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Physiotherapy Blog
Standing - how to help my infant learn to stand
Learning to stand is a very BIG step for infants. It is best if they figure out themselves how to get to standing, rather than you placing them in standing. Start at very low surfaces, like couch cushions on the floor, to help them learn to get to standing by themselves. If they know how to crawl it will be a natural extension for them to start getting up to standing at the low surface, a couch cushion. We start at low surfaces, as infants can be afraid at higher surfaces. Lo
Dr. Janet Hale
6 days ago3 min read
Infant Sitting Devices - Which ones do you chose?
I'm often asked the question - when can I start placing my infant in sitting and which devices are helpful? Motor development moves from head to toe and first starts with head control. Once infants have head control, usually at 4 months of age, they start working on their trunk control - both their abdominals and back muscles. In sitting, you support them where they need help, or where their back starts to curve forwards - which may mean holding them at their shoulders or fur
Dr. Janet Hale
6 days ago3 min read
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Healthy Body, Healthy Mind
This picture says it ALL - a healthy body and a healthy mind Cette photo dit tout: un corps sain et un esprit sain
Dr. Janet Hale
Mar 101 min read
The Best Infant Carrier I've Seen yet
As a pediatric physiotherapist with many years of experience, I wanted to offer my endorsement of the Baby Bjorn infant carrier. In my...
Dr. Janet Hale
Mar 102 min read
Physiotherapy at home is the best place for infant
As a physiotherapist who works with infants and children, I can see the difference when we see infants and children in their own home...
Dr. Janet Hale
Mar 102 min read
Shoes or No Shoes for the Early Walker
As a pediatric physiotherapist, I'm often asked, it is better for my toddler who is learning to walk to wear shoes or not. The answer is...
Dr. Janet Hale
Feb 122 min read
Sitting Equipment for Infants
As a pediatric physiotherapist, I'm often asked what is a good sitting equipment for infants learning to sit. When you are examining sitting equipment, it's important to look at different features. Most seats also come with a tray which helps the infant sit in a move upright sitting position because they can play with toys on the tray. Does the bottom of the seat have a flat bottom or is it curved? If it is curved, it places the pelvis in a backwards tilt, making the back cur
Dr. Janet Hale
Feb 122 min read
When would I consult a pediatric physiotherapist for my infant or child?
Hi everyone! I've put together a one page graphic to help parents understand when to consult with a pediatric physiotherapist. Pediatric physiotherapy is different from adult physiotherapy. Physiotherapy in general works on the principle of analyzing postures and movements and then detecting difficulties with strength, alignment, movement amplitudes, pain, coordination, balance, sensory appreciation, and/or endurance. But when working with children we make it fun, we play ga
Dr. Janet Hale
Jan 282 min read
Babies on the Move - Back Again by Popular Demand
Hi everyone! The Babies on the Move Classes are running again in September, starting September 23, 2025. Classes are arranged by age...
Dr. Janet Hale
Jan 273 min read
Learning to Walk
On average, infants practice 6 hours/day to learn how to walk. As with crawling, this practice helps them learn about different surfaces, balancing, adjusting their visual perspective and negotiating in their environment. They learn by making mistakes and correcting errors. They usually fall 17x/hour (Adolph et al., 2012) Their early kicking is actually related to later walking. But they need to learn how to control their posture in standing before walking. As they get better
Dr. Janet Hale
Jan 132 min read
NEW Course - Babies on the Move
Coming in the Spring 2025, I'm giving a NEW course called Babies on the Move, at the Westmount Activity and Recreation Center. As many...
Dr. Janet Hale
Jan 133 min read
Active adults create active children
Recent studies have shown our children are not as active as they need to be. Parents can help!! Active adults (parents) tend to create...
Dr. Janet Hale
Jan 72 min read
New guidelines for treating infants with torticollis
Hi everyone, I'm just back from the American Pediatric Physical Therapy conference 2024 and they have come out with a revised guideline for the treatment of infants with torticollis. One of the important parts of the guideline is making sure that we as pediatric physiotherapists see the infants as SOON as possible. If physiotherapy is started BEFORE 1 month of age, the research has found that there is 98.6% return of good outcomes. A good outcome is no head tilt, full range o
Dr. Janet Hale
Dec 9, 20243 min read
Timely Pediatric Physiotherapy - PACE Physio
We all know that timely pediatric physiotherapy services for our infants and children is extremely important. We're not really sure how...
Dr. Janet Hale
Dec 2, 20242 min read
Updates in Pediatric Physiotherapy - Traffic Lights for best practice in Cerebral Palsy
Did you know that there is a traffic light protocol - on what physiotherapist SHOULD do and shouldn't do for the treatment of infants and children with cerebral palsy, best practice in physiotherapy in cerebral palsy. According to an updated article in 2020 by Novak and others, we are getting much better at medical intervention in the Neonatal Intensive Care, including paying attention to parents and making sure they get lots of time with their infants. We are also getting be
Dr. Janet Hale
Nov 25, 20243 min read
Updates in Pediatric Physiotherapy - Training Motor Movements
Hi everyone! I'm just back from the American Pediatric Physical Therapy Conference in Rhode Island and they were reminding us about how what to focus on in training new motor movements like crawling, walking, balancing, climbing etc. The most important concept is that the infant or child do the motor movement themselves or actively - that is what creates motor learning and develops the brain circuitry. Training motor movements has to be fun, something the child is interested
Dr. Janet Hale
Nov 25, 20242 min read
Updates in Pediatric Physiotherapy - Torticollis Infant Exercises - 2024
Hi everyone! I'm just back from the Annual American Pediatric Physical Therapy conference in Rhode Island. They've updated what physiotherapists should be doing with infants with torticollis and plagiocephaly (head flattening) - torticollis infant exercises - including making sure we educate new and expectant parents on the importance of supervised tummy time 2-3x /day, making sure your infant has full movements throughout the body and prevent only using one side of the body
Dr. Janet Hale
Nov 25, 20242 min read
PACE Physio - Tips with Infant Motor Development: How do I stop my infant from crawling with ONE leg up?
Crawling with one leg up; asymmetrical crawling or three point crawling
Dr. Janet Hale
Sep 8, 20242 min read
PACE Physio: Child Physiotherapy - Tips in Child Motor Development - What is wrong with "W" sitting?
Examples of W sitting; feet turned inwards - promotes internal tibial rotation
Dr. Janet Hale
Feb 13, 20232 min read
PACE Physio - Infant Child Physiotherapy: Questions for your Pediatric Physiotherapist on Infant & Child Motor Development?
Infants and Children, reaching their full potential in infant motor development and child motor development.
Dr. Janet Hale
Jan 4, 20232 min read
PACE Physio - Infant Motor Development & Physiotherapy: Have a Pediatric Physiotherapist at your next Infant Play Group ??
Have Dr Janet Hale with PACE Physio come to your infant play group for tips on infant motor development
Dr. Janet Hale
Dec 11, 20222 min read
Tips from PACE Physio - Infant Physiotherapy: helping my infant with infant motor development - learning to sit
Infant Motor Development - learning to sit - with PACE Physio - Infant Physiotherapy
Dr. Janet Hale
Nov 11, 20222 min read
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