Does My Baby Need Knee Pads for Crawling? by Nicole Campbell, PT, DPT Does your baby need knee pads for crawling? The short answer – probably not! While as an adult, it can hurt to crawl on hands and knees due to pressure on the patella (commonly called the ‘kneecap’), a baby’s patella is made…
What Should My Baby Look Like In Tummy Time? by Nicole Campbell, PT, DPT Kids Place West Pediatric Physical Therapist Babies have the tendency to do things on their own timeline, but frequently parents ask us what we look for when working with babies. Here are some general things we look for when babies are…
The First Year of Baby’s Sitting by Nicole Campbell, PT, DPT Kids Place West Pediatric Physical Therapist Babies have the tendency to do things on their own timeline, but frequently parents ask us what we look for when working with babies. Here is a general timeline for when your baby begins to practice sitting: Newborns…
Why Babies Wear Helmets by Nicole Campbell, PT, DPT Kids Place West Pediatric Physical Therapist Ever noticed a baby wearing a helmet and wondered why? The short answer is to help shape their head. Babies are born with ‘soft spots’ or bones in their skull that have not fused together. This is so a baby…
Newborn Tummy Time by Nicole Campbell, DPT Kids Place West Pediatric Physical Therapist As a new mother to a beautiful baby boy born January 9, I understand the difficulties parents have incorporating tummy time at the home. If you have not already heard by now, tummy time is very important for your child’s development, even…
Tips and Tricks for Learning how to Ride a Bike By Nicole Campbell, PT, DPT and Megan Schwengler, Student Physical Therapist Teaching your child to ride a bike is very exciting but very challenging. Each child learns differently. Often we are asked, “When is a good time to start?” Or what is the best way…
Ask a PT: “What Sport Should my Child Play?” by Nicole Campbell, PT, DPT Kids Place West Pediatric Physical Therapist Often, as pediatric physical therapists, we are asked which sport we recommend. The answer is simply – ANY! Every sport has benefits, some different than others. Swimming is a low impact sport that improves strength,…
Save the Spiders Game by Nicole Campbell, PT, DPT Kids Place West Pediatric Physical Therapist Want a fun, balance activity for the fall season? Create a spider web on the ground using tape and place plastic spiders around the edge of the web. Have your child pretend they are the parent spider and they must…
Animal Walking: Building Strength, Balance, and Coordination By Nicole Campbell, PT, DPT Kids Place West Pediatric Physical Therapist Gross motor skills are an important aspect of child development. When participating in gross motor activities, children are able to release their energy in addition to building strength. A fun and easy way to incorporate gross motor…
