Kristi (@raising_regulated_kids)

Bone marrow for babies might sound intimidating, but it’s surprisingly easy to make! 🦴🥑 As a pediatric OT, I love helping parents explore nutrient-dense foods while supporting their baby’s development and feeding journey. 💛 How to make bone marrow for babies (6+ months): 1. Preheat oven to 425°F. 2. Place marrow bones cut-side up on a parchment-lined baking sheet. 3. Roast for about 25 minutes, until the marrow is fully cooked and soft. 4. Let cool, scoop out the marrow, and carefully check for any bone fragments. 5. Mash until smooth and serve in an age-appropriate texture. 🥣 Easy ways to serve it: • Sweet potato mash: Mix a small amount of marrow into mashed, cooked sweet potato. • Avocado mash: Combine marrow with ripe avocado for a creamy texture. • Butternut squash: Stir into soft, mashed squash. • Broccoli mash: Mix with well-cooked broccoli, finely mashed. • Bone marrow purée: Blend with a little water or breast milk to reach a smooth consistency. Start with a small amount and let your baby explore at their own pace. Make sure the texture is appropriate for your baby’s developmental abilities, supervise every bite, and never serve the bones themselves. Remember, feeding is about more than nutrients—it’s also about exploration, confidence, and building positive experiences with food. You don’t have to do it perfectly. ❤️ #BabyLedWeaning #BabyFoodIdeas #InfantNutrition #PediatricOT #StartingSolids

As a pediatric OT, I’ve seen how powerful simple daily rhythms can be—not just for children, but for moms too. 🤍 Being a stay-at-home mom can sometimes feel repetitive or unnoticed, but those everyday routines are creating something meaningful! Daily rhythms bring more peace, reduce mental overload, and help you spend less energy deciding what comes next. They also create a calm, predictable environment where your child can thrive. Your days don’t have to be perfectly scheduled to have purpose. Small, consistent habits can help you feel more grounded, more present, and more confident in this season of motherhood. If today felt ordinary, remember this: ordinary moments repeated with love become the foundation of a beautiful childhood. You’re doing important work, one rhythm at a time. 💛 #StayAtHomeMom #MotherhoodJourney #PediatricOT #IntentionalMotherhood #MomLife

As a pediatric OT, I want parents to know that sensory seeking is simply one way babies experience and explore the world. Some babies naturally crave more movement, touch, sounds, or other sensory input because that’s how they learn, play, and regulate their bodies. Sensory seeking exists on a spectrum, and many babies who seek extra sensory input are developing just as expected. Loving to bounce, splash, chew on toys, explore new textures, or constantly move can all be part of their unique sensory preferences. Every baby is different, and understanding your baby’s sensory style can help you support their development in ways that work best for them. Keep following their cues, celebrate who they are, and enjoy watching them discover the world around them. ❤️ #PediatricOT #BabyDevelopment #SensorySeeking #MomTok #InfantDevelopment

While every baby is different, there are some signs that may suggest they feel safe, regulated, and comfortable in their body. They may enjoy different types of movement, calm with your support after becoming upset, recover after a startle, explore new places with curiosity, relax in water, and move with increasing confidence and ease. These behaviors can reflect a nervous system that is learning to process sensory input, regulate emotions, and support healthy development. But remember—this isn’t an all-or-nothing checklist. Babies have unique temperaments, preferences, and developmental timelines, so they won’t show every sign or do these things all the time. The most important thing isn’t having a “perfectly regulated” baby—it’s having a responsive caregiver. Every cuddle, comforting moment, and playful interaction helps your baby’s nervous system grow and build a foundation for lifelong emotional and sensory regulation. You’re doing an amazing job. ❤️ #BabyDevelopment #MomTok #PediatricOT #InfantDevelopment #NewMomTips

Did you know that one of the best ways to support your baby’s development is simply spending time outside? Outdoor play provides rich sensory experiences that help build your baby’s developing brain. Feeling the grass, listening to birds, watching leaves move, and exploring different textures all help the nervous system learn to process and organize information. Natural movement—whether your baby is crawling on a blanket, splashing in water, or riding in a carrier on a walk—also supports the vestibular (balance and movement) system, body awareness, coordination, and future motor skills. Being outside benefits more than just physical development. Shared experiences in nature encourage bonding, language development, curiosity, emotional regulation, and attention. When you smile, talk, point out new things, and respond to your baby’s cues, you’re strengthening important brain connections that support learning and relationships. #BabyDevelopment #PediatricOT #OutdoorPlay #SensoryDevelopment #ParentingTips

Did you know your baby’s hand coordination starts developing from day one? From discovering their hands, to bringing them to midline, reaching for toys, transferring objects, and beginning purposeful grasping, hand skills build the foundation for feeding, play, self-care, and eventually writing. As a pediatric OT, I encourage parents to pay attention to these early milestones—not to create worry, but because early hand development gives us valuable clues about a baby’s overall motor, sensory, and neurological development. Remember: every baby develops at their own pace. Progress is more important than perfection. Providing opportunities for tummy time, reaching, exploring toys, and hands-to-mouth play can go a long way in supporting healthy development. You’re doing a great job, and small moments of play each day make a big difference! #PediatricOT #BabyDevelopment #InfantMilestones #NewMomTips #RaisingRegulatedKids

Head control doesn’t appear overnight—it develops gradually through lots of everyday movement and play! 💙 In the early weeks, babies may briefly lift or turn their head during tummy time. By 2–3 months, many babies can hold their head up for longer periods and keep it steadier when being held upright. Around 4–5 months, head control often becomes more consistent during tummy time, reaching, and supported sitting. As babies get closer to 6 months and beyond, many can keep their head stable while sitting, rolling, and exploring their world. Remember, every baby develops at their own pace. Head control is influenced by many factors, including opportunities for movement, temperament, strength, sensory experiences, and medical history. For babies who were born early, it may be more helpful to look at skills based on their adjusted age rather than their birth date. Development is a unique journey, and babies don’t all follow the exact same timeline. Keep providing opportunities for play, connection, and movement—your baby is learning more than you think! 💙 #BabyMilestones #HeadControl #PediatricOT #InfantDevelopment #TummyTime

Feeling overwhelmed, touched out, or running on empty? The Calm Mama Coloring Book was created for busy moms who need a simple way to slow down and recharge. With 50+ beautiful coloring pages, gratitude prompts, calming activities, and faith-based encouragement, this book helps you create moments of peace in the middle of motherhood’s chaos. Whether you have five minutes during naptime or a quiet moment before bed, this coloring book is a gentle reminder that your well-being matters too. Grab your copy and make self-care simple. #CalmMamaColoringBook #MomSelfCare #ChristianMotherhood #StressReliefForMoms #ColoringForAdults

Hi moms! I created this coloring book to help you take a self-care moment when you feel touched out, overstimulated, or like you’re running on empty 💛 I hope this provides a simple way for you slow down and reconnect with yourself - to find encouragement through scripture, joy through the gratitude prompts or to just disconnect your mind through coloring. Inside you’ll find: ✨ 50+ beautiful coloring designs ✨ Gratitude prompts to shift your focus ✨ Nervous system regulation activities ✨ Encouraging Scripture throughout You spend so much time caring for everyone else. This is a gentle reminder that your well-being matters too. Grab your copy today and give yourself permission to rest, reflect, and recharge. Amazon affiliate link is in my bio! 💕 #CalmMama #MomSelfCare #ChristianMom #ColoringBookForAdults #MotherhoodSupport

Your baby’s nervous system is their body’s control and communication system—it includes the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. It’s what helps them take in the world, make sense of it, and respond with movement, emotions, and regulation. In the first year, it develops really quickly through everyday experiences. 💜 Simple, everyday activities help build it: Skin-to-skin helps your baby feel calm, safe, and regulated through closeness. Outdoor sensory time lets their brain take in new sights, sounds, and movement. Tummy time builds strength and helps connect brain + body for future skills like rolling and crawling. Mouthing objects helps them learn what things feel like and how their body processes touch. Baby wearing gives movement, deep pressure, and connection all at once. Water play offers new textures that help the brain adapt to sensory input. Swinging supports the balance system that helps with coordination. Tickles help babies notice different kinds of touch across their body. Massage is calming and helps them feel organized and connected. Spinning helps the brain learn about movement and balance. Joint compression gives deep pressure input that helps babies feel grounded. As a pediatric OT, this is why I love talking about the nervous system—these small, everyday moments are actually building the foundation for regulation, movement, attention, and learning. You don’t have to do anything fancy. These moments in your daily routine are already doing the work. You and your connection are what matter most. 💜 #BabyDevelopment #PediatricOT #NervousSystemSupport #InfantCare #ResponsiveParenting

As a pediatric OT, I look for skills such as reflexive movements in the newborn period, bringing hands to the mouth, improving head control, pushing up during tummy time, reaching for toys, rolling attempts, and growing interest in the world around them. 💚 These milestones can give us clues about how a baby’s nervous system, strength, coordination, and sensory processing are developing. But it’s important to remember that milestones are descriptions of skills many babies develop around a certain age—not a checklist that every baby must follow exactly. Healthy development can look different from one baby to another. Some babies focus on one skill before another, and some reach milestones earlier or later than expected. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s progress. Celebrate the small changes, enjoy getting to know your baby, and remember that development is a journey, not a race. #BabyMilestones #PediatricOT #InfantDevelopment #BabyDevelopment #NewParentSupport

Babies learn about the world through their senses, and each one plays a powerful role in how their brain, body, and nervous system develop in those early months. The vestibular system (movement and balance) helps your baby understand where their body is in space. Every time they’re gently rocked, carried, or shifted during tummy time, their brain is building balance, coordination, and head control. The proprioceptive system (body awareness) comes from pressure through muscles and joints. Things like pushing up during tummy time, bringing hands to mouth, or kicking against resistance help your baby feel strong, organized, and more in control of their movements. Thermoreception (temperature awareness) helps babies adapt to changes in warmth and coolness. Safe, everyday exposure like going outdoors, bath time, or transitioning between environments helps regulate their nervous system and builds adaptability. Along with these, babies are constantly developing through their other core senses: * Tactile (touch) through skin-to-skin contact, textures, and movement * Auditory (hearing) through voices, music, and environmental sounds * Visual (sight) through faces, contrast, and tracking movement * Olfactory (smell) and gustatory (taste) through feeding and familiar scents When babies are gently and appropriately exposed to these sensory experiences, their brain builds stronger connections for regulation, motor development, attention, and emotional security. It’s not about overstimulation or doing more—it’s about everyday experiences adding up to support a well-organized nervous system. Your baby doesn’t need perfection—just safe, consistent, and loving exposure to the world around them. Every interaction is building their foundation. #BabyDevelopment #InfantMilestones #SensoryDevelopment #NervousSystemSupport #ParentingEducation

At around 5 months, babies are building the foundation for so many important skills like coordination, midline awareness, core strength, and early mobility patterns. The best part is these skills don’t need to be “taught” or rushed—they develop through simple, playful opportunities during everyday interaction. Activities like bringing hands to feet help your baby discover their body in space and strengthen their core while encouraging midline connection. Reaching with both hands for a toy supports bilateral coordination and helps the brain learn to integrate both sides of the body. Offering toys during tummy time encourages reaching while prone, which builds shoulder stability and prepares them for later skills like crawling. Supported sitting gives babies a new perspective, helping them work on balance and trunk control while still feeling secure. And encouraging your baby to look up during tummy time helps strengthen neck extensors and promotes better visual tracking and head control. These activities aren’t about forcing milestones or speeding up development. Instead, they’re about giving your baby safe, playful opportunities to explore movement when they are ready, while you follow their cues and comfort level. Every baby develops at their own pace, and “practice” at this age simply means offering variety, not pressure. Small, consistent moments like these add up to big developmental foundations over time. You’re not behind—you’re building the base. #babydevelopment #tummytime #infantmilestones #occupationaltherapy #earlychildhooddevelopment

I seriously cannot wait for him to be able to hold this consistently. I loooove this little popsicle feeder - this video shows it with frozen milk, but you can add any frozen baby food once your baby is old enough. Once they can hold it themselves, it’s such a good way to entertain them while you get a bit of hands-free time! It’s also great for motivating them to bring hands to midline for fine motor coordination and brain development 🧡 #babyfeeding #oralmotor #babyledweaning #sensoryplay #babydevelopmenttips

Rolling starts at the hips. 💚 When we help babies learn to roll by guiding through the hips instead of pulling from the arms or shoulders, we support more natural movement patterns, core activation, body awareness, and coordination. The hips are the foundation for rotational movement, and initiating there helps babies build strength and motor planning in a way that feels safe and connected in their bodies. This approach also encourages smoother transitions, reduces tension, and gives babies the opportunity to actively participate in the movement instead of being moved passively. Small shifts in how we support development can make a big difference over time. #BabyDevelopment #InfantDevelopment #RollingMilestones #ParentingTips #PediatricPT

Starting solids safely takes more than just interest in food — babies also need oral motor strength, coordination, and sensory awareness. As a pediatric OT, I use simple activities to help build the foundation for safer eating and chewing skills. 🧡 • Sensory input to the cheeks and lips can help babies become more aware of their mouth, improve lip closure, and prepare the nervous system for feeding. • Chewing on a teether helps strengthen the jaw and encourages the side-to-side mouth movements needed later for chewing foods safely. • Rubbing the gums can increase oral awareness and encourage lateral tongue movement as babies learn to move their tongue side-to-side to explore and manage food in the mouth. • Tongue tip elevation activities help support tongue mobility and coordination, which are important for moving food around the mouth and swallowing safely. These playful exercises can help babies feel more confident and organized as they learn new feeding skills at their own pace! 🧡 #StartingSolids #OralMotorSkills #PediatricOT #BabyFeeding #BabyDevelopment

Pediatric OT here 👋 Newborn reflexes are actually signs that your baby’s nervous system is developing and communicating the way it should. Reflexes like the rooting reflex help babies find the breast or bottle for feeding, the sucking reflex supports eating and calming, the Moro/startle reflex helps babies respond to changes in their environment, and the grasp reflex is an early building block for later hand skills. As babies grow, these reflexes gradually integrate so more purposeful movement, coordination, balance, and motor skills can develop. 💛 Every baby develops at their own pace, and these early reflexes are just one amazing part of how their little nervous system learns and grows. You’re doing great. #newborn #babynervoussystem #pediatricot #babydevelopment #newmom

As a pediatric OT, one thing I look at before starting solids is whether a baby has the oral motor skills needed for safe and efficient eating. Feeding involves much more than age alone — babies need coordination, strength, sensory awareness, and specific tongue and jaw movements to manage food well. Some important skills include: • Tongue tip elevation — lifting the tongue upward to help move food and support spoon feeding and later speech sounds • Tongue lateralization — moving the tongue side to side to push food onto the gums for chewing • Jaw stability and grading — controlling how hard or softly the jaw moves for safe biting and chewing • Lip closure — helping keep food in the mouth and remove food from a spoon • Oral sensory awareness — helping babies notice, explore, and tolerate different textures, temperatures, and movements in the mouth Gentle oral motor play and sensory input can start in the early months through things like mouthing toys, hands, textured teethers, facial touch, and playful oral exploration during awake time. Signs baby may be ready for solids: • Around 6 months old • Good head and trunk control • Able to sit with support • Bringing hands/toys to mouth • Showing interest in food • Reduced tongue thrust reflex Every baby develops at their own pace, but these foundational oral motor and postural skills help support safer and more successful feeding experiences. #BabyFeeding #StartingSolids #PediatricOT #OralMotorSkills #BabyDevelopment

Bouncing can be incredibly regulating for some babies because the rhythmic movement gives their nervous system predictable vestibular input that helps them feel calm, organized, and secure. As a pediatric OT, I love using an exercise ball for soothing, core engagement, bonding, and supporting regulation during fussy periods or before sleep. 🤍 I especially love this pregnancy/exercise ball because it includes a pregnancy exercise guide book and comes in different sizes based on your height, which makes it much more comfortable and supportive for parents too! #babynervoussystem #sensorybaby #pediatricot #babydevelopment #newparenttips

What does “sensory seeking” actually mean in babies, from a pediatric OT 💜 Sensory seeking is when a baby craves extra movement, touch, sound, or sensory input to help their nervous system feel organized and regulated. This can look like loving bouncing, being constantly on the move, kicking nonstop, wanting to be carried, chewing on hands, or getting bored easily. Ways to support a sensory-seeking baby: ✨ Movement throughout the day ✨ Outdoor time & fresh air ✨ Floor play and rolling/crawling opportunities ✨ Water play ✨ Deep pressure/cuddles ✨ Music, rhythm, and bouncing ✨ Following their cues without overstimulating Sensory seeking isn’t “bad behavior” — it’s the nervous system communicating a need, such as stronger or more frequent sensory experiences to “feel where their body is” or maintain an ideal level of arousal and attention 💜 #sensorybaby #babynervoussystem #sensoryprocessing #pediatricot #babydevelopment

From an OT perspective, getting your baby outside is one of the best ways to support their developing nervous system. Natural environments provide balanced sensory input—like natural light, open space, movement, and gentle background sounds—that help the brain learn to process and organize information more efficiently. This supports regulation, improves sleep-wake rhythms, and builds a strong foundation for attention, emotional control, and motor development. Even short, consistent time outdoors can make a meaningful difference in how a baby’s nervous system develops over time. #pediatricot #babysensory #nervoussystemregulation #earlydevelopment #parentingtips

From a pediatric OT perspective, swinging helps regulate babies because it supports the vestibular system (movement + balance), which is closely tied to the nervous system and emotional regulation. Gentle, rhythmic motion can calm an overstimulated baby or help increase alertness when they’re low energy by giving the brain organized sensory input. It can support: • Calm regulation • Body awareness • Sensory organization • Co-regulation with caregiver That’s why I love Gladswing’s hammock swing—it provides smooth, consistent motion that helps the nervous system feel more organized and secure. Always follow your baby’s cues—less is often more when it comes to regulation. #pediatricOT #babydevelopment #sensoryprocessing #nervoussystemregulation #infantcare

Around 4–6 months, you can start gently building core strength through play—but the foundation matters just as much as the “skill” itself. 🧸 Core strengthening play: • Supported sit-ups (lying → sitting) for a few slow, controlled reps • Side tilts in sitting to build balance + protective reactions • Tummy time (prone play) to strengthen neck, shoulders, and core • Sidelying play to encourage midline awareness, reaching, and early rotation ⏱ Keep it short + playful—about 3–5 minutes total per activity, a couple times a day. Always follow your baby’s cues and stop if they fatigue or lose interest. ✨ The key idea: Babies don’t just “learn to sit”—they build the strength and coordination through tummy time, sidelying, rolling, and transitions that lead up to sitting independently. ⚠️ Safety note: Before ~6 months, most babies don’t have full trunk control. Avoid prolonged propping in sitting (“parking” them upright), which can stress the spine and reduce time spent on important floor movement. Let movement come first—sitting will follow 🤍 #babymilestones #babydevelopment #tummytime #sidelyingplay #pediatricOT

I’ve always loved drawing, so getting to make my own nursery decorations just feels extra special 🧸✨ There’s something so meaningful about creating pieces for your baby’s space with your own hands. Lately I’ve been using Grabie acrylic pens and I’m honestly obsessed—they’re super smooth, the colors are so vibrant, and they make it so easy to get clean, detailed lines (even on wood and canvas 🙌). This little wall art piece might be my favorite one yet 🐒🌿 #nurserydiy #nurserydecor #momcreator #diywallart #jungenursery

As a pediatric OT, these are some of my favorite foundational activities to support rolling skills. 💚 Reaching for toys during tummy time isn’t just play—it helps your baby build strength and learn how to shift their weight for rolling. Sidelying play gives them that “in-between” position to practice getting from back to tummy, and gently guiding them through rolls helps their body learn what the movement feels like. Most babies roll tummy to back around 3–5 months and back to tummy around 4–6 months, with lots of normal variation. Keep it playful and low pressure—you’re doing great, and it will come 💚 #babymilestones #tummytime #babydevelopment #newmomtips #pediatricot

If you’ve dealt with cradle cap, eczema, or drool rash, you know baby skin can go from totally fine to irritated pretty fast—and it always seems to show up in the most random places. For us, I’ve found it really comes down to keeping the skin barrier supported. When it’s dry or constantly exposed to drool and friction, everything just looks more inflamed and stubborn. I like Tubby Todd All Over Ointment because it’s simple and gentle, with clean ingredients I don’t have to think twice about. It’s very moisturizing, and it helps create a protective layer on the skin so things like drool and dryness don’t sit directly on those irritated spots. It also has soothing plant-based ingredients that help calm things down when skin looks red or dry. I use it on cradle cap to help soften flakes, on eczema patches when skin needs extra moisture, and around the mouth and neck for drool rash. It’s just one of those easy, no-stress products I keep coming back to. #babyskincare #cradlecap #eczema #droolrash #momlife

Rolling is one of the first big movement milestones—and it doesn’t happen all at once 🧡 Most babies start rolling tummy to back around 3–5 months, and back to tummy around 4–6 months (sometimes a little later—and that can still be okay!). The best time to start practicing? From the newborn stage on. Early exposure to side-lying play, gentle weight shifts, and floor time helps your baby build the strength and coordination they need to roll when they’re ready. As a pediatric OT, I always remind parents: it’s not about rushing the milestone—it’s about giving your baby the opportunities to explore movement in a supported, playful way. Every baby’s timeline is a little different, but small, consistent practice can make a big difference 🧡 If you want simple, step-by-step ways to support rolling (and all early milestones), my development guide is linked in my bio! #babymilestones #pediatricot #babydevelopment #tummytime #newmomtips

As a pediatric OT, the football hold is one of my favorite ways to build neck strength without the tears. It gives your baby the same head and neck activation as tummy time—just in a more comfortable, supported position. This is perfect for babies who: • Push up into a “butt in the air” position • Struggle to lift their head • Get frustrated quickly on the floor You’re still supporting development—you’re just meeting your baby where they are 🤍 If you want more simple, OT-backed ways to support milestones without the stress, I put everything in my ebook (linked in bio!) You’re doing a great job. Progress doesn’t have to look perfect to be meaningful 💛 #tummytime #babydevelopment #newmomtips #milestonesmatter #pediatricOT

If your baby kicks their hips up during tummy time, you’re not doing anything wrong! This is actually really common. Babies will lift their hips because they’re still figuring out how to shift their weight forward and use their arms. It’s their body’s way of trying to find balance while they build core and shoulder strength. The position in this video helps gently bring their weight forward so they can push through their arms, strengthen their neck, and get more comfortable on their tummy. And if your baby fusses or struggles—totally normal. Tummy time is hard work at first. Short, consistent practice really does add up. You’re doing a great job supporting their development, even on the tough days 💛 #tummytime #newmomtips #babydevelopment #postpartumlife #momsoftiktok

4 MONTH MILESTONES from a pediatric OT 💚 Simple ways to support your baby’s development through play: • Play with BOTH hands → builds coordination and helps both sides of the brain communicate • Bringing toys to mouth → supports sensory exploration + early hand awareness • Reaching during tummy time → strengthens shoulders for rolling & future crawling • Lifting chest in tummy time → supports straight arm positioning • Supported sitting → introduces balance + trunk control • Supported standing → helps baby feel weight through legs (early prep for standing skills) • Gentle side tilts → strengthens head control + postural reactions These aren’t just “activities”… they’re building the foundation for milestones like rolling, sitting, crawling, and walking! And remember: milestones are a RANGE, not a race. Your baby is right on their own timeline 💚 #4monthbaby #babymilestones #tummytime #momsoftiktok #babydevelopment