Introduction
Many parents are worried, especially in the early stages, that their baby’s development is not proceeding properly. In order not to miss anything, it is therefore necessary to take the U-examinations at the pediatrician. Here the milestones of the baby’s development are closely monitored.
One of the things the baby learns is of course turning around. The time when babies turn around can be roughly estimated. Babies usually learn to move their head in a controlled manner, then turn around and finally sit without assistance.
Turning from the belly to the back and back is usually the first form of locomotion for your baby. Turning around therefore represents a first, albeit small, step towards independence. The stimulus is usually a distant toy.
At the earliest
The time of the first rotation varies greatly from child to child. Very mobile children manage to turn from the prone position to the supine position at the age of about three months. Turning on the stomach is a more strenuous movement and requires stronger muscles.
Babies usually do this at five months of age. Earlier turns are very rare because the baby’s muscles are not yet strong enough. The children train these muscles independently by kicking and moving.
On average
At about four to five months, most babies learn to turn from the prone position to the supine position. By half a year of age, half of all babies can do a turn from the prone position to the prone position and back to the supine position. However, an average value need not necessarily be a necessity. Some children simply do not want to turn yet, as this movement is very strenuous. Often an unreachable toy or a sibling is the reason for a turn in prone position, because from this position much better can be achieved.
At the latest
There is no such thing as a turn at the latest when a baby turns. Most children can turn in both directions or none at all by the age of eight months. These motor skills are also tested in the U5 examination by the pediatrician.
Some children simply omit the milestone turn and start crawling right away. The pediatrician should rule out the possibility of physical limitations. If neurological or orthopedic diseases are excluded, the missing turn can be accepted.
