Help! My Baby Has Started Rolling

Just when you think you’ve mastered the art of baby sleep, they develop a new skill: rolling over!

This sweet little milestone is all fun and games, until suddenly all your best laid sleep routines are thrown out the window! Your little one will want to explore their new found freedom by rolling from back to belly, belly to back, and every which way in between, right when they should be sleeping.

So… what happens now?

Experts recommend the following strategies to assist with babies learning to roll:

• Continue to put your baby to sleep on their back at the beginning of their rest time, even though chances are they will not stay that way! Once babies have mastered the art of rolling over, they will toss and turn until they eventually find their ideal comfortable sleep position.

• Ensure that your bassinet/crib remains safe for sleeping at all times. Keep your baby’s sleep space free from blankets, toys or other sleep aids, and ensure that the level of your crib is appropriate for their developmental age. A firm mattress with well fitted sheets is a must: check out our range of Organic Baby Bedding to get you started.
  
  
• Ditch the swaddle! Make sure your baby's sleepwear is non-restrictive and will allow them to roll around safely in their crib. It’s time to start transitioning to a sleep sack that will allow their arms to be free. Our award-winning Sleepy Hugs Original and Hands In & Out sleep sacks are designed to help babies make the journey from swaddling to arms out, while providing the security to control the startle reflex and promote longer sleep.
  
  
• Just go with it! Your baby is exploring this new and exciting developmental milestone and will want to practice it day and night. Encourage this new skill during play time throughout the day, to help them build up their strength and confidence. Soon they’ll be flipping back and forth like a pro!

While your baby is fine tuning their roly-poly skills, be prepared for a few restless nights (and a little frayed patience) but stick to your usual bedtime routine, take a deep breath, and remember: this too shall pass!

Very soon your little one will settle into their new sleep routine, and life will go back to normal – until they discover and master their next milestone: pulling to stand!

At what age did your baby learn to roll?

Reminder: Your baby’s safety should always be your first priority

Always follow the AAP guidelines on safe sleeping:

• Until their first birthday, babies should sleep on their backs.
• Use a firm sleep surface.
• Only bring your baby into your bed to feed or comfort.
• Bed sharing is not recommended for any babies.
• Stop swaddling your baby as soon as they show signs of rolling.
• Keep baby's sleep area in the same room where you sleep for the first 6 months or, ideally, for the first year. 
• Keep soft objects, loose bedding, or any objects that could increase the risk of entrapment, suffocation, or strangulation out of the baby's sleep area (i.e. crib).
• Do not let your child fall asleep on nursing pillows or pillow-like lounging pads.
• Never place your baby to sleep on a couch, sofa, or armchair.

• Try giving a pacifier at nap time and bedtime.

For more information visit the AAP guidelines on safe sleeping for babies