If you’ve ever watched your toddler stand up after playing on the rug and noticed a surprisingly round, protruding belly—even on a lean child—you aren’t alone. Many parents wonder: “Is this normal, or do they have weak abdominal muscles?” At Red Door Pediatric Therapy, we are often asked by parents
You’re sitting on the living room floor watching your kiddo tackle a challenging 24-piece puzzle. They are completely locked in, absolute focus written across their face. Then you notice it: a single, steady string of drool dangling from their lower lip, or a damp spot rapidly expanding on the front
You enter a public restroom with your young child. You finish up, step toward the sink, and suddenly—WHOOSH. An automatic toilet flushes unexpectedly, or someone activates a roaring restroom hand dryer. In a split second, your child covers their ears, screams, or tries to bolt out the door in sheer
Creating a successful morning routine with kids who struggle to wake up, resist transitions, or show defiance starts with co-regulation and sensory-behavioral strategies. When mornings feel like a battleground, it is usually because a child’s nervous system is overwhelmed by the rapid shift from sleep to demands. As pediatric Speech-Language Pathologists
As parents, we have all been there: you are staring at a completely melted-down child in the middle of the living room, and you can feel your own heart rate spiking. Your chest tightens, your breathing becomes shallow, and suddenly, you are just as dysregulated as your little one. In
As occupational therapists at Red Door Pediatric Therapy, we often identify early sensory, motor, play, and self‑regulation patterns that can signal autism. Below is an age‑ordered, clinically informed list of common signs seen from birth through age 5, referral thresholds, and practical strategies for caregivers and medical providers. Birth to
If your baby keeps turning their head to one side, sleeps with the same side of the head down, or has a flat spot, you’re not alone — these are common. They can come from congenital muscular torticollis (tight neck muscle) and positional flattening of the skull (plagiocephaly). The good
The transition to motherhood is often pictured as joyful, glowing, and instinctive — but for many parents, it feels overwhelming, uncertain, and lonely at times. The truth is, you can love your baby deeply and still struggle with the changes that come after birth. At Red Door Pediatric Therapy, we
Transitioning from one activity to another can be challenging for children, often leading to tantrums and meltdowns. As parents and caregivers, it’s important to understand how to support children through these transitions and help them develop coping strategies. In this article, we will explore expert strategies for assisting kids with
Body awareness is pivotal in a child’s development, influencing their physical coordination and spatial orientation. Understanding body awareness and its underlying mechanism, proprioception is essential for parents and caregivers to support their children’s growth. Understanding Body Awareness and Proprioception Body awareness refers to knowing where our body parts are without