Rolling: Supporting Developmental Milestones

Developmental milestones represent how the BRAIN the brain and body are changing. A baby’s brain, in general, develops from the back (the location responsible for reflexes, vision centers, and overall muscle tone of the body). As they grow and develop, the brain makes more connections moving forward, crossing side-to-side and eventually into the front of the brain.

This development, step by step, is crucial for balance and coordination, sensory processing, and mental reasoning. It is so exciting to see your baby progress and advance, we just can’t seem to help ourselves from trying to push them along. Let’s learn how to support these natural stages so you can enjoy watching your baby flourish.

If development is delayed, specialized pediatric chiropractic care can be helpful! Removing tension patterns, optimizing communication between the brain and the body, and providing parents with helpful tips and exercises can make all the difference. Discussing and assessing developmental milestones is a normal part of wellness pediatric chiropractic visits.

Rolling: What to expect

For our first installment, let’s talk about rolling. When it comes to rolling, babies usually begin anywhere between 2-4 months of age. By 4 months of age, I like to see that babies are capable of rolling in all directions. This milestone starts with tummy time and lifting the head high, then learning to get their arms flexed underneath them. This helps transition your baby from one of their strong newborn reflexes (startle or moro reflex) into the new reflexes that will help them develop more body control.

Some babies won’t care to use rolling in order to move locations. It only matters that they are capable of doing so, which means the brain has made those necessary connections. How often they like to roll has more to do with their personality and motivation.

Enjoy the video, I hope it helps!