Oh, hi there! Welcome to our baby and toddler milestones resource, exclusive to members of the Upseat Family (that's you!). Now that you've gotten your hands on the Upseat, you've unlocked content that will help guide you through the first 24 months of your little one's movement milestones. We've partnered with 3 leading physical therapists (see below) to speak into What to Expect as well as some fun activities to practice with your little one. We hope you enjoy this!
behind the resource
Dr. KC Rickerd
Pediatric PT
About KC
KC Rickerd is a pediatric physical therapist that specializes in the evaluation and treatment of babies 0-3 years with a wide variety of diagnosis and abilities. More importantly, she is a wife, and a momma to two beautiful little girls, Audrey & Olivia and a third little one on the way.
Within the past two years she has found Milestones & Motherhood - an instagram based community that focuses on motor milestones, parenting and healthy living. Through Milestones and Motherhood, she has become known for resources such as masterclasses on motor development. She created this space after realizing more and more how hard it was for new moms to find information on motor development, what to expect at each stage, and how to help encourage mastery of skills in one, cohesive place.
From personal experience, she knows that milestones and comparison can be such a huge source of stress and worry for new parents, and her hope is to educate & empower, and provide the tools to understand what to expect with child development, help parents worry less, and overall ENJOY their children.
Upseat Review
Dr. Emily Heisey
Pediatric PT
About Emily
Emily is a female entrepreneur, mother of two beautiful girls, pediatric physical therapist and social media educator using the platform KinActive_Kids. Since 2010, Emily has worked in various pediatric settings teaching children birth-18yo how to move and function in an efficient and effective way. Since 2019, she has owned her own pediatric physical therapy company that has seen hundreds of patients locally as well as virtually. Emily is honored to be part of so many families journeys.
Upseat Review
Dr. Jo-Anne Weltman
Pediatric PT
About Jo-Anne
Jo-Anne has been instrumental in the development of the Upseat. She is the owner of S.M.I.L.E. Therapy for Kids, a private practice that specializes in child development, to meet the demand for all areas of developmental and orthopaedic therapy in children. She continues to research and find the best treatments for all the children that are under her care and connects with specialists all over the world to achieve this.
Upseat Review
Dr. KC Rickerd
Pediatric PT
About KC
KC Rickerd is a pediatric physical therapist that specializes in the evaluation and treatment of babies 0-3 years with a wide variety of diagnosis and abilities. More importantly, she is a wife, and a momma to two beautiful little girls, Audrey & Olivia and a third little one on the way.
Within the past two years she has found Milestones & Motherhood - an instagram based community that focuses on motor milestones, parenting and healthy living. Through Milestones and Motherhood, she has become known for resources such as masterclasses on motor development. She created this space after realizing more and more how hard it was for new moms to find information on motor development, what to expect at each stage, and how to help encourage mastery of skills in one, cohesive place.
From personal experience, she knows that milestones and comparison can be such a huge source of stress and worry for new parents, and her hope is to educate & empower, and provide the tools to understand what to expect with child development, help parents worry less, and overall ENJOY their children.
Upseat Review
Dr. Emily Heisey
Pediatric PT
About Emily
Emily is a female entrepreneur, mother of two beautiful girls, pediatric physical therapist and social media educator using the platform KinActive_Kids. Since 2010, Emily has worked in various pediatric settings teaching children birth-18yo how to move and function in an efficient and effective way. Since 2019, she has owned her own pediatric physical therapy company that has seen hundreds of patients locally as well as virtually. Emily is honored to be part of so many families journeys.
Upseat Review
Dr. Jo-Anne Weltman
Pediatric PT
About Jo-Anne
Jo-Anne has been instrumental in the development of the Upseat. She is the owner of S.M.I.L.E. Therapy for Kids, a private practice that specializes in child development, to meet the demand for all areas of developmental and orthopaedic therapy in children. She continues to research and find the best treatments for all the children that are under her care and connects with specialists all over the world to achieve this.
Upseat Review
What to Expect: 0-3 Months
NEWBORN - 1 MONTH
Physiological flexion
Does tummy time
Did you know that tummy time should start on day one!
Why is Tummy Time Important?
- Strengthens neck, trunk, arm and hand muscles
- Stretches/develops hip muscles
- Helps develop muscles for crawling
- Helps with tummy issues (gas and constipation)
- Develops vision
- Prevents plagiocephaly (flat head)
- Improves cognitive development and environmental awareness
Tummy Time Suggestions:
On your chest
Carry face down
On an exercise ball
On your lap
Over roll or breast feeding pillow on floor
Movements governed by reflexes
Reflexes are normal and will gradually disappear overtime. They are automatic movements and help the brain and muscles develop.
Common Reflexes at Birth:
- Startle Reflex: Generally after hearing a loud noise, arms and legs extend out and then curl into body
- Rooting and Sucking Reflexes: Help with feeding
- ATNR: Head looks towards outstretched hand. Useful for developing eye hand coordination
- Grasp Reflex: Babies hand will close around your finger. Develops hand muscles
ATNR
Grasp Reflex
Momentarily lifts head in prone
Bobbing head movement when held upright
Eye contact when held close but limited following
1 - 2 MONTHS
Hands to mouth
Visual tracking
Actively turns head side to side when lying on back.
Antigravity movements of arms and legs start to develop
Able to hold head in midline momentarily when lying on back
Lifts head 45 degrees when lying on tummy
Legs more extended
Holds head in midline when held in upright position
2 - 3 MONTHS
Holds head in midline when lying on back
Lifts head and upper body while on tummy, resting on elbows which are tucked close to the body
Holds toy when placed in hand for short periods
Brings hands together in midline when lying on back
Hands held open 50% of time or more
Attempts to reach for objects by batting at them
Starts to bring held objects to mouth
Vocalizes
Babies skulls are soft and can deform with too much pressure on one spot.
Supervised side-lying and tummy time naps are okay during the day.
Tummy time
Side-lying
Baby wearing harness
Change your babies position throughout the day. If your baby sleeps on their back all night, limit the amount of time they lie on their back during the day.
What to Expect: 0-3 Months
NEWBORN - 1 MONTH
Physiological flexion
Does tummy time
Did you know that tummy time should start on day one!
Why is Tummy Time Important?
- Strengthens neck, trunk, arm and hand muscles
- Stretches/develops hip muscles
- Helps develop muscles for crawling
- Helps with tummy issues (gas and constipation)
- Develops vision
- Prevents plagiocephaly (flat head)
- Improves cognitive development and environmental awareness
Tummy Time Suggestions:
On your chest
Carry face down
On an exercise ball
On your lap
Over roll or breast feeding pillow on floor
Movements governed by reflexes
Reflexes are normal and will gradually disappear overtime. They are automatic movements and help the brain and muscles develop.
Common Reflexes at Birth:
- Startle Reflex: Generally after hearing a loud noise, arms and legs extend out and then curl into body
- Rooting and Sucking Reflexes: Help with feeding
- ATNR: Head looks towards outstretched hand. Useful for developing eye hand coordination
- Grasp Reflex: Babies hand will close around your finger. Develops hand muscles
ATNR
Grasp Reflex
Momentarily lifts head in prone
Bobbing head movement when held upright
Eye contact when held close but limited following
1 - 2 MONTHS
Hands to mouth
Visual tracking
Actively turns head side to side when lying on back.
Antigravity movements of arms and legs start to develop
Able to hold head in midline momentarily when lying on back
Lifts head 45 degrees when lying on tummy
Legs more extended
Holds head in midline when held in upright position
2 - 3 MONTHS
Holds head in midline when lying on back
Lifts head and upper body while on tummy, resting on elbows which are tucked close to the body
Holds toy when placed in hand for short periods
Brings hands together in midline when lying on back
Hands held open 50% of time or more
Attempts to reach for objects by batting at them
Starts to bring held objects to mouth
Vocalizes
Babies skulls are soft and can deform with too much pressure on one spot.
Supervised side-lying and tummy time naps are okay during the day.
Tummy time
Side-lying
Baby wearing harness
Change your babies position throughout the day. If your baby sleeps on their back all night, limit the amount of time they lie on their back during the day.
What to Expect: 3-6 Months
3 - 4 MONTHS
Rolls from back to side
Holds head stead and erect when held in supported sitting position
In prone rests on elbows with elbows forwards under shoulders
Reaches and grabs with both hands
Clasp hands together
Maintains hand open
4 - 5 MONTHS
Brings feet to hands and hold for short intervals when on back
Rolls from belly to back
Extends both arms fully when placed on tummy, to push through hands
Transfers objects from hand to hand
Holds two objects at at time (one in each hand)
Picks up objects using "ranking" motion with fingers
Holds bottle independently
5 - 6 MONTHS
Rolls from prone to supine and supine to prone purposefully
Sit alone for 5-10 seconds while placing hands forward for support
Pushes entire chest off surface with arms extended and open hands during tummy time
Supporting body with extended arm during tummy time
Brings feet to mouth in supine
Reaches with one hand at a time
Follows objects with eyes without head movement
Holds small objexts between index/middle fingers and palm
Brings bottle to mouth with hands
Bares weight through legs when held
Did you know that tummy time should start day 1 after bringing baby home and continues several times daily until your baby is crawling.
Why Tummy Time is Important
1) Develops convergence and divergence in the eyes
2) Develops neck and back extensor muscles
3) Develops sense of touch and helps to reduce defensiveness
4) Develops shoulder and arm muscles
5) Develops the vestibular system (for movement and balance)
6) Develops core muscles
7) Develops proprioception (body
Progressions to Expect
1) Able to bring hands under shoulders and press all the way up
2) Weight shifting to lift arm and play with a toy
3) Can start pivoting a bit in each direction and potentially in a circle
4) Might start swimming on their tummy where they lift arms and legs off the ground. This is a good and normal sign, that exhibits excellent trunk extension against gravity.
What to Expect: 3-6 Months
3 - 4 MONTHS
Rolls from back to side
Holds head stead and erect when held in supported sitting position
In prone rests on elbows with elbows forwards under shoulders
Reaches and grabs with both hands
Clasp hands together
Maintains hand open
4 - 5 MONTHS
Brings feet to hands and hold for short intervals when on back
Rolls from belly to back
Extends both arms fully when placed on tummy, to push through hands
Transfers objects from hand to hand
Holds two objects at at time (one in each hand)
Picks up objects using "ranking" motion with fingers
Holds bottle independently
5 - 6 MONTHS
Rolls from prone to supine and supine to prone purposefully
Sit alone for 5-10 seconds while placing hands forward for support
Pushes entire chest off surface with arms extended and open hands during tummy time
Supporting body with extended arm during tummy time
Brings feet to mouth in supine
Reaches with one hand at a time
Follows objects with eyes without head movement
Holds small objexts between index/middle fingers and palm
Brings bottle to mouth with hands
Bares weight through legs when held
Did you know that tummy time should start day 1 after bringing baby home and continues several times daily until your baby is crawling.
Why Tummy Time is Important
1) Develops convergence and divergence in the eyes
2) Develops neck and back extensor muscles
3) Develops sense of touch and helps to reduce defensiveness
4) Develops shoulder and arm muscles
5) Develops the vestibular system (for movement and balance)
6) Develops core muscles
7) Develops proprioception (body
Progressions to Expect
1) Able to bring hands under shoulders and press all the way up
2) Weight shifting to lift arm and play with a toy
3) Can start pivoting a bit in each direction and potentially in a circle
4) Might start swimming on their tummy where they lift arms and legs off the ground. This is a good and normal sign, that exhibits excellent trunk extension against gravity.
What to Expect: 6-12 Months
6 - 12 MONTHS
Sits without support
Crawls, pulls to stand, cruises
Rolls in both directions
Plays with toys in a variety of ways
Shaking, banging toys together, passing between hands
Mouths objects
Develops more refined hand skills – pincer grasp
Develops “containerizing skills” – puts objects into and takes out of containers
Shows communicative intent- directs eye gaze, points to desired objects
Responds to simple commands – “no, give me”, etc.
Plays interactive social games – bye- bye, peek-a-boo
Responds when name is called; knows names of family members; understands several words
Makes varied sounds, including consonants; uses intonation in babbling
Shows back and forth sharing of sounds, smiles or facial expressions with caregiver
Transitions to solid foods of varying textures; develops rotary chewing
Suction Cup Toys
The large tray is the perfect surface area for attaching suction toys. This also means you won’t be chasing stray toys all around the place while baby is playing!
Sensory Activities
Use the Upseat tray to engage your little one's senses. For example, use sand, water, play dough, whipped cream, etc. The tray is super easy to wipe down, which is always a plus!
Reading Time
We all know how short a baby’s attention span can be, especially when reading books. But this snug, comfortable seat is a great way to increase baby’s attention a little longer.
Activity from the Experts
Masterclass by Dr. Emily Heissey
To watch Emily's full masterclass, visit here and use code UPSEAT10 for 10% off.
What to Expect: 6-12 Months
6 - 12 MONTHS
Sits without support
Crawls, pulls to stand, cruises
Rolls in both directions
Plays with toys in a variety of ways
Shaking, banging toys together, passing between hands
Mouths objects
Develops more refined hand skills – pincer grasp
Develops “containerizing skills” – puts objects into and takes out of containers
Shows communicative intent- directs eye gaze, points to desired objects
Responds to simple commands – “no, give me”, etc.
Plays interactive social games – bye- bye, peek-a-boo
Responds when name is called; knows names of family members; understands several words
Makes varied sounds, including consonants; uses intonation in babbling
Shows back and forth sharing of sounds, smiles or facial expressions with caregiver
Transitions to solid foods of varying textures; develops rotary chewing
Suction Cup Toys
The large tray is the perfect surface area for attaching suction toys. This also means you won’t be chasing stray toys all around the place while baby is playing!
Sensory Activities
Use the Upseat tray to engage your little one's senses. For example, use sand, water, play dough, whipped cream, etc. The tray is super easy to wipe down, which is always a plus!
Reading Time
We all know how short a baby’s attention span can be, especially when reading books. But this snug, comfortable seat is a great way to increase baby’s attention a little longer.
Activity from the Experts
Masterclass by Dr. Emily Heissey
To watch Emily's full masterclass, visit here and use code UPSEAT10 for 10% off.
What to Expect: 12-18 Months
12 - 18 MONTHS
Cruises around furniture, stands independently, begins walking
Walking balance improves, frequency of falls should decrease
Able to self feed
Begins to stack blocks, scribble with crayons
Shaking, banging toys together, passing between hands
Turns pages of a book 2-3 pages at a time
Pretend play begins
Points to body parts
Has several true words and uses added intonation with true words (jargoning)
Imitates simple words
Points to simple pictures
Begins negotiating stairs in a standing position with hand support
We donate 1 Upseat to a partner organization for every 10 that we sell on our website.
So, thank you for your purchase.
What to Expect: 12-18 Months
12 - 18 MONTHS
Cruises around furniture, stands independently, begins walking
Walking balance improves, frequency of falls should decrease
Able to self feed
Begins to stack blocks, scribble with crayons
Shaking, banging toys together, passing between hands
Turns pages of a book 2-3 pages at a time
Pretend play begins
Points to body parts
Has several true words and uses added intonation with true words (jargoning)
Imitates simple words
Points to simple pictures
Begins negotiating stairs in a standing position with hand support
We donate 1 Upseat to a partner organization for every 10 that we sell on our website.
So, thank you for your purchase.
What to Expect: 18-24 Months
18 - 24 MONTHS
Refinement of higher level motor skills; begins running, climbs stairs with increasing safety and independence
Increasing periods of single limb stance (stair climbing, briefly standing on one leg during dressing)
Uses 10-50 words to tell about an object, person, etc. Begins two word sentence combinations
Understands at least 50 words
Enjoys social interactions with other children their own age
Carries out a play sequence- feeds a doll, puts it to bed, etc.
Able to retrieve a requested object from another room (shoe, diaper, etc)
Now that your little one is old enough to sit on their own, you might want to consider upgrading them to the Upseat Boost, perfect for toddlers aged 18 months to 5 years old+
Expert-Designed
Like the Upseat Baby Seat, the Upseat Boost was developed with the guidance of leading physical therapists to encourage proper, upright posture.
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What to Expect: 18-24 Months
18 - 24 MONTHS
