Infants

Occupational therapists are skilled at understanding early development, and how to remediate challenges or delays that may appear in the first year of life.  The occupational therapist will work with parents/caregivers to facilitate healthy development by utilizing a range of evidence-based treatment approaches, and through the education of relevant caregivers. 

Occupational Therapy may be of benefit for infants

who experience three or more of the following:

  • appears weak or floppy 
  • lacks coordination, endurance, and strength in gross motor movements 
  • overreacts to touch, taste, sound, odour, lights 
  • dislikes bathing, cuddling, or hair cuts 
  • delays in developmental milestones (e.g., reaching, grasping/releasing objects, sitting, rolling, crawling)  
  • delays with social interactions, engagement, and play 
  • dislikes lying on stomach 
  • has sleep difficulties 
  • delayed language activity 
  • difficulties with feeding (e.g., weak suck/bite, delay in holding the bottle, difficulty with certain textures of food, challenges with self-feeding) 

Occupational Therapy may be appropriate for infants with:

  • Traumatic birth injuries 
  • Pregnancy complication 
  • Early life trauma 
  • Cerebral Palsy 
  • Down Syndrome 
  • Sensory Processing Disorder 
  • Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder 
  • Attachment Disorders 
  • And developmental delays