Want to learn how to help your baby roll when they get stuck at night? Is sleep not a thing anymore because your baby has learned to roll and they get stuck in their crib for naps or nights?
On average babies tend to start rolling around the 4 month mark, but some could be sooner and others a bit later!
Today I’m addressing a common question from Natalia in Toronto, Canada: “Is it possible to sleep train a baby who is stuck on his stomach several times at night?”
If you’re experiencing a similar issue, read on for some helpful tips and strategies!
How To Help Your Baby Roll: Step One
The first step in helping your baby learn to roll more effectively is to increase tummy time during the day!
If you’re currently doing three tummy time sessions, try to add two more in every wake window.
This practice helps your baby develop the head, neck and upper body strength to roll over and become more comfortable with rolling from belly to back and back to belly.
To help your baby learn to roll means we need to increase the practice time!
A great exercise you can try is what I’ve called the “sushi roll.” (I show this exercise in this YouTube!)
Lay a swaddle blanket on the floor, place your baby on it, and lift one side of the blanket until they start to roll sideways.
This helps them get used to the motion.
Repeat this exercise both ways until your baby gets the hang of it.
Practice Rolling in the Crib
When working through how to help your baby roll it’s SO common for babies to feel like they forgot how to do this when they go in the crib!
Even if they’re comfortable rolling all over on the on the floor, they may get confused in the crib!
So, how do you help your baby roll in the crib?
To help them adjust, practice the rolling motion in the crib during the day!
Avoid doing this right before a nap; instead, try it after they wake up.
Turn on the lights, open the blinds, play some music, and practice rolling from belly to back and vice versa!
How To Help Your Baby Roll: Step Two
Give Baby Space at Night
If you want to know how to help your baby roll confidently, you’ll need to hold space and not rush to their help!
When your baby wakes up at night and seems stuck on their belly, resist the urge to rush in immediately.
Babies experience partial arousals during the night, where they might make noises or cry but are not fully awake.
Give them a few minutes to see if they can figure out how to roll back on their own.
If your baby truly can’t roll back, go in quietly, roll them back over, and leave immediately.
Avoid picking them up or comforting them too much, as this can disrupt their ability to self-soothe and fall back asleep.
Consider Sleep Training
Learning how to help your baby roll can only go so far if your baby doesn’t know independent sleep skills!
If your baby is waking up multiple times a night and you’ve tried increasing tummy time and practicing rolling in the crib, it might be time to consider sleep training.
Sleep training helps your baby develop independent sleep skills, so they can soothe themselves back to sleep without relying on you!
If you’re ready to make sleep a thing while working through these strategies to roll, I invite you to check out our Baby Sleep Training Course!
This course provides a step-by-step plan to help your baby develop healthy sleep habits and sleep 11-12 hours all night long!
Conclusion
If you want to learn how to help your baby roll confidently in the crib so they sleep more soundly, practice these tips below:
- Increase tummy time during the day (aim for 2-3 tummy time sessions per awake window)
- Practice rolling in the crib to give your baby confidence to do this in their sleep environment
- Give your baby space at night to figure out rolling on their own
- Consider sleep training if night wakings persist
