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AIBU?

AIBU to think it's fine that 5 and a half month old isn't rolling yet?

48 replies

Aberforthsgoat · 07/06/2020 11:29

DS was born JUST early 36 and 5 days.
He hates tummy time due to reflux so we don't do it as often as I'd like.
He's not rolling yet either way - he's done it twice front to back I think by accident and not done it again or tried since.
My best friends baby is flipping about all over the place front to back and is a month younger. My other friend has a 5 month old who is the same
They both referred to DS as 'delayed' when we were chatting on WhatsApp the other day due to the lack of rolling

He can sit in a high chair quite happily and in a parent facing or world facing pram. He has excellent head control and if you hold his hands will pull himself up into a sitting then standing position. He can sit upright albeit a little flopped forward or to the side when wedged between my legs on the floor.

I've tried putting toys out of reach during tummy time but he doesn't seem interested in the toys enough or just gets frustrated.

AIBU for thinking he's fine developmentally and will get to rolling when he's ready, probably a bit later due to lack of tummy time?

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Am I being unreasonable?

27 votes. Final results.

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You are being unreasonable
4%
You are NOT being unreasonable
96%
ilikefrys · 07/06/2020 11:36

I'd get him doing tummy time even if he doesn't like it. Put a towel under him if he's got reflux. Even if it's for short periods.

Frustration is good, it's ok for him to be frustrated. Frustration leads to learning and trying to do new things.

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Aberforthsgoat · 07/06/2020 11:42

I've tried putting blankets and towels under him and have a tummy time cushion but his reflux makes him sick :(

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ScarfLadysBag · 07/06/2020 11:43

DD didn't roll until well gone six months! I'd say she was maybe seven or even eight before she decided to bother. Just wasn't interested before! She crawled at ten months and walked at 14 so entirely normal.

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StopMakingATitOfUrselfNPissOff · 07/06/2020 11:45

Neither of mine rolled until 7 or 8 months. Even then they didn't really do it much, only out of necessity, they certainly weren't rolling about all over the floor to reach things.

I think your friends using words like 'delayed' is actually really out of order.

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ScarfLadysBag · 07/06/2020 11:45

Oh and she was also an early sitter - she was the first baby in our NCT group to sit but they were all rolling much before her. She just preferred to sit and play with toys around her rather than roll places 🤷‍♀️ If he's on target otherwise then I wouldn't be concerned personally. If he's tripod sitting then he's well on target. Tummy time doesn't have to just be flat on tummy too, it can be holding him on your chest, etc. And if he's almost sitting unaided then his core strength is obv good. Definitely not delayed!

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nattiee · 07/06/2020 11:46

Try a foil blanket, as then he'll be able to see himself in the reflection during tummy time and it will crinkle. Could help as it's distracting

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Gin4thewin · 07/06/2020 11:46

Dd is 6m, she was born 35weeks and spent 2 weeks in a incubator after surgery. Shes only just started rolling and only does it then sporadically. Im not worried, shell do things when shes ready. She hates tummy time, always has, would rather sit on our lap playing

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ScarfLadysBag · 07/06/2020 11:49

Oh and your friends were both very rude but welcome to the world of competitive baby parenting. This will just be the beginning! Next it will be crawling, food intake, sleep, walking, words. All stuff that will be irrelevant in a few years but that some parents get so competitive and ridiculous about.

Your baby is not delayed. He is a normal baby who is prioritising a particular set of skills over another at the moment.

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Hunkyd0ry · 07/06/2020 11:51

My daughter rolled once each way and then didn’t do it again for months!
She’s now 8 months are does it all the time to get places. I know it’s hard but I try to remember “comparison is the thief of joy”

Bit harsh the language they used though.

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Scoobydoobywho · 07/06/2020 11:51

We were told to put near the edge of the a bed with us sitting on the floor in front of them. Ds would lift his head for a bit then eventually roll over.

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Carcarcarcar · 07/06/2020 11:52

Mine didn't roll til 10 month, crawled at 15 months and still isn't walking without holding my hand at 26 months, lazy boy! Nothing wrong with him out lazy apparently! And he was 2 weeks late!

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RedskyAtnight · 07/06/2020 11:52

Mine are a long way past the baby stage but surely 5.5 months is pretty early to be rolling (and certainly way too early for you to be worrying about it - ignore over competitive friends who are showing off under the guise of concern).

But to reassure you, that this is absolutely nothing to worry about. My DD hadn't rolled over by her 1 year check (which actually happened when she was 13 months old) so I mentioned it to her health visitor who said some babies just don't bother and if there are no other development worries, then this is not a concern. In fact DD ended up walking (at 15 months old) before she could roll.

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ittooshallpass · 07/06/2020 11:54

DD didn't do anything until she was 8+ months. She went on to crawl and then walked at 17 months.

Probably 'late' by many people standards, but she was a very happy baby. I never put toys out of her reach to 'frustrate' her into action. I've seen people do that and knew it wasn't how I wanted to treat my baby. Why tease a baby to the point of frustration and tears? 🤷‍♀️

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MummaGiles · 07/06/2020 11:55

Nothing to worry about. Your friends 🤨 were very rude to say he is delayed.

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ellesbellesxxx · 07/06/2020 11:55

My daughter was born at 36+4 and didn’t roll until 8m.. she didn’t walk until 19m either! Absolutely fine :)

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Sillybilly6 · 07/06/2020 11:58

My ds had reflux and also hated tummy time, it hurt him, he had no interest in rolling and could stand up before he could roll over, which was amusing when he fell down and would just lie there like a turtle. It sounds like your friends are doing subtle Mummy bragging.

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Aberforthsgoat · 07/06/2020 11:59

Thank you all just reading through the posts

@ScarfLadysBag what's tripod sitting? Is it where they can sit with legs apart but sort of flopped forward? He can do this if i.put.him in position but sometimes veers off to the side Grin

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ItsMischerWavy · 07/06/2020 12:01

My daughter HATED being on her belly. Really, really hated it and I think that's why she didn't roll much at all. Everything else was absolutely fine she just couldn't stand being on her belly and I tried EVERYTHING. She never crawled either, she was a bum shuffler. She's now nearly 3 and completely fine.... Try not to listen to others, they're all different and do things at their own speed.

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Magicrose · 07/06/2020 12:03

DD rolled over once at about 6/7 months, never crawled, just bum shuffled and then got up and walked at 12 months. I guess she just didn’t like facing down!

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ScarfLadysBag · 07/06/2020 12:03

@Aberforthsgoat It basically just means sitting but leaning forward with arms to support or similar.

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Mabelface · 07/06/2020 12:07

Your "friends" are being knobheads. Fuck me, why do some parents feel the need for superiority just because their baby hits some milestones a little earlier than others? When they're grown, their cv isn't going to say "rolled over at 4 months old". Find kinder friends.

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Frlrlrubert · 07/06/2020 12:08

DD never really rolled, she did one or two early in and then seemed to decide it wasn't for her.

She also hated tummy time - so we did it on us instead. She had really good head control. Could sit properly at about 7months. She crawled at about the same time I think (backwards first).

She could pull up and stand holding stuff at 9 months, never cruised, walked just shy of 11 months.

They really are all different, but do try to find a way to do some sort of practice holding the head up, even if you start upright and work towards a forward tilt.

(MIL says DH was a bum shuffler - never crawled)

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PennyInMyPocket · 07/06/2020 12:10

I have to agree with PP’s. My grandson did not roll - despite everyone’s efforts to encourage him. He crawled at 12months, and then rolled. Walked at 17 months. His parents were concerned about his “developmental delay”, as all their friends babies seemed much more advanced.

He is now a typical 2 year old. Climbs on everything and runs like the wind. His overall development is now on the high end of what is deemed “normal” for a 2 year old.

Try not to worry OP. I’m sure your baby will catch up. If you are really worried speak to your HV. 💐

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user1471546851 · 07/06/2020 12:11

My dd was a 36 weeker and 5lbs just when born( 36 wks and 2 hours so just made 36 weeks) she's alot slower than my ds's but perfectly normal according to hv.
Shes 20 weeks. She hates tummy time too
Doesn't roll yet her head still abit floppy! But she can hold it up even ifit does bob abit Grin
She's started shouting and guugling later then the boys too (they where born at 39 and 38 weeks) I do really think that being slightly prem and her small size has made her a tiny bit slower than the boys but she's reaching milestones just a tad slower I really wouldn't worry to much! All baby's are different.
And can I add that you're friends are clearly not very nice to be calling you're baby delayed!! My friends would never ever speak about mine or any of our friends baby's like that!

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MonaChopsis · 07/06/2020 12:12

DD didn't roll, ever, until she had physio at around 15 months old, and she could walk quite happily by then (though not crawl!!) so it's not as if she spent ages practicing after that. She's now 10, and looking at her racing round with her friends you'd never know who hit milestones early and who was 'delayed'. These things seem really important when they are wee, but honestly they don't matter at all.

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