3 week old can roll over…should we be worried?

[Torrach21]

Hi all,

I am not sure where to post this so trying babies! First post :)

We have 3 week old identical twin boys and one of them has shown us (repeatedly) he can roll from his tummy to back. He does this by kicking up his legs and levering himself over. I googled it to see was this some odd newborn reflex and (understandably) get the normal range of “all babies are different” and “it could be an early sign of an issue”. I haven’t been able to find any reports of any other parents seeing this so wondering if this community could help and share any experiences, thank you.

(Midwife had no input so far and I have it on list to speak to health visitor about but as yet we don’t have one…Christmas handover delays exacerbated by COVID. Only one twin does it).

My daughter rolled from tummy to back about that age. I don't think it was completely on purpose, she was just figuring out how to move and it happened occasionally. She's always been really strong, the midwife said she kicked like a mule when they changed her after she was born and she was lifting her head during tummy time from a week old. She's a year now and developing great, and still very strong for her size!

Their heads are so heavy at that age that if they get a little movement going they can then tip over. My first child could roll towards my boobs when I fed lying down from birth, from his back to his side. I guess if I hadn’t been in the way he would have flipped right over but he never did it if I wasn’t there! I’m sure it’s fine. Enjoy your babies!

Normal sort of age to start rolling I think. One of mine a bit earlier, one a bit later. Must be fascinating watching twins develop at their own paces. (And exhausting I'm sure!)

One of mine could roll from back to front as a newborn which I think is fairly unusual and had us a bit worried re SIDS! I think it was some kind of newborn reflex as he lost it after a few months.

I would have thought rolling from front to back isn't that strange as they kind of topple over with the smallest of momentum.

I actually did see a post from a mum whose baby could roll at 5 weeks and it was a sign of lack of electrolytes and she ended up having to supplement breastfeeding. Sometimes it's just the way the baby is but definitely worth checking

One of mine did this in the early weeks, then didn’t roll again for months. Development otherwise normal.

Normal sort of age to start rolling I think. One of mine a bit earlier, one a bit later

The baby is 3 weeks not 3 months (even 3 months is early to roll). A normal age to start rolling is between 4 and 6 months.

Anecdotally a few babies I know have done this randomly as newborns but then it stops and rolling at the normal age occurs. I wouldn’t overthink it but equally I wouldn’t change on top of a unit either knowing they could roll!

Why is he starting on his tummy at three weeks? Isn't that a bit early for tummy time?

Incidentally I have 4 boys and only one ever rolled really (much later), the other maybe did it once or twice. They all hated tummy time too and I hardly did it with the older ones and not at all with the younger ones. All massive rugby playing teens or pre teens now that do all that pull up business at the gym, hasn't seemed to make any difference whatsoever.

My baby did this in the first few weeks. I think it was because she was breech until 35 weeks, she was very froggy legged and used to pull her her little legs up and rock over onto her side. It was very cute and stopped after she was a month or so.

DS could roll onto his side from a few weeks and would suckle the side of his carrycot liner. Despite washing it repeatedly I couldn’t get rid of the stain. The girl I sold the carrycot to didn’t mind the stain fortunately, she thought it was lovely. It’s a bit like the tiny handprint on the wall by our bed. A lovely reminder.
DS did full roll at 3mnths. I remember it clearly because it was New Years Eve.

The baby is 3 weeks not 3 months (even 3 months is early to roll). A normal age to start rolling is between 4 and 6 months.
Oops you're quite right I misread.

Thanks everyone - helpful to read.

My Ds did this a good few times at a similar age he was premature and probably wasn’t even meant to be born yet it was definitely some kind of reflex as he didn’t roll over properly till well over 6 months.

@Torrach21

Hi all,

I am not sure where to post this so trying babies! First post :)

We have 3 week old identical twin boys and one of them has shown us (repeatedly) he can roll from his tummy to back. He does this by kicking up his legs and levering himself over. I googled it to see was this some odd newborn reflex and (understandably) get the normal range of “all babies are different” and “it could be an early sign of an issue”. I haven’t been able to find any reports of any other parents seeing this so wondering if this community could help and share any experiences, thank you.

(Midwife had no input so far and I have it on list to speak to health visitor about but as yet we don’t have one…Christmas handover delays exacerbated by COVID. Only one twin does it).

Mine rolled over at that age and younger. Not often but just a few times. I was worried at the time and looked it up. Apparently, it's fairly normal in newborns.

He soon stopped rolling and now at 5 months still has only rolled a few times so I'm worried again.

I think it can be indicative of some issues but if I remember right that is if they roll early, ie not new borns. If you are worried I'd ask the health visitor or GP.

My ds did this and no one believed me, thought I was bragging! I had to film it in her end! He only went front to back, but he never stopped once he started. No issues and he's now 4.
My Dd didn't roll either way until 5 months! Crazy how different they all are!

My DD did this when she was a newborn - it was some kind of weird reflex. She stopped at about 3 weeks/1 month and then didn’t do it again until about 10/12 weeks.