There are so many benefits to baby wear for both the baby and the parent, from enhancing your connection with your child to just giving you a free hand! But with all the carriers and advice out there, it can be hard to navigate all the information to make the best choices for you and your baby! In August, Dr. Jessica Chastka, PT, DPT, WCS interviewed pediatric physical therapist and owner of Boost Babies LLC, Dr. Carolyn Zuiker, PT, DPT.
Read MoreI had the pleasure of being interviewed by the Work It Mommy’s podcast. Here, I answer developmental questions regarding the importance of early intervention, torticollis/plagiocephaly prevention, motor milestone development, and access to your local pediatric physical therapist.
Read MoreAs a mom myself, I know having a baby brings on so many new worries that can keep you up all night. I hope that you may rest a bit easier knowing that there is expert help out there regarding your baby’s movement.
Read More…Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) is a problem with the formation of the hip joint (how the thigh bone aligns with the pelvis). From your infant’s very first wellness check, your pediatrician conducts 2 simple hip screens which test the integrity of your newborn’s hips…
Read MoreAt your first visit to the pediatrician, head shape and development are key parts of your newborn evaluation. If you are a parent, you may remember your pediatrician pressing on your newborn’s skull during your well visits. Most babies are born with the bones of the skull separated or unfused in what we professionally identify as sutures. This separation of skull bones is very advantageous for newborn development. It allows the baby to push through the birth canal and also allows room for brain growth after birth.
Read MoreWe have seen a huge uptick in the prevalence of CMT (Congenital Muscular Torticollis) since the back to sleep campaign started in the 90’s. While I do want to emphasize that back is best for safe sleeping and SIDS prevention, I want to continue to educate parents on how to improve infant movement and development during awake times.
Read More“Reflux” is a hot topic among parents. This catch-all term used to describe a baby spitting up is not necessarily a pathology or disease. As I started researching this large topic, I felt incredibly overwhelmed by how much information and misinformation actually exists with searches on social media and Google. As a result, I put on my clinician/research/nerd brain (thanks to my doctoral studies at Wash U), and started brainstorming clinical questions. What information is actually out there? What are people basing this information on? How does this information impact my patients? How can I share my evidence-based knowledge?
Read MoreWith over 13 years experience, providing home-based pediatric PT and wellness is my bread and butter. I love the autonomy of making my own schedule, the daily challenges creating fun and exciting exercises, and the joy I feel when I see a child thrive at home with his family…If you are thinking about becoming a home-based therapist, check out my personal recipe for delivering excellent pediatric services:
Read MoreAs a pediatric physical therapist with over 13 years experience, I know that the thought of a helmet for a baby can be daunting for parents. In my personal experience, the more knowledge you have as a parent, the more empowered you are to make an informed decision about your child. Let’s take away the stigma behind helmet therapy by sharing what we know.
Read MoreHow do we know what footwear is best for our new little walkers? Here is a pediatric physical therapist’s guide to help parents understand what to focus on after those little feet take their first steps.
Read MoreA few weeks ago, I was giving a lecture on developmental health, including typical infant movement development. A parent mentioned that her child was very delayed in rolling, but started walking around 11 months. Based on her baby, she felt that a movement development timeline was not relevant. I thought it was important to share the significance of motor milestones from a pediatric physical therapist’s perspective.
Read MoreWhat can pediatric physical therapy do to help your baby with colic, prevent torticollis, and find relief?
…Infants with colic often assume positions with flexed hips, lateral trunk shifts, clinched fists, and extended arms. Some babies are unable to tolerate prone positions and are often placed in swings, bucket positions to promote head elevation for digestive needs. Unfortunately, these positioning techniques may contribute to the development of Torticollis.
Read MoreThe infant brain is plastic. In the science world, "plastic" means that connections between nerves are changed and formed easily. During these early months of life, the child’s brain needs to be exposed to specific movement skills that facilitate cognitive growth as well as specific cognitive skills that influence independent movement. Neuroscience and physical therapy have linked the impact of early movement, cognition, and brain development to influencing positive lifelong behaviors. This connection directly translates to a child's success in school and in life.
Read MoreThis week I want to highlight the importance of knowing where your health information is coming from.
How can technology be dangerous?
In the age of the internet, blogs, facebook, and instagram, parents and educators have so much information at their fingertips. This ease of access to information is a double edge sword to healthcare professionals.
Read MoreAs 2017 comes to an end, it is fun to think about our fitness goals for the New Year. From running daily to starting a new diet, exercise resolutions are vast. This easy exercise resolution works for both parent and child.
Read MoreYou know when you go to your child’s well check-up visit and have to fill out those questionnaires about what your child is or isn’t doing at this point in his life? Sound familiar? Good. So, what’s the deal with the question about riding a bicycle?
Most children are able to ride a tricycle by age 3 and ride a two-wheel bicycle by age 7. This accomplishment is really exciting for both the child and parent!
Read MoreMy sister-in-law was a talented ballerina. As with most sports, genetics plays a huge roll in sport success. She was born with great lines including high arches in her feet making her point extra special.
As children start bearing weight through their legs, the muscles, bones and nerves in their feet begin to change. The arches in the feet form as the forces from the muscles and gravity shape the body. It’s physics and it’s pretty cool how the pull of external forces impact our body’s structural development. I could go on for pages about the dorky concepts of force and Wolff’s law, but I’ll spare you the details today. Instead, let’s focus on the optics of feet; specifically, let’s focus on flat feet. (Flat feet is referred to as "pes planus" in the medical world)
Read MoreDo you remember that kid in elementary school who would sit in circle time with their legs twisted back?
This is actually a sitting posture called "W" sitting that can cause a lot of problems in leg development in children.
Read MoreIt’s that time of year again and Black Friday is almost here! Let’s get our holiday wish lists ready! Here, you will find my favorite infant toys that enhance movement and development. It’s rare that I actually endorse a specific toy. However, over the past 10+ years working as a pediatric physical therapist and using a variety of toys for motivation and movement, I want to share 3 of my favorites that should be on your wish list this year.
Read MoreIn honor of World Prematurity Day, and #sciencefriday, I want to teach about a special part of our population that does not get much recognition: the Late Pre-term Infant.
Did you know that the average pre-term births in the United States is 450,000 per year? Of those, 75% are considered Late Pre-Term.1
A Late Pre-Term infant or “LPT” is defined as children born between 34 0/7 weeks and 36 6/7 weeks gestational age.1,2 Late pre-term infants are a highly at risk population for:
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