280 Results

When Do Babies Sleep Through the Night? | A Guide to Baby’s Sleep in the First Year

When you have a new baby at home, you may have a lot of questions about their sleep schedule. When should they nap? How long should they sleep for? When will they sleep through the night? This guide to baby’s sleep covers many of these topics, including how to keep baby safe while they sleep, … Continued

Is Baby Hungry? States of Alertness & Newborn Hunger Cues in the NICU

Every baby is different, and it can take time to understand what your newborn is trying to tell you. That’s why understanding the common states of alertness and baby’s hunger cues are important, especially in the NICU. Throughout the day, newborn babies move through various alert/waking states, and the amount of time they spend in … Continued

Is Baby Ready to Crawl? Here Are Common Signs of Crawling

Crawling is so important for baby’s development! Not only is it an important step in their motor development, but crawling also helps sensory development, executive function skills, play, and feeding. Is your baby close to crawling? Before they can get moving on their hands and knees, they’ll need to build strength in their core, arms, … Continued

What is My Baby Telling Me? Understanding Common Baby Cues in the NICU

A lot goes into having a new baby and it takes time to learn what they’re trying to tell you. Each baby is different. Learning your preemies’ cues is a great way to start bonding with them in the NICU and will prepare you for when you bring them home. Here are some common states … Continued

What Are Fine and Gross Motor Skills and Why They’re Important for Baby’s Development

Motor development is essential for baby’s physical strength and movement. Motor skills are broken up into two categories: fine motor skills and gross motor skills. Both begin developing after birth and will progress as baby grows. This complete motor skills guide addresses the differences between fine and gross motor skills with examples and activities, and … Continued

Beyond the Basic Senses: Explore Baby’s 8 Senses and How They Develop

We all know the 5 senses (touch, smell, taste, vision, and hearing), but there are actually three more: balance, body awareness, and internal. You use all 8 every day, and many continue to develop and change even after we’re born. Learn how all 8 of baby’s senses develop to use just like you.We all know … Continued

Tips for Using and Reducing Time in Infant Containers

Every parent uses baby containers, like car seats, bouncer seats, swings, and strollers. They’re okay in moderation, but extended use can restrict baby and place pressure on their head, leading to conditions such as Positional Plagiocephaly (also known as flat head), Positional Torticollis, and delayed motor skills. Learn tips for reducing baby’s time in containers.

How to Play With Your Newborn at 1 Month Old

Communication is the first form of play! When it comes to communication, baby learns by watching the people around them. Communication can include talking, but is also any form of message sent from one person to another, through sounds, words, or physical hints, like body language. Incorporating this into playtime can strengthen baby’s communication, play, … Continued

Why Crawling is Important and 6 Activities to Help Baby Start

Crawling is an important motor milestone for baby! It develops muscles and joints around baby’s core, back, hips, and shoulders, as well as increase strength and balance important for walking later on. When baby learns to crawl it helps more than just gross motor skills; crawling helps with sensory development, play, fine motor skills, and … Continued

10 Must-Have Developmental Toddler Toys for Outdoor Play

Help toddlers make the most of outdoor play with these 10 outdoor toys! These toy ideas are therapist approved and are great for encouraging your child’s development, from fine and gross motor, sensory, communication, social-emotional, to executive function skills. Outdoor toys can also be used to promote creativity and imaginative play, which gives your child … Continued

4 Tummy Time Positions, How to do Tummy Time with Newborns and Babies

Incorporate these 4 Tummy Time exercises into your newborn or older baby’s daily routine to encourage them to stay in this position longer. Learn more about these 4 positions: Tummy to Tummy, Tummy Down Carry, Lap Soothe and Eye Level Smile! Tummy Time is crucial for baby’s development. Babies who skip Tummy Time often experience … Continued

4 Month Baby Motor Assessment for Typical Development

What should baby’s motor development look like at 4 months old? Watch to see how baby is examined in 5 different positions: supine, prone, side lying, sitting, and standing. In each position, we will highlight the typical expectations for baby in relation to specific areas of the body: head, trunk, upper extremities, and lower extremities. … Continued

3 Month Baby Motor Assessment for Typical Development

What should baby’s motor development look like at 3 months old? Watch to see how baby is examined in 5 different positions: supine, prone, side lying, sitting, and standing. In each position, we will highlight the typical expectations for baby in relation to specific areas of the body: head, trunk, upper extremities, and lower extremities. … Continued

2 Month Baby Motor Assessment for Typical Development

What should baby’s motor development look like at 2 months old? Watch to see how baby is examined in 5 different positions: supine, prone, side lying, sitting, and standing. In each position, we will highlight the typical expectations for baby in relation to specific areas of the body: head, trunk, upper extremities, and lower extremities. … Continued

1 Month Baby Motor Assessment for Typical Development

What should baby’s motor development look like at 1 month old? Watch to see how baby is examined in 5 different positions: supine, prone, side lying, sitting, and standing. In each position, we will highlight the typical expectations for baby in relation to specific areas of the body: head, trunk, upper extremities, and lower extremities. … Continued

Bad Air Quality? Indoor Activities for Baby

Got bad air quality outside? Or is it just too hot or cold to play with baby outside today? There are always days when it is better to keep baby inside. Here are some activities (created with expert pediatric physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech language pathologists) that were designed to be played indoors and … Continued

Benefits of Playing with Baby in Side Lying

Try the side lying position with baby to help them explore, move, and learn about their body! This position helps baby with their reaching and kicking skills, putting hands to mouth, and rolling. Play these baby activities to help your little one develop these skills!

Tips to Help Baby Roll Over from a Physical Therapist

Help your baby learn how to roll over! Use these therapist tips to help baby meet their 4-6 month motor milestone. Rolling helps with head and trunk strength, weight shifting, and core strength, which are all important for gross motor development.

How Our FREE App Helps Parents

Parents love the FREE Pathways.org Baby Milestones app, which helps them track baby’s development, from milestones to Tummy Time. This baby app also provides weekly motor, communication, sensory, and feeding activities to support baby at their exact age and stage of development. All activities are reviewed and recommended by expert healthcare providers. Learn more about … Continued

How Are Milestones and Abilities Different?

Are you tracking baby’s milestones and abilities? If so, you’re probably wondering how they’re different and why they’re both an important part of baby’s development. Watch this video to find the answers! Tracking both milestones and abilities is important to understand baby’s development. So how are they different? MILESTONES are behavioral or physical checkpoints in … Continued

The Difference Between Structured vs. Unstructured Play

Do you know the difference between structured and unstructured play? Both are important to a child’s development! Structured play involves a child following directions or rules, such as one given by an adult, whereas unstructured play is a child doing what interests them or playing without direction. Structured play: A child follows directions or rules. … Continued

The Benefits of Massage+ 30, 10, 5

Massage+ 30, 10, 5 is a simple, quick, and powerful baby massage based on 40+ years of research for premature and full-term babies. It helps to improve baby’s health and development.  Massage+ 30, 10, 5 is a massage of baby’s head, arms, legs, belly, and back, and also incorporates communication and movement. Massage+ is proven … Continued

Important Sensory Milestones: Baby’s First Year Part 1

How do baby’s sensory skills develop over their first year? Here are a few of baby’s sensory milestones from 0-12 months, validated by American Academy of Pediatric findings! 0-3 Months: Baby is able to calm with rocking, touching, and gentle sounds They will visually track a moving toy from side to side while lying on … Continued

How to Support Healthy Eating Habits

Healthy eating is important and getting babies to eat nutritious foods can sometimes be challenging! If your little one is pushing away the bananas and broccoli, try these tips to help them build healthy eating habits. Read the full article here! Help baby make smarter eating decisions in the future! Here are some ways to … Continued

Important Motor Milestones: Baby’s First Year (Part 2)

How do baby’s motor skills develop over their first year? Here are a few of baby’s motor milestones from 0-12 months, validated by American Academy of Pediatrics Findings. 0-3 Months Baby moves legs and arms off of surface when excited7-9 Months: Baby moves from tummy or back into sitting 4-6 Months While standing with support, … Continued