Sitting Before Rolling
“My baby LOVES to sit, but still can't roll. Is this bad?"
ANSWER- The easiest way to think about motor milestones is to think of it like a pyramid.
The 'lower level', earlier skills lay the foundation for higher level skills, AND for them to happen without compensation. That being said, rolling definitely precedes and lays the foundation for sitting.
When a child is placed in sitting early, OR before they are confident rollers, what can happen is a preference for sitting, rather than being on the floor. One of the big reasons I think this occurs is because sitting is SUCH a motivating position! It is the first time they see and can engage with their world in a new way, and if they're unable to move and explore as well on the floor, it can definitely lead to a preference towards sitting.
The other side of it is that rolling preps the muscles on the front and back of the body for sitting balance and postural control. When a baby learns to roll from belly to back, they are strengthening the muscles along their back. In turn, when they roll from back to belly, they are strengthening the muscles along the front of their body. These two muscle groups working in combination is what allows a child to sit without falling forward or backward, AND allows them to prepare to use the THIRD big, crucial muscle group in sitting- the trunk rotators.
Using the trunk rotators leads to the ability to transition in/out of sit, & eventually in/out of crawling, which leads to crawling, which leads to crawling to an item & pull to stand, which leads to cruising, which leads to walking!
Motor milestones being laid in a pyramid fashion allow them to build on each other & for higher level motor skills to occur, with the ultimate goal of your little being able to independently explore their environment to the best of their ability. If you're in a similar position to the question asker, my biggest recommendation is to take them back down to the floor. It's never too late to work on floor skills! Go to their tolerance and start with short spurts.
Hope this helps!
Want More?
For developmental questions, tips and guidance related to milestones about tummy time, rolling & sitting, crawling and walking, check out KC’s developmental Masterclasses linked here.
Was this helpful? Save it for later!
KC is a pediatric doctor of physical therapy, wife and mom of three! She has spent her career working with children and young adults of all ability levels, and currently specializes in birth to three years.
