Witnessing your baby grow and develop new skills is an exciting experience, and one significant milestone in their physical development is their ability to start rolling from one side to another.
But, as adorable as it may be, it can be of concern for most parents if their babies have not yet developed the necessary motor skills to roll back or change positions independently, especially during sleep.
Today, we’ll be looking at how to stop your baby from rolling in a cot, discussing if and when you should be worried, and exploring some safe sleep practices that you can use with your baby.
In This Article
- What To Do When Baby Has Started To Roll Over In The Cot?
- Is It Okay For A Baby To Roll Over While Sleeping?
- What To Do If Your Baby Rolls Over While Sleeping?
- Is It Safe To Use Baby Sleep Positioners To Keep Baby In A Specific Position During Sleep?
- Is It Safe To Use A Swaddle Once Baby Starts Rolling In The Cot?
- Are Sleep Sacks Safe for Babies Who Can Roll Over?
- What Age Do Babies Start Rolling Over in Their Sleep?
- Why Do Babies Roll Over in Their Cots?
- Can You Safely Co-Sleep With A Baby That is Rolling Over?
- How To Utilise Safe Sleep Practices With Your Baby?
What To Do When Baby Has Started To Roll Over In The Cot?
While it is essential that you place your baby on their back when putting them down to sleep, it won’t take too long before they start trying to roll over. When this happens, there are some things that you need to do to ensure their safety.
The first thing you need to do is stop wrapping your baby as soon as they show signs of rolling, as this can pose a suffocation and strangulation risk if it becomes too loose through your child’s increased movement.
You also need to transfer your baby from their bassinet into a cot as soon as they start rolling, as there is an increased risk of your baby rolling out of the bassinet due to the shorter sides. As cots have higher sides, they are safely contained with no risk of rolling over the edge.
It’s also a good idea to give your baby some extra tummy time under supervision once they’ve started rolling, as this will help them gain strength in their neck and upper body muscles, which, in turn, will aid them in rolling back over when needed.
Should You Stop Your Baby Rolling in the Cot?
You shouldn’t stop your baby from rolling in their cot, as it’s a natural part of their growth and development. By stopping them, you are preventing them from hitting this new milestone, which is essential for them to explore new positions and continue gaining muscle strength.
You should, however, ensure that you start implementing certain measures to ensure your baby is as safe as possible as they start learning to roll in their cot. These include moving them from a bassinet to a cot, stopping swaddling, and increasing tummy time during the day.
There can be a temptation to use a sleep positioner in a cot as this prevents babies from rolling, But doing so isn’t a good idea as it restricts movement, causes discomfort, and discourages them from exploring their new skills. Sleep positioners are also deemed unsafe as there are no Australian safety standards they need to adhere to.
How To Help Baby Roll Over Properly?
When your baby starts rolling, you’ll need to do certain things to ensure they continue to develop the strength needed to roll over properly. This might seem like a scary thing, but it’s actually quite simple, and there are some easy steps you can take to help your baby with this important stage of their development.
Tummy Time
Place your baby tummy side-down on a flat playmat and place a few of their favourite toys slightly out of reach. Doing this will encourage them to move as they attempt to grab their toys, and they will soon start pushing their chest to the floor and rocking from side to side in the process. Soon, they’ll learn to roll over to get their prize!
Don’t Rely On Baby Equipment
Equipment such as baby bouncers and swings are good for certain things, but they won’t do much when it comes to helping your baby learn how to roll properly as they are restricting and hold your baby upright. Instead, opt for extra tummy time, as your baby really needs to be spending as much time on the floor with as much freedom to move as possible.
Roll When Picking Up
When it comes to picking your baby up from the floor or out of their cot, gently help them roll over before you pick them up. This gives them a little extra support while encouraging them to push against the floor in order to roll over or onto their side.
Is It Okay For A Baby To Roll Over While Sleeping?
Yes, it is absolutely fine for a baby to roll over while sleeping. Rolling is a natural part of your baby’s development, and it actually means they’ve hit a new milestone in moving independently, normally happening between four and six months of age.
Don’t panic and feel as though you have to change your baby’s position immediately, though. Babies are capable of rolling in both directions unaided, and it is better to let them find their comfortable position as they go back to sleep.
However, you should gently roll them over onto their backs if your baby is currently only able to roll in one direction. This is important because if your baby cannot roll back onto their back from their tummy, it can increase the risk of entanglement, suffocation, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
With proper encouragement and time, it won’t take long before your baby is able to roll themselves in either direction, so it’s likely you won’t have to worry about rolling them over for long.
What To Do If Your Baby Rolls Over While Sleeping?
You don’t need to act immediately if your baby rolls over while sleeping, as this means that they have developed a new skill, and it is generally considered safe for them to remain in the position they’ve placed themselves in. However, it is important that you monitor the situation and intervene if they seem to be in distress.
It could be that your baby has accidentally put themselves in an uncomfortable position if they have rolled themselves onto their stomach and are crying. To help with this, gently roll them back over so they are in a lie flat position and offer them something to soothe them back to sleep, such as a pacifier.
Babies who are perfectly content on their stomachs have likely found a sleeping position that they find comfortable. In this instance, there isn’t any need to roll them back over. However, you must ensure there aren’t any blankets or soft toys around their heads, which could pose a suffocation risk.
Is It Safe To Use Baby Sleep Positioners To Keep Baby In A Specific Position During Sleep?
It isn’t considered safe to use sleep positioners to prevent rolling during sleep as there are no safety standards in place for them in Australia. They also restrict your baby’s movement, which, in turn, can force them into an uncomfortable position and could potentially harm their growth and development in the process.
For parents concerned about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), the best way of keeping your baby safe while they sleep is to place them on their back, ensuring nothing is covering their face and head.
Is It Safe To Use A Swaddle Once Baby Starts Rolling In The Cot?
It isn’t considered safe to use a swaddle once your baby starts rolling their cot. This is because, as they roll, the blanket can loosen and work its way up around their face and head, potentially resulting in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) through suffocation or strangulation.
To keep your baby warm while they are sleeping without using a swaddle, make sure they are dressed in appropriate clothing, such as a sleep sack.
Are Sleep Sacks Safe for Babies Who Can Roll Over?
While swaddling isn’t considered safe for babies, sleep sacks are one of the safest ways of keeping your baby warm and cosy while still giving them the freedom to roll. They also don’t have any loose material parts, so there is a dramatically reduced risk of suffocation or entanglement.
Be careful when buying though, as some sleep sacks are weighted, so extra care needs to be taken before purchasing one of these. The total weight of the sack should not exceed more than 10% of your baby’s weight.
As always, it’s important to continue other safe sleeping practices with a sleep sack, including removing loose blankets and toys from the cot.
What Age Do Babies Start Rolling Over in Their Sleep?
Babies will typically start rolling between the ages of four and six months, and your child’s ability to move in both directions (from tummy to back and back to tummy) is achieved by six to seven months of age.
Most babies will roll from their tummy to their back first, while others start from their back and move onto their bellies. Both movements are part of their development process.
Why Do Babies Roll Over in Their Cots?
Babies start to roll over in their cots as part of their natural developmental process. When your little one starts rolling, it indicates an increase in their muscle strength and coordination. Soon, with the help of this new skill, your bub will start exploring their environment more and more.
They constantly practice rolling and honing their newly acquired skills, regardless of whether you are watching. This sense of excitement happens at all stages of development.
Once they learn a new skill, they derive great pleasure from doing it all the time, including at night or when rested.
However, there are instances when it happens during sleep and causes them to wake up. This sets off a disturbed sleep cycle for them and their caregivers.
There are a few reasons why they roll in their crib, including:
Curiosity And Exploration
It also allows them to explore their surroundings and interact with their environment from different angles. They may be motivated to reach for objects, explore toys, or satisfy their curiosity.
Comfort And Self-Soothing
Rolling over provides a sense of comfort. They may also find a new position more relaxing.
It’s essential to ensure the baby’s crib is a safe infant sleeping environment for them to roll over and fall asleep. Placing them on their back to sleep while giving them enough freedom to move their arms and legs during sleep and awake times.
The National Institute of Health recommends safe sleep practices by placing babies on their backs to sleep and creating a safe environment by removing any objects nearby that may pose a suffocation hazard.
Motor Development
Rolling is a vital motor skill that babies acquire as they gain neck control and back and core muscles. It signifies their muscle strengthening and ability to coordinate movements as part of their baby’s development.
Can You Safely Co-Sleep with a Baby That is Rolling Over?
Yes! It is possible to co-sleep safely with a baby that is rolling over. Co-sleeping isn’t for everyone, and bed-sharing isn’t the safest option, so it’s crucial to prioritise your child’s safety, especially when they roll in their sleep, to create a secure infant sleeping environment.
During co-sleep, there are several measures you can take to keep your rolling baby safe;
- Be mindful of your sleep position and movements to avoid accidentally rolling onto or against your baby.
- Consider using crib bumpers or protective barriers to create a separate sleeping space for your baby within the bed.
- Ensure your bed is firm and flat, without gaps or spaces where your baby could become trapped in the middle of the night.
- Make sure your bed is large enough to provide ample sleeping space for you, your partner, and your baby during the nighttime.
- Remove any loose bedding, such as pillows, blankets, or stuffed animals, from the surface to reduce the risk of suffocation or strangulation.
- Position baby beside you rather than in between pads or against soft bedding.
When co-sleeping, it is crucial to be able to wake up if your baby is in a dangerous situation, so you should consider your sleep habits to ensure your baby is always safe.
How To Utilise Safe Sleep Practices With Your Baby?
Keeping your baby safe while they sleep is a major concern for many parents. Luckily, there are some safe sleeping practices that you can implement easily:
- Place your baby on their back to sleep.
- Ensure nothing is covering your baby’s head or face.
- Remove any loose blankets, soft toys, and clutter from the bassinet or cot.
- Check that they aren’t too hot or too cold by placing a hand on their stomach.
- Never allow pets or siblings to climb into the bassinet or cot with your baby.
- Make sure the sides of your bassinet are high enough, and when your baby starts rolling, move them to a high-sided cot.
- Stop wrapping or swaddling once your baby is rolling. Opt for a sleep sack instead.
By doing these things, you dramatically reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and ensure your baby is as safe as possible while they snooze.