Occupational Therapy Services 

The early childhood years are full of growth and development. With so many new skills to learn, children can sometimes use a little extra support.  We can help you navigate the following challenges related to developmental milestones:

• Managing Torticollis/Plagiocephaly/Brachycephaly

• Reaching early milestones (rolling, sitting, crawling, walking etc)

• Supporting fine motor development

• Improving self-help skills

• Handwriting difficulties

• Strengthening visual motor skills

Torticollis is a condition in which a baby’s neck can become tight and shortened on one side, resulting in the baby keeping his or her head tilted to one side and often turned to the opposite side. It can sometimes lead to a condition called plagiocephaly, or a misshapen skull. Plagiocephaly usually results in flattening of the skull on the sides or back of the head and can also cause one ear to shift forward and one side of the forehead to push forward.  Typical signs of torticollis include: 

• Keeps head tilted to one side, or ear closer to shoulder on one side

• Strongly prefers turning head to one side over the other

• Prefers feeding on only one side or facing one direction

• Difficulty visually tracking a toy to both sides

• Face seems asymmetrical (one side of cheek is fuller than the other, one eye may appear lower)

• Flattening on one side or back of head

Early treatment of torticollis and plagiocephaly is ideal.  It is easiest to work with young babies, who are not as mobile, because there is more opportunity to make changes in alignment and skull shape with positioning alone.  In more severe cases of skull flattening that are not resolved with positioning, a referral for an evaluation to see if your baby needs a helmet may be recommended.  Early therapy may result in not needing a helmet!

Feeding should be an enjoyable experience for the entire family. However, for many families, feeding can become a time of stress and concern.  We want to help you make mealtime a time of connection and fun for you and your child.  Wildflowers Wellness can help you navigate the following challenges related to feeding:

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• Pre-frenectomy support to help identify optimal timing of release

• Post-frenectomy support to teach your baby how to use efficient oral-motor patterns for eating

• Difficulty with breastfeeding or bottle feeding

• Managing reflux or colic

• Weaning to solids

• Food selectivity and picky eating in toddlerhood and childhood

Infants and young children rely on caregiver support to remain regulated and to foster their social-emotional wellbeing. As children get older, they begin to learn how to use coping strategies and regulate themselves more independently.  We want to help you foster positive social-emotional and self-regulation skills in your child.  We can help you navigate the following challenges related to Co/Self-Regulation:

• Fluctuations in infant alert-state

• Managing meltdowns in a developmentally appropriate way

• Supporting positive social-emotional skills at all ages

• Difficulty with attention/sitting still

• Sensory processing challenges

Feeding is a baby's first milestone. When baby is having difficulties feeding, assessment of baby's oral motor and gross motor skills must be performed. The mouth is connected to the body, and how a baby moves impacts how baby is feeding. FORM and FUNCTION are evaluated and treated. Addressing your baby's form and function will provide you with a plan on how to improve your baby's feeding, oral motor skills, and oral systemic health for longterm health. 

Common oral & airway health issues Wildflowers Wellness helps with:
• Feeding difficulties
• Therapy before and after a release procedure
• Identifying oral restrictions (tongue, lip or buccal tie) 
• Torticollis
• Flat Head Syndrome (Plagiocephaly)
• Colic
• Oral motor weakness
• Muscle tension

In this one on one coaching session we will address all of your parental concerns. You will leave with a tangible plan of action to help your little one develop and function optimally.