First Steps

Often by the time you reach parenthood, you may have forgotten many of the nursery rhymes from your childhood. Read on to discover why singing nursery rhymes to your infant is helpful and re-learn some popular songs.

Every baby experiences the world through their senses — touch, sight, sound, taste, smell. Also through the lesser known senses of proprioception and kinesthesia (body awareness and movement). But not all babies process these sensations in the same way. Some seem to crave constant activity and stimulation, while others become easily overwhelmed by sound or touch. These sensory differences in infants and toddlers are part of what makes every child unique. Learning to recognize

As parents, we often hear terms like muscle tone from pediatricians, therapists, or teachers—but what does it really mean? Muscle tone isn’t about strength or fitness. Instead, it’s about the natural tension or resistance in our muscles when they’re at rest. This gentle tension helps our bodies stay ready to move, maintain posture, and react quickly when we need to. Every child has their own natural level of muscle tone. But when tone is significantly lower or higher than typ

Floor time is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to support your baby’s development. It helps strengthen their muscles, improve coordination, and build early social and emotional skills—all while deepening your bond. But between work, older kids, and maybe even a dog who thinks every blanket belongs to them, finding the time (and space!) can feel challenging. Here’s how to make floor time work for your family, no matter how busy life gets. What Is “Floor Time,” and Wh

One of the hardest tasks as a parent is to let your child fall. Both figuratively and literally. We want to show them everything we know and we want to safeguard them from the possible hurt, harm, and discomfort they encounter. Preventing harm is of utmost importance. Preventing hurt can be important too. Preventing discomfort may do our kids a disservice. I am a helicopter mom. Before I had my son, I agreed with the negative connotations of the term. As a pediatric physical

Learn about what is considered normal alignment of the feet and legs in the first year.

Learn some new techniques to work on your baby's sitting balance. Develop their core strength with these fun, playful strategies!

Learn about why children "w" sit, if the position should be corrected, when to be concerned, and how to address it.

Summary: Barefoot is good! Shoes may be necessary. From the American Academy of Pediatrics website for parenting tips, healthychildren.org , babies' feet will develop best without shoes; however, shoes are necessary for protection once they are walking outdoors. 1 Gimunová, et al published a study in 2022 which showed a higher plantar arch and smaller foot progression angle for infants walking barefoot after 7 months of independent walking. 2 The foot progression angle is

Learn what to expect during a physical therapist evaluation if your baby is diagnosed with a gross motor delay.

Discover the benefits of crawling in infant development, including its role in strengthening muscles and enhancing motor skills.

Discover 5 key reasons tummy time is essential for baby's development. Learn how tummy time supports motor skills, strengthens muscles, promotes coordination, and helps prevent motor delays.

Explore 5 creative ways to modify tummy time to make it more enjoyable and effective for your baby. From using props to changing positions, these tips help promote comfort, engagement, and fun in tummy time.