Not rolling at 8 months - could this suggest a problem?

[mootthing]

DS is coming up to 8 months and has never rolled in either direction intentionally (he's done it about 4 times unintentionally). He can sit unaided and has been able to since about 6 months and can also pull himself into a standing position and stand holding onto something pretty much indefinitely, so I'm not concerned about lack of muscle tone.

The thing is we are due to go away for two months at the end of Jan. as my husband will be working abroad. We've been asked whether we want DS to have his 8 month check a little early before we leave, or at nearly 10 months when we come back.

The guidelines I've seen for the 8 months check state that the baby should be able to roll by this age and it is one of the things they check for. Does anyone know whether not rolling is likely to indicate a problem? If it is I guess it might be worth having the check before we go so any potential problem can be identified sooner rather than later. If it just indicates that, like his parents, he's not going to be very agile, then I'll leave it until we get back.

Personally, it doesn't sound to me like your son has a problem if he can sit and stand without your help.
All babies do things differently and some just don't do every little milestone.
But why not go for the early check just to put your mind at ease?

moothing. I know how you feel but take heart. My DS is 1 today and has never intentionally rolled. Sat up at 5 months, crawled at almost 10 months, pulled up at 11 and started cruising a few weeks ago. Still not saying mama or dada but plenty of syllables of gibberish so I'm cool. If I went by the books, I'd be pulling my hair out.

I would go for the check up if you're worried but I'm sure they won't be surprised that your DC isn't rolling - some just don't.

It's hard but try not to worry.

My DD could sit at about 6 months but showed no interest in rolling at all. She didn't want to crawl and at 10.5 months started doing a short of bottom shuffle, but with one leg out behind.

She did roll at about 11.5 months I think, but by then it wasn't important to her movement. She walked at 15 months (as did DS who rolled at 4.5 months, crawled at 8.5 months and the spent 6 months thinking about walking).

When DD had her 8 month check I can't remember being asked about rolling but she is 4.3 now and fully agile so I don't think it did her any harm not rolling sooner.

I would say that for your piece of mind it might be a good idea to have the check early, but I really don't think it shows any problems.

I wouldn't worry in the slightest if he is fine physically in other areas, i.e. can sit, can bear weight on legs.
My DS (now 5) didn't roll at all (a few times by accident, but never intentionally) and hated being on his tummy. He liked being walked around from about 9 months, so we thought he'd never crawl. However, he first crawled on his 1st birthday, and was walking shortly before 15 months, so he got going quickly once he actually started to move. I remember asking the HV about it at the time, but because he sat at a normal age, could weight bear and did all other things expected developmentally, they were never concerned. He's now a very clever little chap, and he never sits still (so has changed from being a chubby baby/toddler to a skinny little boy) so that might put your mind at rest too - I remember worrying that because he just sat for so many months there would be something wrong with him! (I've been far more relaxed about DD's development!)

My DD never rolled at all. She was sittig up unaided from 3.5/4mths so never really had the need I suppose.
She crawled at 9mths, was a confident walker at 11mths and is a very active 17mth old toddler now so it hasnt done her any harm.

Cant comment on the check as we never got one Just a letter saying they were short staffed so would see DD at her 2yr check!

Agree to go to the check early if your at all concerned.

My DS, now 2.2 years, never rolled over. I don't think he could be bothered!! He didn't sit until 7 months, crawled at 10 months and walked at 14 months so was never really that bothered about moving about!! Nothing to worry about.

I think they do what they want for a reason. DD 8 months rolled from back to front at 3 months because she hated being on her back. BUT I've never seen her roll onto her back - why would she if she doesn't like it? With all the other things he's doing it sounds like there is absolutely nothing to worry about.