Help! My Baby Is Rolling In The Crib

Somewhere around 3-5 months old, you might notice your baby is no longer stationary in their crib or bassinet. They’re starting to wiggle and roll—and while it’s totally normal, it can feel a bit overwhelming!

Maybe you’ve glanced at the monitor and suddenly see your baby rolled onto their belly in the crib, and you’re thinking, “WHAT is happening? My baby is rolling?!”

In this blog post, we’re sharing steps and reassurance to give you peace of mind as you navigate this exciting (and slightly nerve-wracking) milestone.

If you’re a family who cherishes every precious minute of sleep and wants to keep it that way, you’re in the right place! But sometimes it can start to slip away as your baby learns new skills, like rolling. 

Let’s start with an important truth: when your baby learns a new skill, it will always impact their sleep in some way. 

There will be a slight regression period. It won’t be peachy perfect anymore. But that’s okay!! We’re going to talk about all of the things that you can do to help them as they practice rolling and get comfortable with this new skill.

FIRST, LET’S CELEBRATE!

Moments like this—when your baby surprises you with a new skill—can totally catch you off guard. You might find yourself thinking, “How did you even know how to do that?!” It’s new, it’s different, and yes, it’s going to cause some bumps in sleep.

But before we dive into any concerns, let’s take a moment to CELEBRATE!

Your baby is growing, learning, and developing new skills, and that’s an incredible milestone. Embrace this moment with joy and love because these are the moments that make parenthood so rewarding!

IF YOUR BABY ISN’T ROLLING YET

While many babies start rolling between 3-4 months, it’s also possible that your baby is closer to 5-6 months and hasn’t quite reached this milestone yet. That’s okay—every baby develops at their own pace!

The first step is to ensure your baby has the freedom to move in their sleeping space. Use this checklist to help them get there:

Are they still swaddled?

If your baby is showing signs of being ready to roll—or they’ve already started—swaddling should no longer be part of their routine.

For babies older than 12 weeks, the swaddle can actually prevent them from moving freely and mastering new skills like rolling. If you’re holding onto the swaddle out of concern for the startle reflex, here’s the truth: your baby won’t outgrow the startle reflex until they have the opportunity to practice moving and self-soothing without the swaddle. It’s time to ditch it!

This transition may lead to a few nights of disrupted sleep, but it’s essential to get your baby’s arms free. Why? Because they need the ability to use their arms and body to self-soothe and practice rolling.

• If your baby is older than 12 weeks, it’s time to transition out of the swaddle cold turkey.
• If your baby is under 12 weeks but already starting to roll, you’ll also need to remove the swaddle right away to ensure their safety and promote mobility.

Do They Have Space?

Make sure your baby has enough room to move freely. This might mean transitioning them out of the bassinet and into the crib. Providing them with extra space allows them to explore their most comfortable sleeping position and practice rolling more easily.

Are you tempted to use bumpers? 

When your baby starts rolling around, you might notice they like to get close to the edge of the crib or even wedge their head into a corner. In these moments, you may feel tempted to add mesh or other types of bumpers to protect them.

However, at Hatch, we align with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) standards, which means nothing—no mesh bumpers, no regular bumpers—should be in the crib. They are not needed and can pose a safety risk.

Your baby will naturally explore their crib environment, nestle up to the sides, and adjust without bumpers. Rest assured, they’ll be just fine!

Now that safety is set—swaddle-free, no bumpers, baby in the crib—you’re good to go!

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR BABY LEARNS TO ROLL

Increase tummy time during the day.

Start by increasing tummy time by just 15 minutes a day. We’re not aiming for hours at a time—just enough to give your baby the chance to strengthen their muscles and practice rolling skills.

During tummy time, you might notice your baby working hard to figure out how to get their arm out from under their tummy or swing their leg over. That struggle is all part of the learning process, and it’s a good thing! The more tummy time they get, the more they can practice and refine these skills.

Get them in their crib to practice

Here’s the wild part: your baby might be a rolling pro on the living room floor, but the moment they’re in the crib, they might panic. This is normal! The crib feels like a new environment, and it may take some time for your baby to feel confident practicing their rolling skills there.

For 10-15 minutes at a time, take your baby into their room with the lights on, letting natural sunlight stream in. While you’re there, tackle a few simple tasks—put away some laundry, tidy up the space, or restock the diapers.

Meanwhile, place your baby in their crib and give them the chance to practice rolling in their sleep environment. This helps them build muscle memory and get comfortable moving in the crib. Over time, they’ll gain confidence and feel more at ease in this space.

WHAT TO DO WHEN SLEEP IS INTERRUPTED

Remember what’s happening here

Instead of feeling frustrated by your baby’s new rolling skill—especially as it starts to interrupt nighttime sleep—consider how often you change positions during the night.

Rolling is actually a self-soothing skill! As adults, we know how to sleep because we have full control over finding the positions that help us feel most comfortable and soothed. The same thing is happening with your baby.

So, let’s celebrate this milestone, even if it comes with some temporary sleep interruptions. It’s all part of their development and learning how to sleep independently!

Flip them over if they’re really stuck

If you truly believe your baby is stuck—they’ve rolled over, can’t flip back, and seem unsure—don’t hesitate. You have full permission to go right into their room, quickly flip them back over, and leave before they even realize what’s happened.

The key here is to keep it brief:

• Don’t linger.
• Don’t soothe or try to help them get drowsy.

The goal is to foster independent sleep, not to create new sleep associations. You’re simply helping them if they’re genuinely stuck. Once you’ve flipped them over, leave the room and let them continue practicing their newfound skills.

Let it happen

How many of you have flipped your baby back over, left the room, only to check the monitor and see… they’ve rolled again?!

You could go in and flip them all night long, but let’s be honest—no one’s going to get any sleep that way. Here’s the good news: there will come a night when they roll over, and you don’t see them struggling anymore. Why? Because they’ve figured it out—they’ve learned how to roll and settle themselves.

This is where your parental decision-making comes in. You know your baby best. But at some point, you’ll need to stop flipping them back over because they’re not stuck—they’re choosing to be on their stomach.

If you’ve been practicing rolling during the day, both on the floor and in the crib, this is all part of their growth. Learning how to roll is a big milestone, and with time and practice, your baby will master it.

Flip them over if you feel like they’re struggling and they need help. But don’t lose hours of sleep at night because you’re just flipping them over all night long and then your baby’s frustrated and tired because they could never get the position that they’re trying to get into.

You may experience a few bumpy nights while your little one practices and adjusts, but within a week or two, things will get back on track. This temporary disruption is why learning to roll is often considered a regression—but it’s also an important milestone that sets the stage for better sleep in the future.

WHEN THEY FINALLY GET IT

One morning, you’ll wake up, check on your baby, and see them sleeping soundly on their stomach. This is a huge parenting milestone—it’s like earning a badge! Your baby has learned to roll and is starting to master the skill of self-soothing. That’s growth!

Rolling is the very first milestone that has a direct impact on sleep. So congratulations—your baby is rolling!

This milestone is a wonderful sign that your baby is happy, healthy, and well-rested. And that’s absolutely something to celebrate!