How to help baby turn over?

Turning over in your sleep might seem harmless to us adults. It's something we do unconsciously several times a night. But for a baby, it's a different story! Intrigued? We'll tell you all about it.

Why are changes in position important for the baby?

Before your newborn can move around on their own, by crawling and then walking, they must first become familiar with their body and their environment.

How? For example, by managing to turn over on their own in bed! Changing position is one of a baby's first real movements. For them, it means performing an action independently, which affects their comfort, but also their perception of their body in space. So, by moving from lying on their back to lying on their stomach, a baby becomes aware of the possibilities available to them and their physical capabilities.

Is it normal for a baby to want to turn around?

Is your baby fidgeting in their crib and showing a desire for change? This doesn't mean they're uncomfortable; it's perfectly normal. Your baby is actually expressing a thirst for discovery about their environment and the objects around them. A soft toy catches their eye here, a mobile spins and plays music there: all these things make your baby want to play with them!

When a baby rolls over in their crib, their perspective on their surroundings changes. They won't see the same things in the room, as their field of vision will be different. For them, this means new things to observe and discover. This first step will help your baby with their subsequent psychomotor development: crawling, walking, and so on. Indeed, rolling and turning over on a flat surface allows your baby to try new things, become familiar with their body, and coordinate their movements. This will help them gain independence!

At what age does a baby start wanting to roll over?

As with all developmental milestones in newborns, there is no fixed age for this psychomotor action of rolling over[1]. So don't panic if your baby is taking their time!

Thus, some babies will show a desire to lie on their stomachs as early as 6 months, while others will wait until 9 months.

One thing to know: rolling from back to stomach will be acquired before rolling from stomach to back.

Is your baby 9 months old and still not rolling over? Don't panic: he's probably just taking his time before trying. A cautious baby, doing things at his own pace.

Should you help the baby turn over?

Your child is perfectly capable of rolling over on their own. It's through repeated attempts that they will understand the movement and coordinate their actions. This is also how they will begin to build muscle and gain flexibility. So there's no need to roll them over yourself. At first, however, you can give them a helping hand[2] by assisting their movement if it's hindered (for example, if their arm gets stuck under their torso).

By repeating the movement, the baby will eventually be able to turn over on their own, faster and easier.

And how are things going for you?

Is your baby starting to roll over in their crib or on their playmat? Do you have any exercises to stimulate them and help them roll over while maintaining their independence? Come discuss this and share your experiences with other parents by sending us an email to contact@biostime.fr or a DM on Instagram @biostimefr . Let's hear from you!

[1] http://www.carolecoenen.be/2017/08/31/aider-bebe-se-retourner-seul/

[2] https://flo.health/fr/etre-mere/soccuper-dun-bebe/comment-aider-votre-bebe-a-se-retourner