INFANT DEVELOPMENT: OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

 The Infant Development OT program offered by Elements, LLC is instructed by occupational therapist Natalie Udwin, MSOT, OTR/L.  "Nat" is a certified Tummy Time Method! provider and infant development specialist with a specialized focus in developmental feeding therapy.  The Infant Development OT program is an active therapy program - which means that therapy is not done "to" or "on" your baby but "together with" your baby.  The Infant Development OT program is appropriate for babies under 12 months of age. 

How can OT help my baby?  

Occupational therapy for infants is therapy that helps infants improve any of the skills listed below:

• sleeping
• eating / feeding skills
• bowel/bladder functions
• moving
• socializing
• exploring their surroundings​

The therapist will work with your baby to improve strength and coordination throughout their whole body.   Efficiency, symmetry and timing are all important factors that play a major role in an infant's growth and development. 

What are "whole body movements"?

Tummy time, reaching for toys, rolling over, sitting up, nursing . . . these are all examples of activities that require well coordinated full body movements.  OT addresses the body as a whole, not just one specific part at a time.

​​How can OT help address feeding difficulties?

When the tongue and mouth has difficulty doing their jobs, the body recruits other muscles to assist with the feeding process.  This causes maladaptive or compensatory movement patterns which lead to problems throughout the rest of the body.  OT works to address strength and coordination of the whole body, including the muscles of the face and tongue, thus optimizing successful feeding abilities. OT that addresses infant feeding skills is considered feeding therapy (both occupational and speech therapists can be feeding therapists, as long as they have specialized training in the area). 

Click to register your child for the Infant Development OT program.  Once we receive your information, a member of our staff will contact you to schedule your first appointment.  

REGISTER HERE

OT can help infants with:

 OT can also help to :

• fussiness
• torticollis
• strong head preference to one side
• flat spot on head
• tightness
• muscle weakness
• breastfeeding
• nursing
• tongue control
• irregular bowel movements
• gas
• reflux

• improve tummy time skills/comfort 
• improve your child’s breastfeeding/nursing abilities
• work out positional asymmetries
• develop strength and coordination
• learn to play with your child
• help your child transition between emotional states
• improve sensory processing skills

Why is TUMMY TIME so important?

Ever since babies started spending more time on their backs (to sleep, to play, in carriers and containers etc.) we have had to be much more intentional about making sure that babies also spend time on their tummies too.  During tummy time, gravity assists babies with stretching and unwinding, which needs to happen now that they are out of the womb, and babies' muscles and organs get lots of important sensory input from the surface underneath them.  
​
In the Infant Development program we teach infants the Tummy Time!tm Method.  This method was developed by occupational therapist Michelle Emanuel, and is "a scientific, evidence informed program developed to uniquely address the needs of babies in the newborn to precrawling stage of life." (M. Emanuel).  Tummy Time!tm promotes optimal head shape, encourages movement and developmental progression, optimizes tongue and oral function, facilitates sensory integration skills and promotes visual development.  More more info about the Tummy Time!tm Method go to: www.tummytimemethod.com

please contact Natalie Udwin (Nat) nat@elementsTN.com
or call (615) 226-2840 with additional questions 

Click to register your child for the Infant Development OT program.  Once we receive your information, a member of our staff will contact you to schedule your first appointment.  

REGISTER HERE

TESTIMONIALS

​" Thanks Nat! WE appreciate you so much! Thankful that you do what you do and because you do, we have a snuggly little joy in our lives! Thanks"   - Stephanie, mom to Anna (4 months)

​Hi Nat . . . I really appreciate all of the great strategies you showed me yesterday. [My husband] and I both feel more confident about tummy time activities, and who knew Norah loves being on a yoga ball?! Her awake time today has been much more interactive and fun for all of us, and it makes me so happy to see Norah enjoying tummy time instead of being infuriated that we're making her use her own muscles. :)  Thanks again!  - Michelle, mom to Norah (11 weeks)

​"Since [my daughter's] second session with you, I have not had to use an ice pack on my boobs a single time.  NOT A SINGLE TIME.  #iheartOT
​-  Mom to son (4 yo) and daughter (9 months)

​"Hi Nat,
Scarlett learned to roll over both directions this week and is reaching for toys during tummy time now! I attached a picture to show you. Just wanted to say THANK YOU for improving all of our lives. She is so much happier now and we are just so grateful for all you have taught us . . . Again, so so grateful for all of your help! You are so wonderful at your job, if you didn’t already know that ;) "
- Erica (mom to Scarlett, 5 mos)

" Nat knows her business and cares for each of her patients. She is so knowledgeable not just on the different muscles baby needs to strengthen and improve but how to get them to work on the endurance and strengthening while playing. She provides a stress free environment by gaining your child’s trust in a gentle manner; this is vital for baby to be successful in learning what is needed. 
We were referred to Nat when my 3 month old son was unable to take a bottle and ended up having a lip and tongue tie release.   Before Nat, we had no one who could really help us through the oral issues or to catch our son up physically on what he should have been doing to that point. It was a helpless feeling. 
Immediately after starting therapy with Nat she provided a list of exercises for my son that we were easily able to incorporate in our everyday activities during playtime, diaper changes and even fussy times that doubled as exercises AND a distraction from whatever he was upset about. We saw immediate improvement in what he was able to do physically from our visit at 4 months to one month later. He was finally not just tolerating tummy time but enjoying it! And learned to roll from back to belly! Huge accomplishments!
Nat also gave suggestions on toys to buy that directly helped with his oral issues on the road to learning how to take a bottle. They have helped subdue his gag reflex which helps with bottle feeding.
Nat had us work on exercises that work the whole body. Arm stretches, balancing, propping and every single exercise is like a game to them. 
Nat is an incredible resource and I’ve been trying to spread the word to our pediatricians office to tap into this for all the kids who benefit from her help! I highly recommend her!"  (D.S. mom to J. 6 mos)