Developmental Guidance | Pediatric Physical Therapy Blog

Learn what primitive reflexes are, when ATNR, STNR, TLR and Moro typically integrate, and what retained primitive reflexes may look like in babies, toddlers and preschoolers.

Are flat feet normal in babies and toddlers? Learn what pronation looks like, when arches develop, shoe and orthotic guidance, and when to seek support.

Seeing other babies take their first steps can make it hard not to compare. If your baby isn't walking yet, you may be wondering: Is this normal? Should I be worried? Is there something I should be doing to help? As a pediatric physical therapist, the good news is that babies learn to walk over a wide range of ages. Walking isn't a skill that suddenly appears overnight. It develops through months of strength, balance, coordination, and practice. Understanding what happens bef

If your baby cries, fusses, or immediately tries to escape every time you place them on their belly, you are not alone. Many babies seem to hate tummy time at first. The good news is that tummy time does not need to mean placing an unhappy baby flat on the floor and trying to make them stay there. With the right support, position, and timing, most babies can gradually become more comfortable, and they may even begin to enjoy it. Need a step-by step plan? If you'd rather skip

Watching your baby learn to move is one of the most exciting parts of early childhood. From the very first head lift during tummy time to those wobbly first independent steps, every movement milestone builds the foundation for future strength, coordination, confidence, and play. As a pediatric physical therapist, one of the most common questions I hear from parents is: “Is my baby developing normally?” The good news is that there is a wide range of normal development. Babies

Many parents wonder: Do babies need to crawl? Some babies crawl on their hands and knees. Others belly crawl. Some babies roll everywhere they want to go, while others scoot around on their bottoms. Because babies can move in so many different ways before walking, it’s common for parents to ask whether crawling really matters. As a pediatric physical therapist, my answer is that crawling is very helpful for development. However, some babies do skip crawling and still develop

You’ve been told your child has low muscle tone… now what? Hearing the word hypotonia (low muscle tone) can feel confusing and honestly, a little scary. You may have already wondered: “How can my child have low tone but still be strong?” It sounds like a contradiction, but it’s actually very common and completely understandable once you break it down. Let’s walk through what low muscle tone really means, what it looks like in everyday life, and how you can support your child