Small Steps, Big Leaps LLC

12/11/2025

Here are a few ways to make winter outdoor time easier if your child can’t stand wearing winter clothes.

→ Layer instead of relying on one big bulky coat.
→ Try deep pressure before dressing. A gentle squeeze to the head, shoulders, or hands can help prepare their nervous system for new sensations.
→ Choose mittens instead of gloves. They’re easier to put on and create less frustration to put on.
→ Try a hood instead of a hat. It’s less restrictive, less “tight” feeling, and often more tolerable for sensory-sensitive kids.

Winter doesn’t have to mean staying inside, it just means meeting your child where they are and giving their sensory system a little extra support. The fresh air, grounding and change in environment can help the days go smoother!

If you have a kiddo that is struggling with clothing or dressing themselves, our team is here to support your family.

12/10/2025

Today, your child was diagnosed with autism.
Maybe it came out of the blue.
Maybe you already knew.
Maybe you fought for a diagnosis.
But today was the day it became official. It may have come with a "level", or maybe the doctor didn't feel it was necessary to share that with you today, so you'll wait a month for the official report. But today, the news is sinking in and you are shaken. Autism has entered your life, and it's here to stay.

What does this mean for your child? For you? For your family? For your finances? What do you need to do? How do you help support your child? Who can guide you? Why isn't there a flowchart (or is that just me)?

Your mind is racing and you just need someone - anyone - to tell you what to do. The only response to alleviate the anxiety is action.

I have been here three times. I've experienced the gamut of emotions.

Here's what to do:

Breathe.
Enjoy your child exactly as they are. Your child is still exactly the same adorable, brilliant, lovable child that they were before diagnosis. Never lose sight of that.
As a parent, you've always done everything you can to protect your child, and that doesn't end with an autism diagnosis. Protect your child's privacy and bodily autonomy. Learn how to speak about support needs in a way that will not be hurtful to your child, should they overhear you.
Get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
Learn about autism from a variety of perspectives, including professional, parent, and especially perspectives.
Read blogs, watch vlogs, sign up for Google alerts, borrow every book about autism in the library (I did), join Facebook groups (there are some fantastic groups out there that are led by autistic people).
Ask questions. Make sure you ask autistic people, not just doctors or other parents.
If you want to understand your child, learn about how they experience and perceive the world.
Learn about how your child learns (bottom up vs. top down).
Before committing to any therapy or treatment, read about the history and perspectives of the practitioner and autistic people.
Soak in all of the information you can find.
Examine what seems accurate or inaccurate for your child.
Mull it over, sit with it, place yourself in your child's shoes.
Maybe even get an autism eval yourself if you find yourself in what you're learning (it is incredibly common for adults to learn that they are autistic after their child is identified).
Dedicate the first year after diagnosis to learning, without committing to anything other than improving your child's quality of life.
This is your learning time.
You've heard of honeymoons and babymoons? I propose an .

You can't support an autistic person if you don't know anything about autism. Well, you can, but you'll flub it up, and it'll stress everyone out.

Autism is a neurological classification. It's not a disease or an illness. There is no expiration date on the diagnosis. Your child is not going to be more or less autistic based on whether or not they started a specific therapy at a certain age. Don't allow a profitable industry push you into an action that you have not researched thoroughly. If the autistic community says something is harmful, listen and research. If the autistic community says something is helpful, listen and research.

Your child is going to be okay, and it will be because of your love and willingness to advocate for their best interests.

So take another big breath. You are not alone. Your child is not alone. There's a community waiting to welcome you both.

12/05/2025

Our best kept secret 🤍

Our Small Steps, Big Leaps family is growing by two tiny feet arriving this February!

12/04/2025

The holidays are magical… until the sugar rush fades and everyone’s routine goes out the window.

If you’re feeling the burnout, your kids probably are too, and that’s your cue to bring back a little structure to help everyone feel grounded again.

Here are a few ways to keep balance (and your sanity) during holiday break:

🧠Sensory play: water/ice/snow play, play dough, kinetic sand, simple science/STEM activities

💪 Big body movement: playing outside, building forts, indoor obstacle courses, setting up tables/chairs for family visiting, vacuuming/sweeping the floors, loading and unloading the car, pushing a cart at the grocery store, a visit to the playground

❣️Family/group activities: cooking or baking together, taking down the tree, organizing new toys, playing board games, family bike ride or walk

You don’t need to plan every hour, just pick a few things to do each day that bring movement, connection, and rest.

Screens won’t fill their sensory cups, but a little structure will.

At Small Steps, Big Leaps LLC, we help families find calm in the chaos, through routines that support your child’s development and your family’s peace of mind.

12/02/2025

While on-demand feeding is necessary for newborns, as your baby grows, not every wake up means hunger cries.

Sometimes, they just need comfort, closeness, or help adjusting to the big transition from womb to world.

Before adding cereal to a bottle or assuming it’s hunger-related, consider this:
→ Baby cereal can cause GI upset and often doesn’t keep them fuller, just uncomfortable.
→Sometimes the issue isn’t feeding at all, but the environment.

Try these tips tonight for a better sleep stretch:
👉🏻Use a sound machine or white noise
👉🏻Keep the room darkened
👉🏻Adjust temperature using TOG as a reference for optimal sleep temp
👉🏻Use a humidifier or air purifier to optimize nasal breathing
👉🏻Snuggle your baby to comfort them (they are adjusting to life outside the womb)
👉🏻Keep yourself and your baby calm and regulated

Give you and your baby grace as their cozy, in-utero environment of 9 months has drastically changed.

Developing self-regulation, growth spurts, and developmental leaps all play a role.

Have you tried all the methods and your baby still isn’t getting a good and restful nights sleep?
It may be worth considering other causes (airway function and quality of sleep.)
Reach out to Stephanie today to schedule a free consult.

10/31/2025

10/29/2025

Your baby’s first 6 months are full of growth and change!

Here we highlight the big milestones, but there’s even more detail waiting for you on the blog.

✨ Save this post for a quick reference
✨ Head to the website to read the full breakdown!

Every baby is different, these milestones are guidelines to be aware of. If you have questions or concerns about your baby’s development, reach out for a free 15-minute phone consult.