Demystifying Development with a Pediatric Physical Therapist
What a pediatric physical therapist wants new parents to know.
As a pediatric PT specializing in infants, I am often educating parents on how to set their babies up for success with their motor development. These are 5 of my favorite tips to share with new parents.
#1. Learn to OBSERVE your baby
Set your baby down on the floor and then sit back for a few minutes to watch them. Assess their state of arousal. Watch their movements. Look for symmetry. Notice what motivates them. You can learn so much through this simple act of watching their play. This power of observation helps you recognize all of the amazing mini milestones your baby is achieving each and every day!
#2. Give them ample FLOOR TIME
When creating your daily routine make sure that floor time is a priority by always trying floor time BEFORE putting baby in a container device such as a swing, bouncer, bumbo etc. The floor is where they flourish! Try to avoid the container shuffle where baby spends extended periods of time in restrictive devices. Babies require free movement to be able to learn and explore their environments. Create a simple and safe floor space for baby from day 1 so they begin to anticipate floor time as a natural part of their routine.
#3. Start TUMMY TIME from birth
Belly down play can start as soon as baby is born. Whether it’s on your chest, your lap, or flat on the floor - give your baby the opportunity to experience tummy time several times every day. Remember, quality is more important that quantity when it comes to tummy time - try to focus on creating positive and happy experiences.
Dr. Brita’s Tummy Time Tips:
· Assess baby’s state of arousal to make sure they are in a calm and alert state
· Try different surfaces (floor, parent’s chest, airplane, over parent’s legs, exercise ball, boppy pillow)
· Add sensory exploration
· Be intentional about building it into your routine (try it after each diaper change)
· Mirrors are especially good motivators
· Use visual engagement to encourage lifting their head
· Modifications are totally ok for fussy babies!
· Roll into and out of tummy time
#4. ROTISSERIE your baby
Your baby is a 3 dimensional being and they need to be able to move in all directions. Allow them to experience play time on ALL sides: back play, sidelying on both sides, tummy down and upright play are all beneficial for development. Think of it just like how a rotisserie chicken rotates to get cooked on all sides.
#5. Let them FAIL
Motor skills are built through repetition and trial and error. Letting baby get stuck and waiting a bit before you intervene will be beneficial for building frustration tolerance. Each repetition or mess up is a learning experience. Falls and wobbles WILL happen, so make sure to allow them to occur safely by creating a baby proofed environment for your child to practice in.
What else should you know about development?
It is NOT a race! Every child will meet their milestones in their own time.
When to reach out to a pediatric physical therapist for your infant?
· Baby has flattening of their head (important to reach out early! By 2 months is ideal)
· Prefers looking to one side (baby’s neck range of motion should be symmetrical)
· Baby feels very floppy or stiff and tense
· Baby struggles with tummy time
· Delayed rolling/sitting/crawling/walking
· Motor skills are asymmetrical
Now that you have all of this information, I want to remind you to ENJOY the journey because all of the mini milestones along the way are just as important as the big ones on your pediatrician’s check list!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dr. Brita is a Denver area pediatric physical therapist providing support in-home, in-clinic, or virtually. She is an expert in child development from birth through walking and is passionate about helping babies feel good and move well so that they can thrive along their own developmental pathway. Learn more and connect with her at https://www.ptpdenver.com/
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