I am often asked questions about developmental milestones by parents who are anxious or concerned about their baby’s development. The truth is that every child’s development is different and milestones might be reached within a wide range of what is considered normal.
If you are curious or concerned about your baby’s development, our pediatric physiotherapist, Janna Marvyn, can perform a comprehensive assessment of your child’s gross motor function. The assessment will evaluate your baby’s posture, strength (sitting, standing), movement (rolling, crawling, cruising, etc), flexibility, balance, coordination and sensory processing. A summary of the assessment will be provided in a detailed report that includes the observations, analysis and a personalized plan.
Gross Motor Skills Development Milestones for Babies
It is important to remember that every child’s goals and needs are unique. In cases where there are no significant concerns coming out of the assessment, you and your child can benefit from ‘productive play strategies’ and education on what to expect during each stage of their development. You’ll be given tips and techniques specific to your child to use at home to work towards your goals.
PEDIATRIC PHYSIOTHERAPY CASE STUDY
The following case study is an example of a healthy 10-week-old baby boy whose parents were seeking ideas for productive play, techniques to help relieve abdominal gas, and education and awareness on what to expect around gross motor milestones.
Related story: Pediatric Physiotherapist’s Role
In cases where children have significant developmental delays, whether caused by injury or illness, we work closely with family members, caregivers, doctors and other health care professionals to develop goals based on the child’s function and the family’s needs. With a strong focus on optimizing participation in daily activities, treatment can be comprised of a variety of techniques including manual therapy, hands-on facilitation, gross motor skill training, education, referrals to other specialists, and/or prescription of a home activity program.
At Propel Physiotherapy, our team has experience treating orthopedic and neurological injuries, congenital and acquired conditions, some unique to children and adolescents including; cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, developmental delay, developmental coordination disorder (DCD), scoliosis, spina bifida and neural tube defects, muscular dystrophy, traumatic brain injuries, sports and recreation injuries and more.
Find out more about our Pediatric Physiotherapy services.
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