If you’re concerned that your baby isn’t developing new skills or strengths at the right pace, you may benefit from baby therapy sessions with a certified pediatric occupational therapist. At Little Wonders Pediatric Therapy in Charlotte, North Carolina, Danielle McDaniel, MOT, OTR/L, and her team provide occupational therapy services for infants and babies to help them develop the gross and fine motor skills needed to play and continue to grow and develop. Call Little Wonders Pediatric Therapy today for an assessment and customized therapy.

While you might not think of your baby as having an occupation, their days are fully occupied with learning and developing new skills, including supporting their heads, sitting, and being able to grab toys or clap, all needed to explore their environment and learn. These gross and fine motors skills form the foundation of your baby’s ability to continue to develop new skills.

If your baby shows signs of developmental delays, pediatric occupational therapy helps them improve their skills and continue to thrive.

Your baby may benefit from occupational therapy services if they demonstrate any of the following:

• Has difficulty with head control
• Turns head predominantly to one side (torticollis)
• Seems floppy or too stiff
• Doesn’t enjoy tummy time
• Is slow to sit, crawl, or stand
• Hands are still fisted after three months
• Has difficulty sucking or swallowing
• Not transitioning to solid foods easily
• Fussy, irritable, or unable to self-soothe after three months
• Asymmetrical use of arms or legs

During baby therapy sessions, your therapist plays with your baby to help them develop age-appropriate motor skills and development. This may include supervised tummy time, acquisition of motor milestones, sensory exploration, or individualized therapeutic handling.

Your therapist may also guide your baby through movements and gentle stretches to help them build strength and flexibility. Your therapist teaches you how to move and stretch your baby at home to continue their development between appointments. You can also learn games and activities to practice with your baby to help them practice their new skills.

If your baby has trouble latching or feeding, Little Wonders Pediatric Therapy also offers feeding therapy to help your baby build the strength and coordination needed to suck and swallow.

If you’re concerned about your baby’s development or if they show signs of delays, call Little Wonders Pediatric Therapy today for an expert assessment and customized treatment.