diff --git a/src/host/config.ts b/src/host/config.ts
index a8e33d5..7f8c339 100644
--- a/src/host/config.ts
+++ b/src/host/config.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@ import type { UNode, UElement, URoot, ComponentFn, UComponent } from "../core/sc
 import { isURoot, isUPrimitive } from "../core/schema.js";
 import { Context } from "../core/context.js";
 import type { Fiber } from "./fiber.js";
-import { reconcileProps, commitEffects } from "./reconcile.js";
+import { reconcileProps, reconcileChildren, commitMutations } from "./reconcile.js";
+import type { CommitContext } from "./reconcile.js";
 
 export interface HostConfig<TTag extends string, Instance, RootCtx> {
   name: string;
@@ -116,6 +117,130 @@ export function createRoot<TTag extends string, Instance, RootCtx>(
     return fiber;
   }
 
+  function createFiberForInsert(node: UNode, parentFiber: Fiber<Instance>): Fiber<Instance> {
+    if (isUPrimitive(node)) {
+      const text = node === null ? "" : String(node);
+      const t = host.createTextInstance(text, ctx, parentFiber.instance);
+      host.emit?.("instance.create", `text_${Date.now()}`, { kind: "text", value: text });
+      return {
+        instance: t,
+        tag: "#text",
+        props: { text },
+        key: undefined,
+        children: [],
+        parent: parentFiber,
+        effect: null,
+        signalDisposers: [],
+        prevProps: null,
+      };
+    }
+
+    const el = node as UElement;
+
+    if (typeof el.type === "function") {
+      const component = el.type as ComponentFn;
+      const out = component({ ...el.props, children: el.children });
+      host.emit?.("component.invoke", `comp_${Date.now()}`, { type: (component as unknown as UComponent).displayName ?? "anonymous" });
+      return createFiberForInsert(out, parentFiber);
+    }
+
+    const tag = el.type as TTag;
+    const inst = host.createInstance(tag, el.props as Record<string, unknown>, ctx, parentFiber.instance);
+    host.emit?.("instance.create", `${tag}_${Date.now()}`, { kind: "element", tag, props: el.props });
+
+    const fiber: Fiber<Instance> = {
+      instance: inst,
+      tag,
+      props: el.props as Record<string, unknown>,
+      key: el.key,
+      children: [],
+      parent: parentFiber,
+      effect: null,
+      signalDisposers: [],
+      prevProps: null,
+    };
+
+    for (const child of el.children) {
+      const childFiber = createFiberForInsert(child, fiber);
+      if (childFiber) {
+        host.appendChild(inst, childFiber.instance, ctx);
+        fiber.children.push(childFiber);
+      }
+    }
+
+    return fiber;
+  }
+
+  function resolveUNode(node: UNode): UNode[] {
+    if (node == null || node === false) return [];
+    if (isUPrimitive(node)) return [node];
+    if (isURoot(node)) {
+      const result: UNode[] = [];
+      for (const child of (node as URoot).children) {
+        result.push(...resolveUNode(child));
+      }
+      return result;
+    }
+    const el = node as UElement;
+    if (typeof el.type === "function") {
+      const component = el.type as ComponentFn;
+      const out = component({ ...el.props, children: el.children });
+      return resolveUNode(out);
+    }
+    return [node];
+  }
+
+  function reconcileNode(fiber: Fiber<Instance>, nextNode: UNode): void {
+    if (isUPrimitive(nextNode)) {
+      if (fiber.tag === "#text") {
+        reconcileProps(fiber, nextNode, host as HostConfig<string, Instance, unknown>, ctx as unknown);
+      }
+      return;
+    }
+
+    if (isURoot(nextNode)) {
+      const rootChildren = (nextNode as URoot).children;
+      const classification = reconcileChildren(
+        fiber.children,
+        rootChildren,
+      );
+      for (const m of classification.matched) {
+        reconcileProps(m.oldFiber, m.newChild, host as HostConfig<string, Instance, unknown>, ctx as unknown);
+      }
+      const commitCtx: CommitContext<Instance> = {
+        host: host as HostConfig<string, Instance, unknown>,
+        ctx: ctx as unknown,
+        createFiber: (node, parent) => createFiberForInsert(node, parent),
+      };
+      commitMutations(fiber, classification, commitCtx);
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const el = nextNode as UElement;
+
+    if (typeof el.type === "function") {
+      const component = el.type as ComponentFn;
+      const out = component({ ...el.props, children: el.children });
+      reconcileNode(fiber, out);
+      return;
+    }
+
+    if (fiber.tag !== el.type) return;
+
+    reconcileProps(fiber, el, host as HostConfig<string, Instance, unknown>, ctx as unknown);
+
+    const classification = reconcileChildren(fiber.children, el.children);
+    for (const m of classification.matched) {
+      reconcileProps(m.oldFiber, m.newChild, host as HostConfig<string, Instance, unknown>, ctx as unknown);
+    }
+    const commitCtx: CommitContext<Instance> = {
+      host: host as HostConfig<string, Instance, unknown>,
+      ctx: ctx as unknown,
+      createFiber: (node, parent) => createFiberForInsert(node, parent),
+    };
+    commitMutations(fiber, classification, commitCtx);
+  }
+
   return {
     host,
     ctx,
@@ -125,13 +250,23 @@ export function createRoot<TTag extends string, Instance, RootCtx>(
     render(node: UNode) {
       if (this.rootFiber) {
         const payloadChildren = isURoot(node) ? (node as URoot).children : [node];
-        for (let i = 0; i < payloadChildren.length; i++) {
-          const childFiber = this.rootFiber.children[i];
-          if (childFiber) {
-            reconcileProps(childFiber, payloadChildren[i]!, host as HostConfig<string, Instance, unknown>, ctx as unknown);
-          }
+        const resolvedChildren: UNode[] = [];
+        for (const child of payloadChildren) {
+          resolvedChildren.push(...resolveUNode(child));
         }
-        commitEffects(this.rootFiber, host as HostConfig<string, Instance, unknown>, ctx as unknown);
+        const classification = reconcileChildren(
+          this.rootFiber.children,
+          resolvedChildren,
+        );
+        for (const m of classification.matched) {
+          reconcileNode(m.oldFiber, m.newChild);
+        }
+        const commitCtx: CommitContext<Instance> = {
+          host: host as HostConfig<string, Instance, unknown>,
+          ctx: ctx as unknown,
+          createFiber: (node, parent) => createFiberForInsert(node, parent),
+        };
+        commitMutations(this.rootFiber, classification, commitCtx);
         host.emit?.("root.render", `root_${Date.now()}`, { childCount: payloadChildren.length });
         return;
       }
diff --git a/src/host/reconcile.ts b/src/host/reconcile.ts
index 57f781d..152a0f9 100644
--- a/src/host/reconcile.ts
+++ b/src/host/reconcile.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,12 @@ import type { HostConfig } from "./config.js";
 import type { UNode, UElement } from "../core/schema.js";
 import { isUPrimitive, isURoot, isUElement } from "../core/schema.js";
 
+export interface CommitContext<I> {
+  host: HostConfig<string, I, unknown>;
+  ctx: unknown;
+  createFiber: (node: UNode, parentFiber: Fiber<I>) => Fiber<I>;
+}
+
 interface PendingUpdate {
   fiber: Fiber<unknown>;
   nextNode: UNode;
@@ -320,4 +326,125 @@ export function reconcileChildren<I>(
   }
 
   return { matched, added, removed, moves };
+}
+
+export function commitMutations<I>(
+  parentFiber: Fiber<I>,
+  classification: ChildClassification<I>,
+  commitCtx: CommitContext<I>,
+): void {
+  const { host, ctx, createFiber } = commitCtx;
+  const parentInst = parentFiber.instance;
+
+  const movedSet = new Set<Fiber<I>>(classification.moves.values());
+
+  // Map matched index (position in classification.matched[]) for quick lookup
+  const matchedArrayIndex = new Map<MatchedChild<I>, number>();
+  for (let i = 0; i < classification.matched.length; i++) {
+    matchedArrayIndex.set(classification.matched[i]!, i);
+  }
+
+  // Build maps keyed by new-children position
+  const matchedByNewIndex = new Map<number, MatchedChild<I>>();
+  for (const m of classification.matched) {
+    matchedByNewIndex.set(m.index, m);
+  }
+  const addedByIndex = new Map<number, UElement>();
+  for (const { newChild, index } of classification.added) {
+    addedByIndex.set(index, newChild);
+  }
+
+  // Collect all positions in new-children order
+  const allIndices = new Set<number>();
+  for (const m of classification.matched) allIndices.add(m.index);
+  for (const a of classification.added) allIndices.add(a.index);
+  const sortedIndices = [...allIndices].sort((a, b) => a - b);
+
+  // Phase 1: Removes — reverse order (children before parents, bottom-up)
+  for (let i = classification.removed.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
+    const fiber = classification.removed[i]!;
+    host.removeChild?.(parentInst as never, fiber.instance as never, ctx as never);
+  }
+
+  // Build new children array and determine placement actions
+  const newChildren: Fiber<I>[] = [];
+  type Placement = { fiber: Fiber<I>; beforeFiber: Fiber<I> | null; kind: "insert" | "move" };
+  const placements: Placement[] = [];
+
+  // Create fibers for added children first (so they're available for before-lookup)
+  const addedFibers = new Map<number, Fiber<I>>();
+  for (const { index } of classification.added) {
+    const newChild = addedByIndex.get(index)!;
+    const fiber = createFiber(newChild, parentFiber);
+    addedFibers.set(index, fiber);
+  }
+
+  // Build the final children array
+  for (const idx of sortedIndices) {
+    const addedChild = addedByIndex.get(idx);
+    if (addedChild !== undefined) {
+      const fiber = addedFibers.get(idx)!;
+      newChildren.push(fiber);
+      // Find before: next fiber in newChildren that is "staying" (not moved, not just inserted)
+      const before = findNextStayingFiber(sortedIndices, matchedByNewIndex, addedByIndex, movedSet, idx);
+      placements.push({ fiber, beforeFiber: before, kind: "insert" });
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    const match = matchedByNewIndex.get(idx);
+    if (match !== undefined) {
+      const fiber = match.oldFiber;
+      newChildren.push(fiber);
+      const mIdx = matchedArrayIndex.get(match)!;
+      if (classification.moves.has(mIdx)) {
+        const before = findNextStayingFiber(sortedIndices, matchedByNewIndex, addedByIndex, movedSet, idx);
+        placements.push({ fiber, beforeFiber: before, kind: "move" });
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Phase 2: Inserts + Moves — left-to-right
+  for (const { fiber, beforeFiber } of placements) {
+    if (host.insertBefore && beforeFiber) {
+      host.insertBefore(
+        parentInst as never,
+        fiber.instance as never,
+        beforeFiber.instance as never,
+        ctx as never,
+      );
+    } else {
+      host.appendChild(parentInst as never, fiber.instance as never, ctx as never);
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Update fiber tree
+  parentFiber.children = newChildren;
+  for (const fiber of classification.removed) {
+    fiber.parent = null;
+  }
+
+  // Phase 3: Updates — top-down (parent before child) via commitEffects
+  commitEffects(parentFiber, host as HostConfig<string, I, unknown>, ctx);
+}
+
+function findNextStayingFiber<I>(
+  sortedIndices: number[],
+  matchedByNewIndex: Map<number, MatchedChild<I>>,
+  addedByIndex: Map<number, UElement>,
+  movedSet: Set<Fiber<I>>,
+  currentIdx: number,
+): Fiber<I> | null {
+  const posInSorted = sortedIndices.indexOf(currentIdx);
+  for (let p = posInSorted + 1; p < sortedIndices.length; p++) {
+    const nextIdx = sortedIndices[p]!;
+    const isAdded = addedByIndex.has(nextIdx);
+    const match = matchedByNewIndex.get(nextIdx);
+    if (!isAdded && match !== undefined) {
+      const isMoved = movedSet.has(match.oldFiber);
+      if (!isMoved) {
+        return match.oldFiber;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  return null;
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/mod.ts b/src/mod.ts
index e2c3f30..6f1550d 100644
--- a/src/mod.ts
+++ b/src/mod.ts
@@ -21,8 +21,8 @@ export type { HostConfig, Root } from "./host/config.js";
 
 export type { Fiber, Effect } from "./host/fiber.js";
 
-export { scheduleUpdate, flushUpdates, reconcileProps, commitEffects, wireSignalToFiber, resetUpdateQueue, reconcileChildren, longestIncreasingSubsequence } from "./host/reconcile.js";
-export type { MatchedChild, ChildClassification } from "./host/reconcile.js";
+export { scheduleUpdate, flushUpdates, reconcileProps, commitEffects, commitMutations, wireSignalToFiber, resetUpdateQueue, reconcileChildren, longestIncreasingSubsequence } from "./host/reconcile.js";
+export type { MatchedChild, ChildClassification, CommitContext } from "./host/reconcile.js";
 
 export { TransformRegistry, childCtx, matchesSchema, ctx as transformCtx } from "./transform/registry.js";
 export type { TransformContext, TransformFn, TransformRule } from "./transform/registry.js";
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/commit-mutations.test.ts b/test/commit-mutations.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a4d6b0f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/commit-mutations.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,382 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, vi } from "vitest";
+import { h } from "../src/core/h.js";
+import { createRoot as createHostRoot } from "../src/host/config.js";
+import type { HostConfig } from "../src/host/config.js";
+import { commitMutations, reconcileChildren } from "../src/host/reconcile.js";
+import type { CommitContext, ChildClassification } from "../src/host/reconcile.js";
+import type { Fiber } from "../src/host/fiber.js";
+
+function makeHost(): {
+  host: HostConfig<string, string, Record<string, unknown>>;
+  operations: string[];
+  instances: { tag: string; props: Record<string, unknown> }[];
+} {
+  const operations: string[] = [];
+  const instances: { tag: string; props: Record<string, unknown> }[] = [];
+
+  const host: HostConfig<string, string, Record<string, unknown>> = {
+    name: "test",
+    createRootContext: () => ({}),
+    createInstance: (tag, props) => {
+      const id = `${tag}_${instances.length}`;
+      instances.push({ tag, props });
+      return id;
+    },
+    createTextInstance: (text) => {
+      return `text:${text}`;
+    },
+    appendChild: (parent, child) => {
+      operations.push(`appendChild(${parent}, ${child})`);
+    },
+    insertBefore: (parent, child, before) => {
+      operations.push(`insertBefore(${parent}, ${child}, ${before})`);
+    },
+    removeChild: (parent, child) => {
+      operations.push(`removeChild(${parent}, ${child})`);
+    },
+    prepareUpdate: (_instance, _tag, prevProps, nextProps) => {
+      const changed = Object.keys(nextProps).some(
+        (k) => prevProps[k] !== nextProps[k],
+      ) || Object.keys(prevProps).some(
+        (k) => !(k in nextProps),
+      );
+      return changed ? { prevProps, nextProps } : null;
+    },
+    commitUpdate: (instance, _payload, _tag, _prevProps, nextProps) => {
+      operations.push(`commitUpdate(${instance})`);
+    },
+  };
+  return { host, operations, instances };
+}
+
+describe("commitMutations", () => {
+  it("adding a child calls host.appendChild", () => {
+    const { host, operations } = makeHost();
+    const root = createHostRoot(host, {});
+    root.render(h("ul", null, h("li", { key: "a" }, "A")));
+
+    operations.length = 0;
+    root.render(h("ul", null, h("li", { key: "a" }, "A"), h("li", { key: "b" }, "B")));
+
+    expect(operations.some(op => op.includes("appendChild") || op.includes("insertBefore"))).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("removing a child calls host.removeChild", () => {
+    const { host, operations } = makeHost();
+    const root = createHostRoot(host, {});
+    root.render(h("ul", null, h("li", { key: "a" }, "A"), h("li", { key: "b" }, "B")));
+
+    operations.length = 0;
+    root.render(h("ul", null, h("li", { key: "a" }, "A")));
+
+    expect(operations.some(op => op.includes("removeChild"))).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("reordering children calls host.insertBefore for moved children", () => {
+    const { host, operations } = makeHost();
+    const root = createHostRoot(host, {});
+    root.render(h("ul", null, h("li", { key: "a" }, "A"), h("li", { key: "b" }, "B"), h("li", { key: "c" }, "C")));
+
+    operations.length = 0;
+    root.render(h("ul", null, h("li", { key: "c" }, "C"), h("li", { key: "a" }, "A"), h("li", { key: "b" }, "B")));
+
+    expect(operations.some(op => op.includes("insertBefore"))).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("mixed add+remove+update operations apply in correct order", () => {
+    const { host, operations } = makeHost();
+    const root = createHostRoot(host, {});
+    root.render(h("ul", null, h("li", { key: "a", color: "red" }, "A"), h("li", { key: "b" }, "B")));
+
+    operations.length = 0;
+    root.render(h("ul", null, h("li", { key: "a", color: "blue" }, "A"), h("li", { key: "c" }, "C")));
+
+    const removeIdx = operations.findIndex(op => op.includes("removeChild"));
+    const insertIdx = operations.findIndex(op => op.includes("appendChild") || op.includes("insertBefore"));
+    const updateIdx = operations.findIndex(op => op.includes("commitUpdate"));
+
+    if (removeIdx !== -1 && insertIdx !== -1) {
+      expect(removeIdx).toBeLessThan(insertIdx);
+    }
+    if (insertIdx !== -1 && updateIdx !== -1) {
+      expect(insertIdx).toBeLessThan(updateIdx);
+    }
+  });
+
+  it("insertBefore falls back to appendChild if before is null", () => {
+    const hostWithoutInsertBefore: HostConfig<string, string, Record<string, unknown>> = {
+      name: "test",
+      createRootContext: () => ({}),
+      createInstance: (tag) => `${tag}_0`,
+      createTextInstance: (text) => `text:${text}`,
+      appendChild: (_parent, _child) => {},
+      removeChild: (_parent, _child) => {},
+      prepareUpdate: () => null,
+    };
+    const root = createHostRoot(hostWithoutInsertBefore, {});
+    root.render(h("ul", null, h("li", { key: "a" }, "A")));
+    
+    expect(() => {
+      root.render(h("ul", null, h("li", { key: "a" }, "A"), h("li", { key: "b" }, "B")));
+    }).not.toThrow();
+  });
+
+  it("fiber tree updated: new children added, removed children pruned", () => {
+    const { host } = makeHost();
+    const root = createHostRoot(host, {});
+    root.render(h("ul", null, h("li", { key: "a" }, "A"), h("li", { key: "b" }, "B")));
+
+    const ulFiber = root.rootFiber!.children[0]!;
+    expect(ulFiber.children.length).toBe(2);
+    expect(ulFiber.children[0]!.key).toBe("a");
+    expect(ulFiber.children[1]!.key).toBe("b");
+
+    root.render(h("ul", null, h("li", { key: "a" }, "A"), h("li", { key: "c" }, "C")));
+
+    expect(ulFiber.children.length).toBe(2);
+    const keys = ulFiber.children.map(c => c.key);
+    expect(keys).toContain("a");
+    expect(keys).toContain("c");
+    expect(keys).not.toContain("b");
+  });
+
+  it("fiber tree updated: moved children reordered", () => {
+    const { host } = makeHost();
+    const root = createHostRoot(host, {});
+    root.render(h("ul", null, h("li", { key: "a" }, "A"), h("li", { key: "b" }, "B"), h("li", { key: "c" }, "C")));
+
+    root.render(h("ul", null, h("li", { key: "c" }, "C"), h("li", { key: "a" }, "A"), h("li", { key: "b" }, "B")));
+
+    const ulFiber = root.rootFiber!.children[0]!;
+    const keys = ulFiber.children.map(c => c.key);
+    expect(keys).toEqual(["c", "a", "b"]);
+  });
+
+  it("removes are committed before inserts and moves", () => {
+    const { host, operations } = makeHost();
+    const root = createHostRoot(host, {});
+    root.render(h("ul", null, h("li", { key: "a" }, "A"), h("li", { key: "b" }, "B")));
+
+    operations.length = 0;
+    root.render(h("ul", null, h("li", { key: "c" }, "C"), h("li", { key: "a" }, "A")));
+
+    const removeIdx = operations.findIndex(op => op.includes("removeChild"));
+    const insertIdx = operations.findIndex(op => op.includes("appendChild") || op.includes("insertBefore"));
+
+    if (removeIdx !== -1 && insertIdx !== -1) {
+      expect(removeIdx).toBeLessThan(insertIdx);
+    }
+  });
+
+  it("updates are committed after inserts and moves", () => {
+    const { host, operations } = makeHost();
+    const root = createHostRoot(host, {});
+    root.render(h("ul", null, h("li", { key: "a", color: "red" }, "A")));
+
+    operations.length = 0;
+    root.render(h("ul", null, h("li", { key: "a", color: "blue" }, "A"), h("li", { key: "b" }, "B")));
+
+    const insertIdx = operations.findIndex(op => op.includes("appendChild") || op.includes("insertBefore"));
+    const updateIdx = operations.findIndex(op => op.includes("commitUpdate"));
+
+    if (insertIdx !== -1 && updateIdx !== -1) {
+      expect(insertIdx).toBeLessThan(updateIdx);
+    }
+  });
+
+  it("removed fibers have parent set to null", () => {
+    const { host } = makeHost();
+    const root = createHostRoot(host, {});
+    root.render(h("ul", null, h("li", { key: "a" }, "A"), h("li", { key: "b" }, "B")));
+
+    const ulFiber = root.rootFiber!.children[0]!;
+    const bFiber = ulFiber.children[1]!;
+
+    root.render(h("ul", null, h("li", { key: "a" }, "A")));
+
+    expect(bFiber.parent).toBeNull();
+  });
+});
+
+describe("commitMutations direct", () => {
+  function makeFiber(key: string | undefined, tag: string, instance?: string): Fiber<string> {
+    return {
+      instance: instance ?? `inst-${tag}-${key ?? "nokey"}`,
+      tag,
+      props: {},
+      key,
+      children: [],
+      parent: null,
+      effect: null,
+      signalDisposers: [],
+      prevProps: null,
+    };
+  }
+
+  function makeClassification<I>(
+    overrides: Partial<ChildClassification<I>> = {},
+  ): ChildClassification<I> {
+    return {
+      matched: [],
+      added: [],
+      removed: [],
+      moves: new Map(),
+      ...overrides,
+    };
+  }
+
+  it("appendChild for added child at end position", () => {
+    const ops: string[] = [];
+    const parentFiber = makeFiber(undefined, "div", "parent-inst");
+
+    const addedFiber = makeFiber("b", "span", "span-inst");
+
+    const host: HostConfig<string, string, unknown> = {
+      name: "test",
+      createRootContext: () => ({}),
+      createInstance: () => "inst",
+      createTextInstance: () => "text",
+      appendChild: (p, c) => ops.push(`appendChild(${p},${c})`),
+      removeChild: (p, c) => ops.push(`removeChild(${p},${c})`),
+    };
+
+    const existingFiber = makeFiber("a", "div", "a-inst");
+    existingFiber.parent = parentFiber;
+    parentFiber.children = [existingFiber];
+
+    const classification = makeClassification({
+      matched: [{ oldFiber: existingFiber, newChild: { type: "div", props: {}, children: [], key: "a" }, index: 0 }],
+      added: [{ newChild: { type: "span", props: {}, children: [], key: "b" }, index: 1 }],
+    });
+
+    const commitCtx: CommitContext<string> = {
+      host: host as HostConfig<string, string, unknown>,
+      ctx: {},
+      createFiber: () => addedFiber,
+    };
+
+    commitMutations(parentFiber, classification, commitCtx);
+
+    expect(ops).toContain("appendChild(parent-inst,span-inst)");
+  });
+
+  it("removeChild called for removed child", () => {
+    const ops: string[] = [];
+    const parentFiber = makeFiber(undefined, "div", "parent-inst");
+
+    const removedFiber = makeFiber("b", "span", "b-inst");
+    removedFiber.parent = parentFiber;
+
+    const host: HostConfig<string, string, unknown> = {
+      name: "test",
+      createRootContext: () => ({}),
+      createInstance: () => "inst",
+      createTextInstance: () => "text",
+      appendChild: () => {},
+      removeChild: (p, c) => ops.push(`removeChild(${p},${c})`),
+    };
+
+    const classification = makeClassification({
+      removed: [removedFiber],
+    });
+
+    const commitCtx: CommitContext<string> = {
+      host: host as HostConfig<string, string, unknown>,
+      ctx: {},
+      createFiber: () => makeFiber("x", "x", "x"),
+    };
+
+    commitMutations(parentFiber, classification, commitCtx);
+
+    expect(ops).toContain("removeChild(parent-inst,b-inst)");
+  });
+
+  it("insertBefore called for moved child with staying sibling after it", () => {
+    const ops: string[] = [];
+    const parentFiber = makeFiber(undefined, "div", "parent-inst");
+
+    const aFiber = makeFiber("a", "div", "a-inst");
+    aFiber.parent = parentFiber;
+    const bFiber = makeFiber("b", "span", "b-inst");
+    bFiber.parent = parentFiber;
+    const cFiber = makeFiber("c", "p", "c-inst");
+    cFiber.parent = parentFiber;
+    parentFiber.children = [aFiber, bFiber, cFiber];
+
+    const host: HostConfig<string, string, unknown> = {
+      name: "test",
+      createRootContext: () => ({}),
+      createInstance: () => "inst",
+      createTextInstance: () => "text",
+      appendChild: (p, c) => ops.push(`appendChild(${p},${c})`),
+      insertBefore: (p, c, b) => ops.push(`insertBefore(${p},${c},${b})`),
+      removeChild: (p, c) => ops.push(`removeChild(${p},${c})`),
+    };
+
+    // Reorder: [b, a, c] → moves b before a (a is staying)
+    const classification: ChildClassification<string> = {
+      matched: [
+        { oldFiber: bFiber, newChild: { type: "span", props: {}, children: [], key: "b" }, index: 0 },
+        { oldFiber: aFiber, newChild: { type: "div", props: {}, children: [], key: "a" }, index: 1 },
+        { oldFiber: cFiber, newChild: { type: "p", props: {}, children: [], key: "c" }, index: 2 },
+      ],
+      added: [],
+      removed: [],
+      moves: new Map([[0, bFiber]]),
+    };
+
+    const commitCtx: CommitContext<string> = {
+      host: host as HostConfig<string, string, unknown>,
+      ctx: {},
+      createFiber: () => makeFiber("x", "x", "x"),
+    };
+
+    commitMutations(parentFiber, classification, commitCtx);
+
+    expect(ops.some(op => op.includes("insertBefore"))).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("updates committed top-down (parent before child)", () => {
+    const ops: string[] = [];
+    const parentFiber = makeFiber(undefined, "div", "parent-inst");
+    parentFiber.effect = { type: "update", payload: {} };
+    parentFiber.prevProps = {};
+    parentFiber.props = { color: "blue" };
+
+    const childFiber = makeFiber("a", "span", "child-inst");
+    childFiber.parent = parentFiber;
+    childFiber.effect = { type: "update", payload: {} };
+    childFiber.prevProps = {};
+    childFiber.props = { size: "big" };
+    parentFiber.children = [childFiber];
+
+    const host: HostConfig<string, string, unknown> = {
+      name: "test",
+      createRootContext: () => ({}),
+      createInstance: () => "inst",
+      createTextInstance: () => "text",
+      appendChild: () => {},
+      commitUpdate: (inst) => ops.push(`commitUpdate(${inst})`),
+    };
+
+    const classification = makeClassification<string>({
+      matched: [{
+        oldFiber: childFiber,
+        newChild: { type: "span", props: { size: "big" }, children: [], key: "a" },
+        index: 0,
+      }],
+    });
+
+    const commitCtx: CommitContext<string> = {
+      host: host as HostConfig<string, string, unknown>,
+      ctx: {},
+      createFiber: () => makeFiber("x", "x", "x"),
+    };
+
+    commitMutations(parentFiber, classification, commitCtx);
+
+    const parentIdx = ops.indexOf("commitUpdate(parent-inst)");
+    const childIdx = ops.indexOf("commitUpdate(child-inst)");
+    expect(parentIdx).toBeLessThan(childIdx);
+  });
+});
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/render-rerenderable.test.ts b/test/render-rerenderable.test.ts
index 4503a2d..8888525 100644
--- a/test/render-rerenderable.test.ts
+++ b/test/render-rerenderable.test.ts
@@ -133,15 +133,14 @@ describe("Root.render() re-renderable", () => {
     expect(emCall!.nextProps.size).toBe("small");
   });
 
-  it("excess old children remain when new children are fewer", () => {
+  it("excess old children are removed when new children are fewer", () => {
     const { host, instances } = makeHost();
     const root = createHostRoot(host, {});
     root.render(h("div", null, h("span", null), h("em", null)));
-    const countAfterFirst = instances.length;
 
     root.render(h("div", null, h("span", null)));
-    expect(instances.length).toBe(countAfterFirst);
-    expect(root.rootFiber!.children[0]!.children.length).toBe(2);
+    expect(root.rootFiber!.children[0]!.children.length).toBe(1);
+    expect(root.rootFiber!.children[0]!.children[0]!.tag).toBe("span");
   });
 
   it("text node props are reconciled on re-render", () => {