she rolls onto her tummy, she will also end up crying because she becomes frustrated. Every day I try and play a game to show her how to roll from her tummy onto her back. I also try and calm her to show her it is ok to stay on her tummy and rest or sleep. Nothing is working and this has been going on every day and night for 10 days. Your advice is appreciated.

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C.B.

answers from Phoenix on

Roll a blanket and put it on the side of her so she can only lay on her back or roll to her side. Put something that will fill that space.i am a mother of five so i know how it can be.

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D.K.

answers from Denver on

She is so young, it will just take time and patience. She doesn't have the muscle control to roll herself over however I would let her fuss it out and let her learn to soothe herself back to sleep. If you jump every time she will never learn to just get comfortable. Soon enough she will be able to get herself back to where she wants. My daugher HATED tummy time, hated it! My son loved it so each child is different. Just let her progress on her own terms to and soon enough she will be so mobile these times will seem a million years ago!! :)

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J.C.

answers from Phoenix on

I used to play a little game with my son when he was learning how to roll over.

I would lay him in the middle of a blanket and tell him that I was going to wrap him up like a burrito and eat him. I would wrap him up and then pretend to "eat" him when completely rolled up. Then, when I would unroll him I would gently roll him off of the blanket, helping him and showing him how to roll over. We did this over and over and within a week he was rolling over both ways. By the way, he was only 3.5 months old:)

You might also try laying on your belly next to her on the floor. Sing to her, play with her and pretend to sleep and snore. I know she is still a baby, but she really will enjoy this. Teach her that being on her belly is fun. You could also rub her back and give her an infant massage while she is on her belly so she can learn to relax. Happy Holidays!

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J.V.

answers from Phoenix on

Walmart and Babies-R-Us has the "incline to sleep" things that work great. They have little foam sides so they can't roll over. You can also roll up recieving blankets and put those on the sides of her. That should keep her from rolling over. Learning to roll over is developmental, and she will just get it one day. You can encourage it by helping her roll from her tummy to back/side during play time. That part of the rolling over isn't supposed to happen until around 5 months, though.

If she does get over, though, I wouldn't let her cry. She's frustrated and just needs your help. She needs to know you are there for her... just flip her back over! She is to young to "learn how to settle/ self-sooth". All the reserach says this doesn't happen until AT LEAST 4 months, and even then it can take babies a lot longer! Before that age, she's not "learning", she's giving up because she thinks no one is there for her.

This link might help... http://www.askdrsears.com/html/7/T070100.asp

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C.B.

answers from Denver on

I am not sure how to get babies to roll the other way, my oldest was rolling across the floor the first time she rolled (at 3 months and 10 days old), and my second one HATES tummy time, and does the same thing (rolls to her tummy and cries). I have these "props" and use(d) them for both my girls. The are just two stuffed pillow type things, and they velcro to the cloth that they come with. This thing is to keep them from rolling while sleeping, and it works great. You can find them at Wal-mart and Babies-R-Us. I don't know the name of it, but if you ask someone in the baby section for something to keep your baby from rolling, they should be able to help you. At the following link is the same type of thing.

http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId...

Good luck.

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M.H.

answers from Albuquerque on

Try using a sleep positioner but only the side pieces. Put them directly on a mattress pad so it will secure earier. That will keep her from rolling over until she is strong enough to it on her own.

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T.W.

answers from Tucson on

i'm not sure teaching her to roll any other way than she does is even possible. i had pretty much the same sleeps on side or back issue with my 6 month old and it was pretty easy to fix so she wouldn't end up on her stomach. there is a product that is for keeping them on their back, it is velcroed together with pads on each side that you can lay her on her side and flip one pad behind her. she can still lay on her back somewhat, lay on her side and not end up on her stomach at all. my daughter has slept through the night since 4 months this way with no problems!!!! i hope this works as well for you!

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S.C.

answers from Denver on

The best advice I have ever received was from the nurse at the hospital when my son was born. She said to me "to be a mother requires patience and practice". At the time I did not really get it but a year after the fact I understand.

When your little girl is crying help her out. When she is developmentally ready she will roll over on her own. In the meantime, gently roll her over in her crib and rub her belly then let her doze back to dream land. I love the fact that you show her how it works to roll over. Keep up the good work and don't fret this will pass as everything always does. Best of luck to you.

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