Week-by-week library · about 5.5 months old
Week 24
Quick answer
What is my baby up to at about 5.5 months old?
This week, a rolling baby can suddenly be in a very different spot than you left them.
What's developing
Motor
Rolling both directions, front-to-back and back-to-front, is common for many babies by now, though the typical window (WHO) runs from about three to six-plus months, so plenty of babies are still working on one direction.
Social
Many babies respond to hearing their own name by now, turning or pausing when it's said.
Try this together this week
- Baby-proof floor space a little more now that rolling can cover real distance.
- Say their name warmly and often during play to reinforce the connection.
- Practice supported sitting reaching for a toy just out of comfortable reach.
- Keep offering tummy time; some babies who roll well still need the strength practice it builds.
What parents often notice
If rolling both ways is not happening yet, that is well within the typical range; this is one of the more widely variable motor milestones.
Sourced to
- World Health Organization, Motor Development Study (WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study)
Last reviewed by the This Week Baby editorial team.