Brightest Beginning

🤔 Is your go-to phrase "You're okay!" whenever your little one takes a tumble or gets a fright?

It’s a totally natural reaction, and it’s not “wrong” by any means. 🙅‍♀️ But there’s an alternative approach that you can take that helps them learn to manage their emotions, boost confidence, and trust in themselves. 💪

Think about it: When you've had a rough day and stub your toe, how would you feel if someone just said "You're okay!" and walked away? Not great, right? Our little ones feel the same way! 😕

While the phrase “You’re okay” might mean “You’re not seriously injured” or “There’s no need to be scared of that thing, it’s harmless”, to us. In the moment, they aren’t feeling okay at all.

When we rush to say "You're okay," we might accidentally:

❌ Dismiss their very real feelings
❌ Make them doubt their own experiences
❌ Discourage them from expressing emotions
❌ Create confusion ("If I'm okay, why does it still hurt?")

👉 Try these phrases instead:

✅ "That scared you when you fell. Need a hug?"
✅ "Oh, that looked like it hurt. Would a band-aid help?"

This approach validates their feelings AND helps them develop emotional awareness. Plus, it builds trust - they learn that it's safe to express their feelings with you.

💡 Remember: It's not about making the hurt go away instantly. It's about teaching our kids that their feelings matter and giving them the tools to understand and express their emotions.

"My family keeps telling me I’ll spoil my baby by holding her too much. Is this really a thing?"

This was a question a mom asked me recently, and surprisingly, as a Pediatric OT, it wasn’t the first time I’ve been asked about this by a concerned parent. So, here’s my answer:

You absolutely cannot spoil your little one by holding them ‘too much’!🤱

Here's what's actually happening when you pick up and comfort your baby:
👉 You're building crucial neural pathways for emotional development
👉 Creating a secure attachment that leads to MORE independence later
👉 Giving them confidence to explore their world, knowing you're their safe space

Think of it this way… when your baby knows they have a reliable "home base" (you!), they actually become more confident in trying new things and exploring independently. It's like having a safety net that encourages more risk-taking, not less!🌟

However, it's equally important to give babies opportunities for independent play when they're content. Those moments on their play mat help develop crucial motor skills and sensory processing.

When they're content, floor time is fantastic for development. It helps them:

✅ Practice those important motor skills
✅ Explore different textures and movements
✅ Build strength for future milestones

So, respond to those cuddle needs without guilt. You’re not creating a "clingy" child – you’re building a confident one! 💪

Worried that your baby's 5-10 minute breastfeeding sessions are too short?

Breastfeeding duration varies based on multiple factors—how quickly your let-down happens, your milk flow speed, your baby's latch quality, and even whether they're focused or distracted during feeding.

Your baby is likely getting exactly what they need if:

✅ They're steadily gaining weight
✅ They have multiple wet diapers throughout the day
✅ Their p**p doesn't look like firm pellets

Some feeding sessions might last 20-40 minutes while others may be just 5-10 minutes—and both are completely normal! ⏰

Trust your baby to take what they need and stop when they're satisfied.

BUT if you are concerned for any reason, the best thing to do is to talk to your doctor or healthcare provider. They'll be able to assess your little one, discuss their feeding patterns with you, and give specific advice based on your situation.

Follow me for more evidence-based advice on child development, sleep, feeding, behavior and more from a Pediatric Occupational Therapist.

Before you start introducing solids, make sure you get this right! ...

Choosing the right high chair and setting it up correctly is one of the most important things to do when you start introducing solids.

A properly set up high chair does make your child more comfortable when you sit them up to eat, but it’s about much more than just comfort.

Here's why proper seating is a game-changer:

• When babies feel secure and supported, they can focus on exploring food instead of trying to balance
• Appropriate foot support is an absolute must for comfort and focus. Ever sat on a bar stool with no foot rest for longer than a few minutes? Imaging how a baby who’s also struggling to balance and learn to eat feels
• Good posture = better hand control for self-feeding
• Proper arm height means they can actually reach and interact with their food
• The right setup promotes independence and confidence at mealtimes

When looking for a high chair, here’s my list of must-have’s that I recommend you make sure it has:

1. Adjustable footrest with lots of options/room for adjustment

2. Adjustable seat height, so your little one's arms always rest comfortably at the table as they grow

3. 5-point harness for safety

4. Pulls right up to your dining table - important that they’re right there with you for family meals and learning through observation

5. Easy to clean (because learning to eat is gloriously messy!)

We’ve got 3 different high chairs at home that all fit this criteria - The Mocka, Nannie Annie, and Stokke Tripp Trapp.

And all of them are good!

But if I had to choose a favorite, it’s the Stokke Tripp Trapp (Comment ‘chair’ & I’ll send you the link).

The main reason being the seat + foot rest depth. It has a longer seat + foot rest, meaning it has more range. That makes it more suitable for older children.

Our 7 year old has out-grown the rest and the only option for her now is the Tripp Trapp. The problem is, our 5 year old is almost as big as her, so he’s almost outgrown his chair and will need a new one 😣.

Downside of the Tripp Trapp is the price, but having to now replace one of the others makes me wish we went with a Tripp Trapp in the first place

Call me crazy, but I actually get excited when parents tell me their little one has started launching food from their high chair 😂

Why?

Because it shows they're developing important skills like hand control and object permanence (basically this just means they’re starting to understand that objects exist even when they can't see them).

But with 3 kids, I also completely understand the frustration of constantly cleaning up food from the floor. So let’s talk about what’s happening and how you can discourage excess food throwing.

First, if your baby is under 8 months old, chances are the food throwing is completely accidental. They're still figuring out how to grasp and release objects. This is normal development in action.

If your baby is over 8 months, here's what might be happening:

• They're trying to tell you they're full
• They're feeling pressured at mealtimes
• They've discovered cause and effect (and your entertaining reactions! I drop food, and the big people make noises at me and pull funny faces 🙃)

🔑 Here's what to remember when it happens:

1. Stay calm when food goes flying (I know it's challenging!). Big reactions can encourage it to continue or even make it worse
2. Avoid telling them what NOT to do e.g. "don't throw". Instead, tell them what TO do e.g. "food stays on the table or in your mouth"
3. Gently guide their hand back to the tray when they're about to throw
4. Skip the plates altogether and place food directly on the high chair tray, or table in front of them
5. Offer one piece of food at a time to maintain more control
6. Watch for early "I'm done" signals like turning away or closing their mouth
7. Never force feed - this can create negative associations with food and lead to picky eating

The most important thing to remember? Food throwing is a normal developmental phase. Your little one is learning about their world through cause and effect, and yes, sometimes that means testing boundaries during mealtimes. When we respond consistently and calmly, while setting clear expectations, this phase will pass.

Share your mealtime challenges below! I’d love to hear which strategies have worked for you? 👇

As a paediatric OT, parents often ask me about these behaviours because they’re concerned about them. So let’s dive in and talk about what they really mean and hopefully put your mind at ease if they’re something you’ve noticed and maybe been a little worried about.

1️⃣ Quivering Lip:

• What it looks like: Baby's bottom lip trembles or quivers
• Often mistaken for: Being cold or upset
• Reality: A reflex response to sounds, movements, or position changes
• Purpose: Part of the developing nervous system's response to stimuli
• When it appears: Present at birth
• When it disappears: Usually fades by 3-4 months

2️⃣ The Gape Reflex:

• What it looks like: Baby opens mouth wide when you touch the middle of their upper or lower lip
• Often mistaken for: Hunger
• Reality: This isn’t a reliable way to check for hunger. It's an automatic reflex, not always indicating hunger.
• Purpose: It’s one of the reflexes used to help your baby latch onto breast or bottle. The other reflex is the rooting reflex, which you trigger by rubbing the ni**le or teat along their cheek toward their mouth.
• When it appears: Present at birth
• When it disappears: Around 3-4 months

3️⃣ Clenched Fists (Palmar Grasp Reflex):

• What it looks like: Baby's hands are often fi**ed, fingers curl tightly around objects
• Often mistaken for: A sign of hunger or distress
• Reality: Normal until about 3 months. You’ll often see tightly clenched fists, also while waving their arms at times
• Purpose: Helps develop hand muscles
• When it appears: Present at birth
• When it disappears: Gradually fades by 5-6 months

4️⃣ Feeding Interruptions (Gastro-Colic Reflex):

• What it looks like: Baby pulls away, fidgets, grunts, or passes gas during feeding
• Often mistaken for: Discomfort, pain, or digestive issues
• Reality: Often the Gastro-Colic Reflex at work - very normal!
• Purpose: Stimulates digestion and bowel movements
• When it appears: Present at birth
• When it fades: Becomes less noticeable as digestive system matures