Mom-Therapists Top Tips for Moms-to-Be

So many of our therapists here at Reach for Speech have recently become mothers, this in addition to their years of experience helping children grow and learn in therapy sessions makes them experts on what tips and tools will help your baby develop to reach their full potential. 

Read to your Baby Every Day 

The number one tip from our speech therapists was to read to your baby every day. Reading every day to kids, even as babies, really helps their language and literacy skills develop. The best books to read to little ones will also help with OT skills. Books with faces that teach emotions or help kids identify parts of the body are great for this, and for added sensory input parents can introduce tactile books with interactive features like flaps, mirrors, or crinkle books. 

In the same vein, using a tool like the Storypod which narrates stories written for kids at all different stages of development is a great way to entertain your baby as they grow, while limiting time on screens. 

Another great resource is your local library, which can offer books and so much more to help enrich your baby’s life as they grow. Many local libraries offer mommy and me events like story times which are great social groups for both mom and baby! 

Desensitize the Mouth and Encourage Self-feeding  

The next area our therapists recommended new moms pay special attention to is desensitizing the mouth and introducing self-feeding tools early. Things like a finger toothbrush or teething items designed for oral development are great for this. Using these tools can help prepare your baby for eating solid foods and self-feeding. 

It is also a great idea to introduce open cups with lids, training spoons, and feeding mats to help develop self-feeding skills.  

Tips for Play 

Play is majorly important for development in so many areas!  

For teaching cause and effect, pop up toys are our therapist's favorite. Mirrors and water toys were also highly recommended by the new moms on our team, these offer a lot of sensory feedback and help keep the baby engaged during tummy time. 

Joint attention can be encouraged through things like bubbles, and what baby doesn't love bubbles! 

Once your baby is on the move, an obstacle for them to practice climbing, like a play couch, is great for gross motor development. This is also a great way to begin teaching your baby how to safely navigate on and off of furniture. 

Other important skills that play can help your baby develop are the ability to pull to standing and walking! These can come through toys like a play kitchen, or a shopping cart toy which allows something for baby to balance on as they get their footing. 

Breastfeeding tips 

It’s important to know that when it comes to breastfeeding or bottle feeding, any pain, leakage, choking/coughing, extra gassiness, excessive spit up could all be signs of a tongue/lip tie or poor oral motor skills. Paying attention to these signs and sharing any concerns with your doctor is a great way to catch these things early on and help keep your baby on track developmentally. 

One tool which can help make breastfeeding more comfortable for mom and baby is the Boppy Pillow. This versatile tool can provide support and proper positioning for the baby and mom. The Boppy can be used as the baby grows. It can also be used for inclined tummy time to ease into full tummy time on the floor. Once the baby is sitting with support, the baby can be placed with the pillow around them to provide support at the hips. 

Feel free to speak with your therapist if you have any other questions about supporting your baby’s development!