First Time Roller

pffft. babies roll. she DIDN'T roll across the table, out the door, and into a pile of dog poop. therefore you are an excellent mom!
:) khairete
S.

Both my kids (2.5 years and 8.5 months) have fallen off the bed or couch this week. It sucks, but it happens. They're resilient. I wouldn't make a habit of them falling, but they do bounce a little. ;)

Happens to every mom! YAY! Now you've got that first roll-fall out of the way and you know to keep an eye on her wherever you lay her now! (Better a roll from the couch where you were just steps away than a roll off a high changing table or something like that...)

Babies are amazingly resilient (and yes, they're fragile too, but it takes malice to really hurt them)

When babies start toddling, they WILL fall. And it is OKAY. It is HOW they learn to keep their balance, how to gauge their abilities and the risks (ie I fell on that rough or slick floor before, this looks the same, I better be careful).

It is much better for a 2 feet high toddler to fall than to wait for a 4 feet tall kid to learn how to keep his/her balance & catch themselves falling, etc.

No, of course not, dont just let them fall whenever and wherever, but keep in mind it is PART of the learning process, and yes mommy guilt is what helps us keep them safe, now you know to make sure she can't roll (and when she can climb, to make sure it is safe enough, ie, no blocks & hard toys below, etc.)

When my son was only a couple weeks old, we were laying on the couch together and of course I was completely sleep deprived and I passed out with him on my chest. Of course, he rolled off! He was actually doing this weird thing with his legs when he was first born where he would lift them up, but when they fell back down, the weight of them would roll him to his side. I guess I let go of him in my sleep and he did that and off he went. It took me a minute to come out of my sleep (coma) and realize what had happened. He had landed on the dog who was next to the couch and then rolled off the dog too. Of course I totally freaked out. I started thinking of how hurt he could have gotten- what if he had hit the table, what if the dog had gotten startled and bitten him, what if I hadn't woken up? I called my husband crying and then fessed up to my doctor at his 2 week checkup the next day, crying again. But baby was fine, and now I know it wasn't such a big deal. The best part- my son didn't even wake up! At least not until I scooped him up and held him while I cried. :)

I look at it as a lucky warning. The couch isn't really that far of a fall. And after that, you bet I never left him on a surface or fell asleep holding him in a way that he could fall again. You are not a terrible mommy. Things like that happen to everyone.

I'm sure you have had enough answers but I'll share mine. My daughter rolled off the bed several times but the worst was I would walk her into wall all the time when she held my hand (we laugh now but I felt so bad) She is now 8 and when asked why she is so smart she tells people "because my mommy walked me into so many walls as a baby" Once on vacation we where sitting in bar chairs watching a football game and my daughter who was about 5 at the time decided to grab at something missed and went plummeting to the tile floor headfirst. I caught her by her ankle less then an inch from smashing her face into the floor. Felt terrible.Those are just my daughters mishaps my son has so many more and he is only 2.5 yrs old but has NO Fear. He climbs anything jumps from anything already taking his bike off ramps so he has fallen more times then I can count. Always is bruised or scratched but that doesn't make me a bad mom just one on her toes all the time :)

We've all done something like that. It just helps make us more aware and attentive. Once while we were rushing out the door I put my infant daughter in her carrier on top of the washing machine (not buckled in! She was too young to move and squirm, but Ah, what was I thinking?!) while I put my son's shoes on. The washing machine was on and vibrated the car seat off with her in it and she landed on her face on the tile. It got red and swelled twice her normal head size and she wouldn't stop screaming like I've never heard a baby scream. We rushed to the ER while I cried my eyes out, but she is now a very healthy 3-year-old with no apparent side effects (she's been checked a few times since at the Phoenix Children's Hospital just to be safe). It was pretty traumatizing and I had to deal with guilt, but fortunately no permanent damage occurred. When we're fortunate enough that these events don't lead to disaster, it can be a good learning experience. And I think every baby/toddler has crawled or walked or rolled off a bed or couch before, so don't beat yourself up over it. Bumps and bruises are a normal part of childhood.

Don't feel bad, it happens to the best of us. My first son rolled off the couch too when he first learned to roll. It did not hurt him, it just scared him a little. It does point out that we need to be more careful the next time though. I went to tummy time on the floor with a blanket spread out after the incident though.

Your not a terrible mommy! Everyone has a story like this. My son broke his arm at age 4 and I thought he just hurt his wrist. I gave him an ice cream cone, some tylenol and sent him to bed! The next morning when he was still in pain, I took him in just so they could "check it". They did an x-ray and sure enough, it was broke. I felt horrible to say the least. I felt like the doctors must think I'm a horrible mother. Everyone was actually very nice and understanding and since then I have learned that everyone has a story like this. To er is human......

You are NOT a terrible parent!!!!!!This sort of thing happens to all of us!!!!Let the idea go. When you start to think that you are a terrible mother, immediately say, out loud if you're alone, "I am a good mother. Accidents happen!" Repeat that statement over and over until you are able to believe it.

Rolling onto the floor is just the first thing that you did not forsee and did not prepare for. If you think of yourself as a terrible mother with all accidents you're going to drive yourself nuts. You are not perfect and you will not be a perfect mother but you will be a good mother as you learn how to deal with a baby/toddler/child.

I agree ... YOU ARE NOT A TERRIBLE MOTHER! These things happen. The same thing happened to me. I turned my head to get a drink of water and he rolled off the couch onto the floor. You did not expect her to roll (neither did I) and they really are tougher than we think. Just watch her but the fact that she cried for a short time probably means she scared herself (and you) and is fine. Just get ready ... crawling and walking is right around the corner. Don't feel bad ... You are doing great!

You are an awesome mom! Everyone has an oopsy moment. Just get ready for the next time she rolls and watch the high places, because now that she is a roller she is not going to hold still as much!
My daughter fell out of the stroller at 4 months! onto concrete! Talk about a horrible mommy moment! I ran home leaving the stroller and let go of the dog and called her ped, all they said was that if she is not bleeding and nurses fine don't worry about it. Babies bounce!
Horrible at that time, but now I see it as a learning experience!

You are a first time mom, and it's only normal to make mistakes as you are only human! It didn't bother your daughter much, so don't sweat it. I have two children, and I am still learning and making mistakes as well! Now that you know she can roll, have her tummy time on the floor for now on, and take lots of pictures of her having fun, instead of on the couch. :)

It's OK. You are not a terrible parent, you are human. Now you know that she can roll, always place her on the floor or in another secure place before walking away. Be extra careful with the changing table. If I were you I would just bring her to or call your pediatrician to make sure they don't want to see her.

Get ready!!! More to come! My six year old daughter stood on a picnic bench and leaned out a window. We said stop and shut the window. So she moved down the bench and pitched out of a different window. Bounced off a small covering over the propane tanks on her way down two stories. Broke her femur in two. I've been feeling guilty for 37 years.

Nope! Not terrible. We all have those stories. Both my kids have been dropped. :)

happens to all of us...however the second time around with me. I do not leave baby anywhere there could be an accident. Assume they can get off and out of whereever you put them. SO you dont have to worry about feeling crappy again:) It feels terrible when this happens. Just now, know she will do it and keep her on the floor at all times:)

u isnt a terrible mom u must be the bestest mommy ever and that do be happening i take care of my cousins and it happened to me once i had went to get the babys bottle quick and the baby fell but we both was in the same room when i turned around i had seen that the baby was on the edge and i ran but i didnt catch the baby on time so thats when i picked up the baby quick and i checked if the baby was fine it happens to everybody even to daddyz

was it a big fall? either way watch her closely for the next few days... if u notice anything odd take her to her pediatrician. good luck

It happens! No eggs on the head??? Just watch her and if need be take her for a PED visit. It should all be fine.