Free Resources for NICU Babies
Helping Babies in the NICU Reach Their Full Potential
Pathways.org provides trusted and easy to use resources to help baby’s early development. Below are key resources to support babies and empower parents in the NICU and beyond.
Jump to:
- FREE Baby Milestones App
- Preemie and NICU Resources
- The Massage+ 30, 10, 5 Intervention
- New Content for NICU Babies
- Baby’s First Year Milestone Guides
- Our Free Videos
- Development information for 0-3 Months Old and Beyond
- Topics of Development
- Other Resources
Pathways.org = Trusted Information:
- Our milestones are supported by American Academy of Pediatric findings.
- Our resources are developed with and approved by expert pediatric physical and occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists.
- Our website reflects the most current research studies, vetted by our team of medical professionals and Medical Roundtable.
Pathways.org Baby Milestones App
Looking for a way to help share the app with other NICU parents?
Print, email, and share the below resources to help other parents. Currently the app is available in English and Spanish, with more languages coming shortly:
Prematurity and NICU Resources
Baby being born premature or needing additional medical support is something almost no parent expects, but there is so much that can be done to support baby’s health and development!
Explore these pages to see our essentials for parents with a baby that is born premature and/or spends time in the NICU.
Explore the Prematurity Page Explore the Baby in the NICU Page
Tracking baby’s development if they are premature may require some adjustments, but baby is still on the right track.
How to Adjust Baby’s Milestone for Prematurity How the Pathways.org App Adjusts Baby’s Milestones
Download our NICU brochure
From adjusting milestones to helping baby once they’re discharged, this brochure provides tips and support for any baby in the NICU.
For Premature Babies: Massage+ 30, 10, 5
Massage+ 30, 10, 5 is a simple, quick, and powerful intervention using massage to help improve the health and development of premature and full-term infants. Based on 40+ years of research this intervention is proven to help with:
- Reduce hospital stays
- Improve feeding habits
- Increase parent confidence levels
Learn more about Massage+ 30, 10, 5 Take the Online Course
Download the Massage+ 30, 10, 5 Brochure
Download the Massage+ 30, 10, 5 Brochure
New Content for NICU Babies
- Automatically adjusted milestones and activities
- Access to the Prematurity Explore page, which offers education and activities to keep preemies on track
- Additional resources to support baby’s development
New Blogs
Skin to Skin Contact States of Alertness Baby Reflexes Why Baby Wakes Up So Much
Order Baby’s First Year Milestone Guide
A helpful guide to keep track of your baby’s development! Baby’s First Year Milestone Guide helps you keep track of baby’s progress throughout their first year of life.
The Baby’s First Year Milestone Guide includes:
Motor, sensory, communication, and feeding milestones (with pictures) to help you track your baby’s progress
300+ verified tips, activities, and more to help you encourage your baby’s development
Color-coded by age and separated by topic for easy use
Videos
Pathways.org has hundreds of educational and expert-approved videos covering all topics of development. These videos provide visual examples and answers in a matter of minutes!
See all of our videos here:
Pathways.org Videos Page Pathways.org YouTube Page
Watch this video about helping baby learn to talk, with tips from a speech-language pathologist:
Check off your baby’s milestones and abilities as they reach them!
Our developmental milestone checklist is sorted by age and four topics: motor, sensory, communication, and feeding. All our milestones are supported by American Academy of Pediatrics findings. Track milestones up to baby’s third birthday! Available in 9 languages.
Download the Milestone Checklist
This checklist is sorted by age and four topics: play and social skills, coordination, daily activities, and self-expression. These core topics help in several areas of your child’s development, including the development of executive function skills. Track abilities beyond 6 years old! Available in 6 languages.
Age Pages: 0-3 Months
Our Age Pages provide a comprehensive overview of everything that is happening at baby’s age! Check baby’s milestones and abilities, learn weekly games to support their development, and find additional help through videos and articles to help your little one meet their milestones.
What’s Happening at 0-3 Months? 0-3 Months Milestones and Abilities 0-3 Month Games 0-3 Month Videos Additional Help Meeting Milestones at 0-3 Months
Looking for a different age range? See below!
0-3 Months 4-6 Months 7-9 Months 10-12 Months 13-18 Months 19-24 Months 2-3 Years 4-6 Years
Topics of Development
All of our resources come back to 8 core topics of development (Motor, Sensory, Communication, Feeding, Tummy Time, Play, Social-Emotional, and Executive Function). Explore some of the core resources we provides for each topic.
Motor Skills
Fine and gross motor skills are used everyday throughout our lives. They help us move and do everything from lifting heavy items to typing on a keyboard. Motor skills and motor control begin developing after birth, and will progress as children grow.
Visit the Motor Page Watch Motor Videos Read Motor Articles
Assure the Best Brochure
This brochure gives parents and healthcare providers an easy way to understand and track important changes in children up to 15 months old, in order to maximize their development. Available in 23 languages!
Download the Assure the Best Brochure
Sensory
Sensory integration is the process by which we receive information through our senses, organize this information, and use it to participate in everyday activities.
Visit the Sensory Page Watch Sensory Videos Read Sensory Articles
Sensory Integration/Processing Brochure
Sensory integration happens when the brain uses information obtained from the seven senses (yes, seven!) to “make sense” of the world, by organizing how information is received and responding to it. This brochure helps parents and providers better understand the importance of sensory development and integration. Available in 8 languages!
Communication
Communication is more than talking! It is any form of message sent from one party to another, through sounds, words, or physical hints, like body language.
Visit the Communication Page Watch Communication Videos Read Communication Articles
Speech and Language Brochure
This brochure encourages healthy language development by giving parents a convenient way to track their child’s communication milestones, from 3 to 36 months. Available in 9 languages!
Download the Speech and Language Brochure
Communication Checklist
When should baby say their first words? When can you begin to have a conversation with your toddler? Use this checklist to track the communication development of infants and toddlers. Available in 9 languages!
Download the Communication Checklist
Feeding
Every day, baby is growing so quickly! Their growth is powered by good nutrition and strong feeding abilities.
Visit the Feeding Page Watch Feeding Videos Read Feeding Articles
Feeding Brochure
This brochure will guide parents and caregivers through all of baby’s feeding milestones by providing recommendations on what baby should eat or drink. These foods help to support baby’s growth and development by providing the appropriate nutrition for their age and ability. Available in 7 languages!
Feeding Checklist
This checklist answers common questions like: When is baby ready for finger food? If baby starts to sit, what are the best foods for them to eat? If baby starts solids, do they still need to nurse? Available in 6 languages!
Download the Feeding Checklist
Tummy Time
Tummy Time is one of baby’s first exercises—and the most important! Tummy Time is the period during the day your baby spends awake and on their stomach. It is a crucial exercise for baby’s motor, visual, and sensory development.
Visit the Tummy Time Page Watch Tummy Time Videos Read Tummy Time Articles
Tummy Time Brochure
This brochure is a simple guide parents and healthcare providers can use to understand and safely implement Tummy Time. Help baby build the muscles they will use to hit important milestones, from rolling to sitting and crawling. Available in 9 languages!
Download the Tummy Time Brochure
Play
It’s more than just fun and games! Play matters because it helps children learn about themselves, explore different interests and passions, interact, share, and socialize, and develop important life skills.
Visit the Play Page Watch Play Videos Read Play Articles
Play Brochure
This brochure covers a range of play-based topics that can be used to help develop a child’s life skills. Play allows children to engage early on with those around them, to develop new skills that promote creativity and independence. It also helps children learn how to problem solve, socialize, and so much more. Available in 7 languages!
Social Emotional
Social-emotional skills are essential for connecting with others! They help us manage our emotions, build healthy relationships, and feel empathy.
Visit the Social-Emotional Page Watch Social-Emotional Videos Read Social-Emotional Articles
Social-Emotional Development Brochure
Social-emotional skills allow children to express themselves appropriately in different environments and around other people. Learn how to improve a child’s social-emotional skills by using this brochure to help children succeed in life. Available in 7 languages!
Download the Social-Emotional Development Brochure
Executive Function
Executive function skills combine motor, sensory, communication, and cognitive skills we’ve developed. Beginning at a very young age, we apply this combination of skills to daily activities and situations, such as playing, learning, and socializing.
Visit the Executive Function Page Watch Executive Function Videos Read Executive Function Articles
Executive Function Brochure
Kids develop executive function skills through playtime, social interactions, and every day activities. Help children improve their executive function skills by developing their ability to achieve goals, such as making cookies or finishing homework. Available in 10 languages!
Download the Executive Function Brochure
Other resources
- See our online courses
- Read our expert-approved blogs
- Learn more about Early Intervention and Detection
It’s never too early (or too late) to get baby on the right pathway!
Have questions or looking for other resources? Reach out any time to friends@pathways.org
About Pathways.org
Our Mission
Provide free tools to maximize all children’s motor, sensory, and communication development.
Our Vision
Empower parents to understand and encourage their baby’s development to keep them on track or catch potential delays early.
Our Goal
Ensure every child is screened for motor, sensory, and communication development by 4 months of age, taking advantage of baby’s neuroplasticity.