Small Steps, Big Leaps LLC

04/05/2026

It’s been such an egg-citing week at Small Steps, Big Leaps! Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter 🐣🌷

04/02/2026

Here at Small Steps, Big Leaps, we love helping little ones grow, connect, and thrive—one small step at a time 🤍

As occupational therapists, we get a front row seat to the magic of childhood—supporting play, strengthening bodies, building confidence, and celebrating every tiny win along the way.

From meeting milestones with littles to helping big kids gain confidence and independence, it’s never just “play”… it’s purpose.

Happy OT Month to all the amazing OTs helping children (and families!) take their own big leaps 💫

03/29/2026

Always advocate and ask why 🫶🏻

Maybe it’s not “colic.”

Maybe it’s overstimulation.
Too much noise. Too much input.
Not enough closeness. Not enough regulation.

Maybe it’s not “colic.”

Maybe it’s gas from a bad latch.
Swallowing air all day.
Tongue and lip ties no one caught.

Maybe it’s not “colic.”

Maybe it’s what’s in the bottle.
Corn syrup solids labeled as “gentle.”
An immature gut trying to process it.

Maybe it’s not “colic.”

Maybe it’s tension.
Through their neck. Their back.
From birth that was never worked through.

Maybe it’s not “colic.”

Maybe it’s a body that got overwhelmed.
Overloaded with too much, too fast, too early.

Maybe it’s not random.
Maybe it’s not “just what babies do.”

Maybe it’s a baby asking for help
in the only way they can.

But it’s easier to call it colic than ask why.

03/17/2026

Tummy time starts earlier than most people think 🤍

In the first few weeks, your baby doesn’t need to be on floor right away. Placing them tummy-down on your chest is the perfect place to begin. At this age, head lifting and turning are largely reflexive—but still so important to support future volitional head turning and strengthening skills. Your baby is practicing those early movements while also taking in your face, tracking your features, and beginning to build on visual skills.

This close, binding opportunity supports so much more than strengthening—it’s laying the foundation for development, connection, and early social engagement. They’re learning to focus, to look, and to connect… all while feeling safe with you.

Around 3-4 weeks, you can start introducing short periods of tummy time on a firm, flat surface. This is where those early reflexive movements begin to turn into more purposeful strength through the neck, shoulders, and core.

Start simple and always follow your baby’s lead.
Tummy time is where connection, purposeful movement, and strength all begin 💕

03/03/2026

📣 PSA from your pediatric OT 👋🏼

If you just had a baby, this is your permission to ignore the piles of laundry and the dishes and the to-do list.

Your only job right now?
✨ Heal.
✨ Snuggle.
✨ Learn your baby.

Those early days aren’t about a spotless house — they’re about noticing the little cues. The hungry wiggles. The sleepy stare. The “I just need you close” cry.

The dishes will wait.
The bonding won’t. ♥️

02/25/2026

Our hearts (and our family) have grown! 🤍
We’re overjoyed to share the arrival of our Sadie Blaine on Friday, 2/20/2026. Thank you for your continued love and support as we soak in these precious newborn days.

01/22/2026

You’ve tried every trick in the book… hiding veggies, bribing, buying Bluey plates and your child still only eats chicken nuggets.

Before you blame “picky eating,” please remember, this isn’t your fault, and your child isn’t being difficult.

What you’re seeing might actually be about:
🍽️ Sensory sensitivities: certain textures, smells, or colors can feel overwhelming.
🧠 Oral motor skills: if managing the food feels too challenging, they won’t eat. People prioritize protecting their airway above eating. Use safe feeding practices appropriate to your child’s skill level.
🧩 Routine + comfort: familiar foods help them feel safe and in control.

You don’t need to force, bribe, or stress at mealtime.

Try this instead:
✔️Always offer “safe foods” alongside new ones.
✔️ Eat together as a family, even if everyone’s plate looks different.
✔️Give your child space to explore new food on their terms
✔️Keep distractions low and pressure off.
✔️Talk about the properties of the food- colors, textures, smells.

If you’re tired of stressful mealtimes, contact our team at Small Steps, Big Leaps LLC so we can help support your family and bring calmness and curiosity to your dinner table.

01/20/2026

When your baby crawls on hands and knees (typically between 6–9 months), they’re doing way more than moving across the floor.
Crawling helps your child:
💪 Build proximal strength for fine motor and feeding development.
👀 Develop visual skills
🌈 Strengthens their body for future gross motor skills. (climbing, running, skipping, jumping)
🚶 Gain body awareness ; learning where they are in space
👶🏻 Builds core strength and sensory development
🧠Tolerate changes in their heads position for vestibular processing
🖍️Integrates primitive reflexes that help with performance skills in the future. (reading, writing)

Remember, just because your baby could figure out how to walk, without crawling, it doesn’t mean they should.

If your baby is belly or bum scooting past the window of when they are expected to start crawling, skipped crawling altogether, or only crawled for a short time, it’s worth checking in with an OT.

Early support can make a big difference in building the foundation for future skills.

01/15/2026

🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒We believe in a family-focused approach, because you’re the expert of your child, and we’re here to help.

Far too often parents leave doctor appointments feeling dismissed and invalidated of their concerns.

You’ve probably heard…
“she’ll grow out of it.”
“he’s just a boy”
“it’s just a phase”
“of course she’s going cry, she’s a baby”
“all kids go through this”

At Small Steps, Big Leaps LLC we see your child as they are, support their strengths and neurodiversity.

We hear your concerns and want to help reach your family’s goals. Head to the contact form on our website to get started today.

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!