Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN)

If an infant is sitting with support and rolls from back to front, how old are they likely to be?

1. 3 months

2. 6 months

3. 9 months

4. 12 months

The correct answer is: 6 months

Infants typically reach the developmental milestone of rolling from back to front around the age of 6 months. At this age, they have usually developed enough muscle strength and coordination to support themselves while sitting with assistance, as well as the necessary motor skills to execute the rolling motion. Rolling is an important milestone that indicates progress in gross motor skills, which are crucial for more advanced movements that follow. By 6 months, many infants have gained considerable control over their head and shoulder movements, enabling them to transition from back to front effectively. The ages of 3 months, 9 months, and 12 months are generally associated with other milestones. For example, by 3 months, infants may not yet have developed the muscle strength to roll over, while by 9 months, many are able to sit independently and may start to crawl, and a 12-month-old would typically be pulling up to stand and possibly starting to walk. Thus, the milestone of rolling from back to front aligns well with the 6-month age mark.