Your Baby, Toddler & Preschooler
6 months to 4 years
In a child’s lifetime, the ‘toddler’ age is one of the greatest periods of change and reaching milestones. They grow from a baby into an independent and inquisitive little human!
Although every toddler is unique, there are certain essential milestones that you want them to reach at certain times.
We have added some detailed information further down about understanding the developing brain, but firstly let’s look at 4 main areas and how little changes can result in a healthier and happier toddler.
- Independence
- Movement
- Sleep
- Nutrition and Hydration
We understand toddlers
Our chiropractors are trained to work with toddlers and support you and your whole family to move through this time with ease and well being.
As chiropractors we are trained to look at the body from a structural (can your toddler move his body well?), a neurological (does your toddler’s nervous system work well?) and then developmentally (can your toddler control, co-ordinate and use his body in an organised manner that is age appropriate?).
Independence
I wonder what that is?
From picking up their food (and throwing it on the floor and rubbing it into their hair) to crawling and getting stuck under the couch, the thrill of independence has turned your toddler into an explorer!
To help support them during these explorative years, they need to feel safe in both their internal and external environment. This is helped by them having good body awareness.
Body awareness is where you know where your body starts and stops in the immediate environment. As a toddler explores their world, their brain is literally developing a map of their body. This allows them to move their body with control and precision. If that body map doesn't develop accurately, it makes it hard for your toddler to move seamlessly in their environment and interact well with things around them.
Poor body awareness in the toddler years looks like excessive tripping and falling (well beyond the expected amount when learning to walk), always leaning or falling into people rather than holding their own body weight. They also might be very accident prone or constantly breaking crayons and toys. Parents often comment that its like they don't know their own strength.
Complimentary Phone
Consultations Available
Not quite sure if chiropractic is right for your toddler? Our practice director Dr Jacey Pryjma offers 15 min complimentary phone consultations for new families.
Take the opportunity to ask the questions you have before making an appointment. Find out if chiropractic and Australian Children's Chiropractic Centre may be just what you have been searching for.
To book a complimentary phone consultation with Dr Jacey please click below to contact us or book online.
Movement
Catch me if you can!
As your toddlers brain develops their body and body’s needs will shift and change over time. As they become more mobile, they will be running, jumping, falling, crashing, banging heads and so much more. Accidents big and small will become a frequent occurrence. There are many that will be easily brushed off, but some incidents where you may think it would be good to have it checked out.
Perhaps you are concerned that your child doesn't seem to move their body in an easy and symmetrical way?
Or maybe you've seen a change since an accident?
Our chiropractors are able to help guide you, navigating through the years of bumps/crashes. We are trained to look at the body and how its skeletal, muscular and nervous system function. Our detailed examinations not only give you a lot of feedback about what is going on with your child, but also identify when working with us might be a good fit, and when to refer or engage other health professionals.
Complimentary Phone
Consultations Available
Not quite sure if chiropractic is right for your toddler? Our practice director Dr Jacey Pryjma offers 15 min complimentary phone consultations for new families.
Take the opportunity to ask the questions you have before making an appointment. Find out if chiropractic and Australian Children's Chiropractic Centre may be just what you have been searching for.
To book a complimentary phone consultation with Dr Jacey please click below to contact us or book online.
Sleep
Sleeping like a baby?
For some of us that term ‘sleeping like a baby’ means no sleep!
Once you have become a parent it will not surprise you to know that up to 40% of children experience sleep problems at some point.
Sleep is important for your toddlers’ brain. It supports them to develop memories and consolidate what they have learnt about the world. There is a strong link between sleep and cognitive function (how they think and make decisions). Research shows that a reduction of your child's sleep by just one hour at 40 months can impact their academic performance at 6 years.
In 2013 scientists also discovered that during sleep there are vessels that actually transport toxins away from the brain that have built up during the day. Cells in the brain actually shrink up to 60% to allow the toxins to flush out between the cells. Scientists believe that the restorative nature of sleep is thanks to this cleaning effect that can't happen during awake periods.
Knowing this, sleep is therefore not only important for your growing child but for the whole household to function well.
There are many things that may interrupt your child’s ability to sleep. This may be temperature, wet nappies, hunger, noise or level of light. Other areas that are not as well known may include sleep apnea, vestibular issues (poor body awareness and rolling makes them feel like they are falling), hyperactive startle reflex, digestive upset (colic, reflux, digestive pain) and body pain/discomfort.
Your chiropractor will assess whether there are any areas of spinal or nervous system dysfunction that could be causing pain or discomfort for your child. Previous research has indicated that improvements in spinal and nervous system function have shown noticeable improvement in sleep duration, reduced night-waking, and a reduced length of time required to fall asleep. This has been attributed to reduction in pain and improvements in neurological function of the child, improved spinal bio-mechanics and improved feeding quality.
Nutrition and Hydration
We know that this can be an overwhelming area, with so much information it can be tricky to decipher where to start.
What our families do enjoy is that when they visit a chiropractor in our centre, we take the time to answer questions about nutrition and hydration so we can help guide you during these changing years. We also have Nutritionists and Naturopaths that work closely with us in our centre who can support your family when more guidance and management is needed.
Our centre also offers a range of events and workshops for you to enjoy and learn about holistic health.
Want to know how much water you children should be drinking? Read our popular Hydration Blog titled - Have you drunk enough water today?
No matter where you are on your wellness journey with your family, we have something here to help you learn and grow.
Complimentary Phone
Consultations Available
Not quite sure if chiropractic is right for your toddler? Our practice director Dr Jacey Pryjma offers 15 min complimentary phone consultations for new families.
Take the opportunity to ask the questions you have before making an appointment. Find out if chiropractic and Australian Children's Chiropractic Centre may be just what you have been searching for.
To book a complimentary phone consultation with Dr Jacey please click below to contact us or book online.
Movement milestones
There are many areas of development to understand how your child is progressing. In most cases you will be working with a health professional guiding you along the way. Your blue book will also identify some of the major milestones to look for.
The first 12 months
As you are moving through these early months and years with your child we often find that parents would like a little more detail about some of the important gross motor milestones to look for. There are too many milestone to list here, but here is a more extended and specific list for 6 to 12 months.
- From 6 months we want to see infants
- sitting independently,
- rolling back to front and front to back,
- moving objects from one hand to another.
- From 7 months we want to see infants
- rocking back and forth in all four position,
- starting to move the body backward or forwards on the floor
- engaging with others for play and fun.
- From 9 months we want to see infants
- transitioning independently into different positions: sitting, all fours, lying on tummy
- that they are able to pull themselves up to stand,
- crawl fluently in all four position.
- From 12 months we want to see infants
- 'Cruise furniture' walking while holding onto furniture
- standing independently for 2 seconds
- taking 2-3 steps without support
From 18mths to 4 years
Now you baby is no longer a baby, they are an active, dynamic toddler. As a parent you will be blown away at how your toddler can start to do complex tasks that require good balance, strong movement patterns and excellent body awareness. Here is a gross motor list to help you navigate the ages 18 months to 4 years.- From 18 months we want to see toddlers
- walking and running,
- walk up steps
- stoop over and recover
- walk backwards,
- kick a ball forward
- From age 3 we want to see children
- throw ball overhand
- jump
- balance on each leg for 1-2sec
- From age 4 we want to see children
- balance on each leg for 6-10sec
- heal-to-toe walk
- hop on each leg
There are so many ways support your child to develop well. Keeping them moving and active each day is incredibly important.
The 1981 Nobel Prize recipient Dr. Roger Sperry said that the spine is the motor that drives the brain. According to his research “90% of the stimulation and nutrition to the brain is generated by the movement of the spine.”
So keeping your children moving, and their spine healthy will positively impact the brain.
