If you've ever noticed your baby folding up like a tiny yogi or doing splits with impressive ease, you might have wondered, “Why is my baby super floppy?”. Some babies are naturally more flexible, and that can be totally normal. But if their flexibility seems extreme, it might be something called hypermobility. So, let’s break down what that means - and how it can affect your baby’s movement as they grow. What Is Hypermobility? Hypermobility refers to joints that move beyond

Crawling is an exciting milestone that marks the beginning of your baby’s mobility and independence. But what if your baby skips crawling altogether? While this isn’t always a cause for concern, understanding the importance of crawling and how to support your child’s development can help ensure they build the skills needed for future growth. Why Crawling Is Important Crawling is more than just a means of getting from A to B. It plays a crucial role in brain and body developme

One of the most exciting milestones in your baby’s development is learning to sit up on their own. As a paediatric physiotherapist, parents often ask me, “When should my baby be able to sit unsupported?”. But sitting independently is a huge step - it gives your little one a new perspective of their world and sets the stage for other skills like crawling and pulling up to stand! So, let’s explore when sitting typically happens, how your baby develops this skill, and how you ca

Seeing your child in a cast, boot, or brace after a fracture can be worrying enough. Then, after several weeks of counting down to the magical “cast off” day, you might expect them to hop off the hospital bed and immediately return to normal. Unfortunately, their leg (or arm) doesn't always get the memo. Once the bone has healed, many parents are surprised to find that their child doesn’t immediately return to moving as they did before. You might notice them limping, avoiding

It’s something many parents notice at some point - their child seems to spend a lot of time walking on their tiptoes. For some children, it’s simply part of learning to walk and they naturally grow out of it. For others, toe walking continues beyond the toddler years and parents start to wonder whether it’s something they should be concerned about. The good news is that toe walking is relatively common, and there are many possible reasons why it happens. Understanding what's

Hearing that your child might have “low muscle tone” can feel a little unsettling… and often quite confusing too. It’s one of those terms that gets used a lot, but isn’t always clearly explained leaving many parents wondering what it actually means for their child. We often hear questions like: “Does this mean they’re weak?” or “Will this affect their development long-term?” The reassuring truth is that low muscle tone (also known as hypotonia) doesn’t always mean something i

When a child is diagnosed with cerebral palsy, or when it is first mentioned as a possibility, it can feel like a lot to take in at once. Many parents are suddenly faced with unfamiliar information and are left trying to understand what it means for their child’s movement, development, and everyday life. It’s completely natural to feel uncertain, and to have lots of questions about what support might look like going forward. The important thing to know is that cerebral palsy

When you hear the term “muscle tone,” it can sound quite technical and a bit intimidating especially when it’s used in relation to your child’s development. Many parents are told their baby has “low tone” or “high tone” without ever really being given a clear explanation of what that means in everyday terms. The good news is that muscle tone is actually a very simple concept once it’s broken down. And understanding it can really help you make sense of how your child moves, de

As parents, it’s completely natural to want to help your baby learn new skills and reach their milestones. From tummy time to sitting, crawling, and those exciting first steps, there can sometimes feel like a lot of pressure to “keep them progressing”. But here’s the good news, your baby does not need hours of structured activities or constant stimulation to develop well. In fact, some of the best ways to support motor development are often the simplest. What Is Motor Develop

If you’ve noticed your baby always looking to one side, struggling to turn their head equally, or developing a flatter spot on one side of their head, you may have come across the term torticollis. Hearing a medical term linked to your baby can feel worrying, but torticollis is something we commonly see in babies. With the right support, there’s often plenty you can do at home through simple everyday play and positioning. Let’s break down what torticollis in babies really is,

Noticing a flat spot on your baby’s head can be worrying, but it’s actually very common. Let’s break down what flat head syndrome is, why it happens, what you can do at home and when it may be helpful to seek advice. What Is Flat Head Syndrome? Flat head syndrome, sometimes called plagiocephaly, happens when a baby’s skull develops a flat spot, usually on the back or side of the head. Babies’ skulls are soft and flexible, which helps them grow quickly in the first year, but i

Watching your baby start to move around can be thrilling… and a little nerve-wracking! Crawling is one milestone that causes a lot of unnecessary panic. It seems simple, right? Baby moves around, explores, and the world opens up. But crawling actually involves a lot of coordination, strength and timing - and that’s why so many myths exist that can unnecessarily stress parents. We hear it all the time: “My baby isn’t crawling yet - should I be worried?” “My baby crawls differe

At Ribble Valley Children’s Physio, one of the most common questions we’re asked is about baby sitting milestones. Sitting might look like a simple skill, but it actually requires a lot of strength, balance, and coordination. It’s also a milestone that can cause worry. Many parents ask, “Is my baby sitting on time?”, “Why can’t my baby balance in sitting?” or “Should I be worried that my baby isn’t sitting independently yet?” The reassuring news is that there’s a wide range o

You may have heard about DMI therapy through social media or another parent but still feel unsure about what it involves. DMI stands for Dynamic Movement Intervention. It is a hands-on therapy used to support babies and children with motor delays, focusing on building strength, coordination, and balance. At Ribble Valley Children’s Physiotherapy in Skipton, our approach to DMI is child-centred and movement-driven. Sessions involve the therapist gently guiding your child throu

So, you’ve found yourself in that infamous position that so many parents know all too well – trying everything you can to help your baby enjoy tummy time, but no matter what you do, they absolutely hate it. Sound familiar? You’re definitely not alone! Let me paint you the “typical” tummy time story… If this is you, please don’t worry – you are not doing anything wrong. So many parents go through this phase, and I promise there are ways to make tummy time easier, calmer, and (

As a parent, you know your child better than anyone. You notice the little things - the way they smile when they see you, how they kick their legs during nappy changes, how they explore the world in their own way. So when something doesn’t quite feel right in their development, those niggling questions can start to creep in: Why isn’t my baby rolling yet? Shouldn’t they be sitting up by now? Why are they crawling like that? Are they behind compared to other babies? But now, a

Learn when babies typically start rolling, how to encourage this exciting milestone with simple exercises, and when to seek expert support.

As a paediatric physiotherapist, I can’t stress enough how valuable tummy time is for your baby’s gross motor development. While it might seem like a small activity, tummy time lays the foundation for a wide range of skills, from lifting the head to crawling, sitting, and eventually walking. In this blog post, we’ll explore the benefits of tummy time, its role in gross motor progression, and practical tips for making it work—even for babies with reflux. Plus, we’ll cover sign

Discover what developmental delay means, the signs to watch for, and practical steps to support your child's growth.