Kelly Sivley

Why I love stationary toys for baby play This is especially helpful when working on skills like crawling, hands-and-knees play, and propped sitting, where babies are learning to support themselves through their arms. Prone reaching (tummy time) Using a stationary toy during tummy time encourages your baby to lift their head, reach with one hand, and support themselves through the other arm. This helps develop upper-body strength, weight shifting, and the coordination needed for more advanced...

I recently had a friend reach out after her toddler was consistently delayed in gross motor skills and was told she had low muscle tone. Like many parents, she immediately started wondering: What does that actually mean? Is something wrong? Will it get better? The term hypotonia can sound intimidating, but it's often much less scary than it sounds. Let's break it down. Everyone has muscle tone Muscle tone is the amount of natural tension or resistance present in a muscle when it is at rest....

Looking for the best toys for a newborn or young infant? As a pediatric physical therapist and new mom, I've rounded up my favorite simple, developmentally appropriate toys that encourage tummy time, reaching, visual tracking, and early motor skills. These PT-approved picks also make thoughtful baby shower gifts!