Activities to Improve Postural Stability

Postural control is the ability to keep oneself in and upright and stable position. It is necessary for a child’s ability to sit upright, pull up, stand, walk, maintain balance, and even perform fine motor tasks. Postural control provides a foundation for future participation in academics, daily routines, and sports. Postal control provide stability for the hands and fingers and supports other actions, such as looking, touching, grasping, and dynamic motor skills. When the hips, trunk, neck and shoulders are strong and stable, this provides a foundation for head control and upper extremity movement. In a previous post, I described how tummy time plays an important role in the development of postural control.

How to Improve Postural Stability
 
Below you will find a variety of activities in which a child can engage to improve postural control.

*  Animal walks
*  Crawling
*  Wheelbarrow walks
*  Holding a “superman position”
*  Playing games while in a tall or half kneeling position
*  Jumping, swinging, and hopscotch play
*  Play “waste basket” basketball with light wrist weights (1/4-pound) while lying on the stomach over a large exercise ball or ottoman 

 

Please Vote for the Tummy Time Trainer!!!

Click HERE to vote for the Tummy Time Trainer!!!

Does your baby struggle with tummy time! Unfortunately, many infants dislike being positioned on the stomach for play, but it is critical that they are exposed to tummy time starting from the first days of life. Why? Because tummy time promotes head control, and strengthens the trunk, shoulder, arm, and hand muscles, and all of these are important for the development of important milestones such as rolling over, crawling, and pulling up.

Because I see so many babies who resist tummy time, I created the Tummy Time Trainer, which has recently been patented. The Tummy Time Trainer transforms tummy time into an enjoyable experience for both infants and parents. Here are the benefits of the Tummy Time Trainer:
 
·      Created by a pediatric occupational therapist (me!)
·      Customized design
·      Tailored support
·      Provides a nice lift to the chest
·      Strengthens infant’s neck, back, shoulder, and hand muscles
·      Helps develop head control
·      Special contours allow baby to bear weight on elbows and hands

The angle of the wedge positions baby so that the weight is shifted toward the hips which makes holding the head upright easier.  

The Tummy Time Trainer is not on the market yet, but it has been entered a contest called “What’s the Big Idea?” Please take a minute to vote for it by clicking HERE, entering your email address, clicking on the circle next to Tummy Time, and then clicking submit. Please vote once a day from today through this Saturday, February 18th…and please share. :)

To watch a brief video about the Tummy Time Trainer, click HERE.

Creative Ideas for Tummy Time Fun!!!

When implementing tummy time with your baby, it's a good idea to get creative! Creativity can be helpful because many infants resist being positioned on the stomach for play. That is because they often aren't familiar with the position, so it is difficult for them. Yet, tummy time is extremely important because it promotes head control, and strengthens the trunk, shoulder, arm, and hand muscles.

Here are some tips for helping your infant better tolerate tummy time!

1. Start early! You can initiate tummy time during the first days of your infant's life. When you are in a reclined position, place your baby on your chest so that the two of you can see eye to eye! Yes, this counts as tummy time.

2. Take it slow. You may have to start with sessions that are only 15 to 30 seconds long. That's okay! Your infant's tolerance will gradually improve and as that happens, you can stretch time of each session.

3. Mix it up. Tummy time does not have to take place on the floor. You can position your baby on the tummy across your lap when you are seated, when you are holding them, or even on a therapy ball.

4. Always provide direct supervision during tummy time. If your infant starts to fuss or cry, don't hesitate to change their position. It's not a good idea to force tummy time, as this might cause your baby to resist the position even more.

5. Get creative! As you can see in the photo above, you can incorporate entertaining activities, siblings, and even pets into your infant's tummy time sessions! Do you have any creative suggestions for tummy time? I would love to hear them. Feel free to share your ideas below.

 

Sign a petition to support National Tummy Time Awareness Day!

Please click on the link below and sign the petition to support a National Tummy Time Awareness Day!  https://www.petition2congress.com/ctas/national-tummy-time-awareness-day

Tummy time is when an infant spends time on the stomach while awake and supervised. Infants who don’t spend enough time on their stomachs during their waking hours are at risk for motor skill delays and developing flat spots on the head (cranial asymmetry), while tummy time promotes infant development and serves as a preventative factor for cranial asymmetry. An added bonus is that it is a wonderful opportunity to bond with a baby!

Unfortunately, many parents are not aware of the importance of tummy time and the negative consequences that can occur if an infant does not spend enough time on the stomach for play. When infants aren't exposed to tummy time in the first days and weeks of life, they often resist being placed in the position by fussing and crying.

Parents need to understand that it is important to provide their infant with tummy time early on, and doing so will be beneficial to their child in the long run. Having a "National Tummy Time Awareness Day" will increase awareness about the importance of providing infants with supervised tummy time on early in the early days of life and on a regular basis.

Tummy Time Tips!

When your baby is positioned on the stomach to play while supervised, this is considered tummy time.  The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies get supervised tummy time on a daily basis to promote development and prevent flat spots from forming on baby's head.

Here are a few tips on how to introduce tummy time and increase an infant’s tolerance while having fun!

 

Entertain Baby. If you little one dislike being on her stomach, try entertaining her! Do your best to get baby's mind off of the position. Make eye contact, talk, and sing to baby. Also, play music, read books, or place a mirror in front of her, and the seconds will stretch into minutes!

Face to Face time with Siblings. Have big brother or big sister lie down on the floor close to baby during tummy time. Encourage them to stay at baby's eye level and talk to him or read to him. Siblings love to be helpful!

Have a Schedule. Having a schedule helps you remember tummy time, and baby will likely start to anticipate the routine. Incorporate tummy time into the daily routines, such as towel drying after bath time, after a diaper change, or when applying lotion.  Just remember to never leave your baby’s side during tummy time!

Taken from:

http://drannezachry.com/tummy-time-tips/

Free Webinar!!! Tummy Time: The Why’s and How’s

 Does you baby resist tummy time?  If so, you may want to click on the link below and check out the free webinar.  You will gain information about how important tummy time is, along with a variety of fun tummy time positions, and tips for a baby who fusses during tummy time.  Remember, tummy time is important for gross motor, fine motor, and sensory processing skills!
To access the webinar, click on the following link: https://bit.ly/2ICIOwy

Tummy Time Research!!!

Infant Positioning, Baby Gear Use, and Cranial Asymmetry

Anne H. Zachry · Vikki G. Nolan · Sarah B. Hand · Susan A. Klemm 

 

Study Objectives: This study aimed to identify predictors of cranial asymmetry. We hypothesize that among infants diagnosed with cranial asymmetry in the sampled region, there is an association between exposure to more time in baby gear and less awake time in prone and sidelying than in infants who do not present with this condition.

Methods: The study employed a cross sectional survey of caregivers of typically developing infants and infants diagnosed with cranial asymmetry.

Results: Caregivers of children who are diagnosed with cranial asymmetry report their children spending significantly less time in prone play than those children without
a diagnosis of cranial asymmetry. Side-lying and time spent in baby gear did not attain statistical significance.

Conclusions for Practice: Occupational therapists, physical therapists, pediatricians, nurses and other health care professionals must provide parents with early education about the importance of varying positions and prone play in infancy and address fears and concerns that may serve as
barriers to providing prone playtime.

Click on the following link to access the article: http://rdcu.be/ujm2

Baby Activity Gym: DIY!!!

Baby Activity Gym

This DIY Baby Activity Gym is an easy inexpensive alternative to an expensive activity gym that you would purchase from a store.  Change out the toys to keep baby interested during play!

Materials needed:

-       Three small pool noodles

-       Scissors

-       Ribbon

-       Colorful infant toys

-       A permanent marker

Instructions:

1. Cut one pool noodle in half.

2. With one of the halves of the pool noodles, determine where halfway is and mark it using the permanent marker.

3. Using the end of the other half of the pool noodle, trace the end in order to draw a circle where halfway was marked.

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 with the second half of the pool noodle.

5. Cut both circles that were traced on both halves of the pool noodle making sure to not cut all the way through the pool noodle but just on one side.

6. Cut the second pool noodle in half.

7. With one of the halves of the pool noodle, mark two inches below one of the ends.

8. Using the end of the other half of the pool noodle, trace the end in order to draw a circle where two inches below the end of the first pool noodle was marked.

9. Repeat steps 7 and 8 with the second half of the pool noodle.

10. Cut both circles that were traced on both halves of the pool noodle making sure to not cut all the way through the pool noodle but just on one side.

11. Using one half from the second pool noodle, insert the other end of the half that does not have a circle cut out of it into one of the halves of the first pool noodle where a circle was cut halfway.

12. Repeat step 11 using the second halves from the first and second pool noodle.

13. Cut the third pool noodle in half.

14. Insert one end of one of the halves of the third pool noodle into one half of the second pool noodle where the circle was cut out two inches from the end.

15. Insert the other end of the half of the third pool noodle into the second half of the second pool noodle where the circle was cut out two inches from the end.

16. Using the ribbons, attach infant toys to the top of the floor gym in order for them to hang.

The project above was completed by one of our Master's of Occupational Therapy students at
 The University of Tennessee Health Science Center and posted with permission.

Sensory Lap Pads!

Check out these "sensory lap pads" made by members of the Memphis Area Modern Quilt Guild!  This is such a creative idea! Members of the guild sewed these as a service project.

The wonderful thing about them is that they are portable! Just fold and snap and you can take it anywhere.

 

This will be my next sewing project!!!

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Thanks :) 

Tummy Time Tips....For the Tummy Time Blog Hop!!!!

     I guess it's because I'm a therapist, but moms frequently ask me, “Is tummy time really that important?”  This is an important and valid question, and every parent needs to know the answer. Tummy time plays a critical role in infant development, as it provides a base for motor skills such as head control, rolling over, and pulling up.

     Tummy time is especially important now that that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all babies sleep on their backs. Prior to 1992, most babies in the United States slept on their stomachs, but years of scientific research revealed that infants were approximately 12 times more likely to be found on their stomachs than on their backs when they had died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). So in 1992 the AAP formally recommended that all infants be placed to sleep on their backs or sides to reduce the risk of SIDS. Later, the side position was eliminated from the recommendation because infants could roll from their sides to their stomachs during sleep. Since this extremely successful marketing campaign, 50% fewer infants have died from SIDS. Putting babies to sleep on their backs turned out to be a simple and effective way to save the lives of infants.

     Eventually, pediatricians and therapists noticed a sudden rise in infants diagnosed with flat spots on the head, and they also noticed an increase in the number of infants with mild delays in gross motor skills, such as rolling over and pulling up. Evidently, many parents were not positioning their infants on the tummy for play out of a fear of SIDS, and this limited tummy time was having some negative consequences. In 1996, the AAP formally recommended that parents provide babies with supervised playtime on the stomach to promote growth and development and prevent flat spots from forming on the head.

     My research has revealed that many infants resist being placed on the belly. This is probably because they aren’t familiar with tummy time and haven’t gained the head control and upper body strength that is necessary to maintain the position comfortably. But rest assured, with time and a few basic and very beneficial techniques, any infant can learn to tolerate tummy time. There is a solution to the problem, and there are ways to introduce tummy time and increase tolerance without making a parents’ and baby’s life miserable. In fact, it can be the total opposite of miserable. Tummy time provides an opportunity to spend one on one time with baby and create a special bond that can last a lifetime!

     In the beginning you should set up a regular schedule for tummy time. You can plan to carry it out after naps or after diaper changes, just be sure to have a plan in place. A general guideline should be that half of the time that baby spends for play should be on the tummy, and remember, it is important to vary your baby’s position every 15 to 20 minutes during playtime. It is important to be aware that tummy time is any combination of positions in which your infant is NOT on the back and encourages baby to use the back, shoulder and neck muscles. This includes time spent in your arms and on your lap. Most importantly, don’t look upon tummy time as a chore, keep in mind that this special time is an important part of baby’s daily routine, which provides an opportunity to bond and develop the close relationship with your infant that you’ve always dreamed of. For more information on tummy time and some specific tips and suggestions on how to increase infant tolerance to the position, visit my website @ www.tummytimetips.com.

Also, for more information about tummy time as well as some wonderful brochures and handouts, visit http://www.pathwaysawareness.org/. 

Tummy Time Therapy Blogger Blog Hop

Below you will find all the posts in the Tummy Time therapy blogger blog hop. So many great ideas and thoughts on tummy time from Occupational Therapist and Physical Therapists.

The Importance of Tummy Time for Babies - Golden Reflections Blog

Tummy Time & Baby's First Year - The Recycling OT

How to Use a Therapy Ball to Make Tummy Time Easier and More Fun for Baby - Mama OT

5 Awesome Toys for Tummy Time! - The Inspired Treehouse

Terrific Tummy Time Positions - Your Kids OT

Tips For Tummy Time From A Physical Therapist - Pink Oatmeal

Tummy Time : The Basics - Therapy Fun Zone

Tummy Time: Developmental Consequences & Future Implications - Tools to Grow, Inc.

Tummy Time Tips - Pedatric OT Tips

Tummy Time Just Isn't For Babies - Your Therapy Source

Tummy Time - More Than Just A Buzz Word - Starfish Therapies

Tummy Time Never Gets Old - Playapy Platform

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"Retro Baby" on Fox & Friends!

I had so much fun talking about my new book "Retro Baby" on Fox & Friends this morning!  Click HERE to view the segment and HERE to order a copy! It contains lots of tummy time tips and over 100 time-tested activities to promote infant development!

Retro Baby featured on Good Morning Memphis!

Click HERE to view a video of the "Retro Baby" feature on Good Morning Memphis! After you get to the Fox News page, just enter "Retro Baby" in the search box.

To order a copy of "Retro Baby" on Amazon, click HERE!

Interview about Retro Baby

I was interviewed on WREG's "Live at Nine" this morning talking about my new parenting book Retro Baby.  Click HERE to watch the interview.

Win a Copy of "Retro Baby!!!"

   
"Put down your smartphone and pick up this book. With plain-spoken, concise wisdom, Dr. Zachry provides vital, research-backed information for parents of young children. Creative, interactive play with other children and adults supports healthy brain development in ways today’s technology never will. "Retro Baby" provides parents fun, money-saving activities that will set their children
up for lifelong success."

Thanks for this wonderful review by:

Mark Bertin, MD, FAAP
Developmental pediatrician, author of The Family ADHD Solution:
A Scientific Approach to Maximizing Your Child’s Attention and Minimizing
Parental Stress, and editorial advisor, Common Sense Media

To win a copy of "Retro Baby," all you have to do is like the "Retro Baby" Facebook Page by clicking HERE, and send me a message explaining why you'd like to win a copy.  The drawing will be in October. Good luck!!!!

Carolina Kinder Care Offers Wonderful Videos for Parents

Carolina Kinder Development offers a wide variety of services, including a number of new videos on demand. These lively and engaging videos show parents solid techniques for helping their baby (and baby’s head!) develop during the formative months of life. Check out their helpful parenting Videos on Demand by clicking HERE.

Thanks to Susan at Carolina Kinder Development for sharing these wonderful resources!

Screen Time for Babies?

Many babies and toddlers absolutely love playing with touch-screen technology—and it’s no wonder! The touch screen provides instant gratification with its cool images, movements, and sounds appealing to their senses. Understandably, many parents are thrilled with this interactive technology because, mostly through media ads, they’ve heard that babies can learn letters, numbers, words, and concepts. However, to date there is no research studying a connection between tablets or smartphones and infant learning.

Whether traveling in the car or waiting in the pediatrician’s office, it’s not uncommon for parents to hand over a smartphone, laptop, or tablet to their toddler. To parents, these devices act much like a babysitter, and with hundreds of apps available for young children, they’re increasingly appealing to little ones. Are there potential benefits or harms to babies being exposed to these interactive screens? Again, proper research hasn’t been completed, so there’s no scientific proof yet.

For older children, the interactive element allows them to learn concepts such as cause and effect and sequencing, but for babies still experiencing critical brain development, long-term effects remain unknown. When it comes to screen time, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has made a clear stance: it advises eliminating screen time for children younger than 2 years completely, linking it to language learning delays. It’s important to note that just like TVs, videos, and computers, tablets and cell phones have screens too.

"Retro Baby" provides over 100 activities that promote development and help you bond with your baby. Click HERE to order a copy now!

Quote from:

Zachry, A. H. (2013). Retro Baby: Cut Back on all the Gear and Boost Your Baby's Development with Over 100 Time-Tested Activities. Elk Grove, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics. 
 

Pre-Order "Retro-Baby" on Amazon Now!!!

Is it possible to overuse baby equipment?
Are “educational DVDs” harmful?
Can stationary play centers be detrimental to your child’s development?

My new book, Retro Baby: Cut Back on all the Gear and Boost Your Baby's Development with over 100 Time-Tested Activities discusses the importance of one-on-one play with children in the early stages of life and good old-fashioned bonding and recommends over 100 OT-approved activities.

Click Here to pre-order your copy now!

Does Your Child Have a Sensory Processing Disorder?

Pathways.org "strives to empower health professionals and parents with knowledge of the benefits of early detection and early intervention for children’s sensory, motor, and communication development." Their website has some wonderful informational videos that I'm excited to share with you. Please check them out!

Sensory Processing Videos by Pathways.org

Tummy Time Video by Pathways.org

Typical/Atypical Development by Pathways.org

The Importance of Early Therapy by Pathways.org

Dear Readers, If you have found my blog to be helpful, please "like" my Facebook page and follow my blog...I'm trying to get my book published and this would be a great help! Thanks :) 

Aimee’s Babies First Year Milestones DVD: A Wonderful Resource

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How can parents play an important role in fostering their baby’s overall development? By understanding early infant growth and development! However, most parents are extremely busy and don’t have the time to read a textbook on infant development. Fortunately, parents can pop in Aimee’s Babies First Year Milestones DVD for a wealth of information on infant development.

This DVD is wonderful resource for parents who want to promote their little one’s social, emotional, and physical development. It includes important information about your child's sensory motor development and milestones during the first year of life, as well as a variety of activities that will help baby meet those important milestones. To give your child the best possible start in life, get this amazing resource.

Click HERE to visit Aimee’s Babies website and order the DVD.

For a chance to win an Amee’s Babies First Year Milestones DVD, like my Facebook page (upper right corner of this page) and sign up for my newsletter by clicking HERE.

Tummy Time Tips to the Rescue!

As a parent, do you dread tummy time? Does your baby cry every time you position her on her belly? Thankfully, with time and a few simple techniques, any infant can learn to tolerate tummy time. I have a website that shares a number of tips on how to introduce tummy time and increase an infant's tolerance without making parents' and baby's life miserable.

Tummy time that is provided on a daily basis leads to the mastery of important motor milestones, such as rolling over, pulling up, and crawling. Also, infants who aren't exposed to tummy time are at risk for motor skill delays and developing flat spots on the head.

For additional fun tummy time activities, you can purchase my parenting book, "Retro Baby," on Amazon!!

Also, for more information about tummy time as well as some wonderful brochures and handouts, visit http://www.pathwaysawareness.org/.


Dear Readers, If you have found my blog to be helpful, please "like" my Facebook page and follow my blog...I'm trying to get my book published and this would be a great help! Thanks :)