5 Things I Learned from My PT Mommy Friends About Child Development

You know that phrase, “I know a guy”? As in “I’m having trouble with my ______”, “Oh I know a guy!” Or “My _______ keeps breaking!”, “I know a guy!” Somehow I don’t know any plumbers or electricians, but my group of friends is full of teachers, speech therapists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists! Which means when our pipes burst I’m in trouble, but when I have a question about child development, I have expertise and free advice for days!

Here are my top 5 things that I learned from my PT (Physical Therapist) mommy friends!

1. You don’t need any special gear! 

The floor is the best place for a child’s muscles to develop. Any “device” such as a Bumbo, jumperoo, bouncer, etc. is not necessary to help your child develop their motor skills and in some cases may slightly delay a child’s skill development. If used, limit a child’s time in them – a good goal is no more than 30 minutes a day, 10 minutes at a time. These items are great when mommy needs a shower or to start dinner or a load of laundry, but baby shouldn’t be in these all day! It is also best to avoid baby walkers all together. Yes, babies probably love the freedom, but they won’t help your child learn to walk sooner, and could actually delay walking, in addition to the potential safety risks. The American Academy of Pediatrics officially discourages the use of them. 

2. There are some pieces of equipment that are more beneficial than others:

– push toy 

– boppy pillow for support in tummy time and later for sitting (placing it around the baby’s waist)

– stationary activity table, particularly ones that the legs can quickly be removed from for the max versatility. For example, place it flat on the floor during tummy time when a child isn’t sitting, place it angled (using 2 of the 4 legs) when they’re sitting and use all 4 legs on it when they’re standing.

Also, things you already have at your house make some of the best “equipment”! Place a couch cushion on the floor, putting toys on top of it but out of reach, to have the baby practice pulling up on it. Or when they’re crawling, let baby crawl on/off the couch cushions. With the couch cushion removed, you can place toys up on the couch, letting them practice pulling to their knees. 

3. Surprisingly, avoid baby mittens and shoes when you can.

To prevent scratching when babies are tiny it is best to keep their nails trimmed and filed, rather than their hands being curled up in mittens.  And bare feet are the way to go, especially once baby is pulling up! We have so many nerve endings in our hands and feet, and babies benefit from experiencing all the sensations they can! Infant shoes are super cute (my unborn daughter has as many pairs as I do), but the tactile feedback is important!

4. Tummy time

You may or may not have read about why we do tummy time, but I’m sure you know that it is important! Unfortunately, many infants dislike it, and some downright hate it! Here are some ways to make tummy time more enjoyable:

• try it on different surfaces, such as on the bed or couch, with you sitting in front of them on the floor (so they have to raise their head to see momma!) 
• try it with the child laying on your stomach while you recline/lay
• try getting in some “Tummy time” while carrying the child. Try (1) the airplane position (supporting them at their trunk, with their stomach to the floor), (2) carrying them on your shoulder, your hand behind their head lightly supporting them, (3) holding them facing outward, tilting them forward if they have enough head control to keep it upright 
• find a special toy for motivation that you only pull out during tummy time so the novelty doesn’t wear off (for example, bubbles!)

 Puppy dog was always great motivation to raise that head!

5. You can’t compare your child to any other child! 

Those milestone charts are helpful about what to expect, can give you ideas about what skills are appropriate to develop, and clue you in to potential delays, but you don’t want to be so obsessed with it that you don’t enjoy the journey! Definitely trust your mommy instincts, and bring up concerns to your pediatrician, but remember there is a wide range of normal!