Looking Ahead Pediatric Physical Therapy, PLLC

At Looking Ahead we love this little Radio Flyer Wagon for our early walkers. Typically, age 10-15 months is the perfect time to introduce this wagon. It’s a great piece to have during these warmer months as it can be used inside and outside!

If you’d like to see more of our favorite things don’t forget to check out our Amazon list in our Bio.

Happy Father’s Day to our Looking Ahead Dads! We see you, and the dedication you have to your child’s progress at our clinic day after day.

Thank you for the days you wake up early from work trips so you can be there for physical therapy. It is an honor to be a part of your family!

Barefoot is best when learning to stand or cruise, but when leaving the home it can be tricky to know which type of shoe to choose for your little.

One type of shoe we usually recommend are for our babies who are at the cruising level of development. These are leather, soft-soled and offer a level of protection for tiny feet without hindering muscle movement.

As baby moves into an early walker stage we encourage parents to check out “pediped” shoes. All three pediped lines mimic the natural shape of the foot and have been recognized by the American Podiatric Medical Association as being beneficial for children’s growing feet.

To quickly find our shoe recommendations check out our Amazon list in our Bio.

Exciting things are happening next month! If you are in the Franklin or surrounding area we would love to have you at our “Starting Solids” class.

Register soon, and as always, message us if you have questions!

One product we often discourage parents from using is the Joovy walker. Walkers like these don’t promote optimal weight barring on hips and feet which hinders proper development. Furthermore, leaning forward in these types of activity centers/walkers can encourage a toe walking pattern.

Equipment used for containment should always be used mindfully. Free movement allows infants to explore their environment and learn spacial awareness.

If you have questions feel free to DM us!

-From birth to 3 months of age, use the pacifier as needed to soothe your baby.
⁃From 3 to 6 months of age, start to introduce teethers and “chewies” during play, providing the pacifier as needed.
⁃From 6 to 9 months of age, reach for a teether when you find yourself going for a pacifier. Put teethers on pacifier clips or keep them close by so that your baby has easy access. Limit pacifier use as much as possible (e.g., only when going to sleep).
⁃From 9 to 12 months of age, work to entirely eliminate use.
Extended pacifier use changes the shape of the mouth, and can ultimately impact oral development, dentition, and production of speech sounds. It has also been linked to atypical swallowing patterns, increased allergies and excessive drooling. Early introduction of teethers, even before teething has begun, allows for positive intra-oral sensory experiences, opportunities for munching, assists with “moving” the gag reflex back, and can help to prepare your baby for solid foods.

If you answered, “YES” to any of these questions, please call/text 615-784-8104 to schedule an evaluation. We’d love to meet you and your little one!

If we recommend a product at Looking Ahead we most likely have it for you to take home that day! Both these elephant ears and the tortle hat are great tools we use in addition to PT in order to treat infants. And guess what, they are HSA eligible at our clinic!

If you have questions about milestones, or see that your infant may be developing a flat spot on his head, early intervention is key! Go to our website linked in bio to schedule an evaluation.

Register now and we’ll see you tomorrow!

How long should my baby be on their tummy? Cheat sheet below!

2 months old: 15-30 minutes each day with support and 5 minutes prior to resting.

3 months old: 30 minutes each day with or without support and 10 minutes prior to resting.

4 months old: 60 minutes each day and 15-20 minutes prior to resting.

5 months: More than 60 minutes each day with no assistance or irritability.

Meet Kayla! She is the newest member of our Looking Ahead family specializing in speech-language and infant feeding therapy. She is so passionate about each child his/her goal, and is constantly learning how to better serve her patients.

Kayla spends her free time curled up with her dog and a good book, out and about with friends, or traveling home to visit family. She loves to bake and will never turn down a sweet treat!

If you have speech or feeding concerns regarding your child please DM us or go to our website to schedule a 15 minute phone call with Kayla. Early intervention is best, so get in touch and let us walk alongside you!

Looking Ahead currently has no wait list for speech-language therapy or for infant feeding therapy! Our visits are a full hour, and we make every minute count. If you have questions, or would like to schedule a phone call/in office evaluation please visit our website.

We did a clean out, and want to give these walkers to our patients who may need them! First come, first served! We will update when all have been picked up.

Twinning with the twins👯‍♀️

We are SO excited to announce that we are expanding!

Looking Ahead will now be offering Infant feeding as well as speech-language therapy! Visit our website or give us a call at 615-784-8104 to schedule an evaluation or to learn more about our new services

Stay on the lookout for an exciting announcement on how we will grow next!

NOW HIRING: FRONT OFFICE MANAGER OPENING

Come join our team as the FRONT OFFICE MANAGER and play a key role in supporting our mission to help children grow, develop and thrive! We're looking for someone with a passion for organization, a knack for communication and a desire to make a difference in the lives of families in our clinic. As a family-owned clinic, we strive to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all of our team members. If you're ready to join a team that's making a real impact, we'd love to hear from you!

Please send your resume to [email protected]

From all of us at , we wish you a Happy & Safe Halloween!!! Trick or Treat!!!!!

MEET THE PT: Dr. Olivia Vanderveer

Olivia is the newest PT at , but she's no stranger to working with kids! She joins us by way of Georgia, but has been in Nashville since 2021!

She spends her free time attending sporting events, being on the lake, snowboarding and hanging out with friends/family. She loves to travel and never turns down a weekend getaway to explore a new place.

MEET THE PT: Dr. Rachel Schmidt!!

In her free time, she enjoys riding her bike, snow skiing, and visiting National Parks. Rachel joined the Looking Ahead team in June 2022. When asked what she enjoys about working at Looking Ahead she responded, “The close knit team at Looking Ahead along with the deep knowledge of the other clinicians make it a great place to work. I also enjoy working with infants and toddlers because I love seeing them progress so quickly with their new skills.”

MEET THE PT: Dr. Jessica Smith

Married with two children, she loves doing art projects, building forts, painting, being outdoors, and traveling back home to see family.

Jessica's own experience with her son's torticollis & plagiocephaly gives her a unique perspective on treatment! "Difficulty breast feeding, poor tummy time tolerance, reflux. It gave me an entirely different outlook on my treatments and how I connected with parents as a mom and a physical therapist. My expectations changed drastically since I now was experiencing first hand what It was like to be on that side! I love the 1:1 experience that I get working with infants and families here at Looking Ahead. Sharing my own stories as a mom as well as my clinical expertise to hopefully make their own journey as parents less stressful and more enjoyable without having to constantly worry about how their baby is developing."

MEET THE PT: Our extraordinary OWNER, Andrea!

As a mom of two amazing kids, Andrea moved to Nashville from Southern California with her husband. She enjoys an active lifestyle, including traveling, sports with her children, and cooking healthy meals. She loves to volunteer her time to support her kids school programs and church communities!!

We’re Hiring! Please share as we are looking for the perfect candidate for our front desk office assistant! Our Looking Ahead family knows while we work hard, we have SO much fun!

We understand that LIFE IS BUSY! Incorporating tummy time and other PT exercises for baby can be challenging when running around with one or more older children who are on the go and need supervision. That’s why we take all information about your family dynamic into account and provide alternatives to how you can execute your “homework” with baby in multiple ways and even by getting older siblings to help!

TOMORROW, we are hosting a FREE workshop! Join us to learn about the underlying causes of plagiocephaly (or flat head syndrome), ways to prevent a flat spot, and options to improve your baby’s head shape. Our expert pediatric physical therapists, with over 20 years of experience, will complete a visual screening of your baby’s head shape during this unique and informative class!

Register now - www.lookingaheadpt.com/workshops

We hope ya’ll had a fun Labor Day filled with more play than work. 💕