eBeanstalk Experts
Deanie Barth, MSPT
Deanie specializes in neurological, orthopedic and pediatric rehabilitation. She works with children (from ages 0-teens) and has treated her patients in several different venues: early intervention, aquatic rehabilitation, therapeutic horseback riding and in private practice. Populations that she commonly treats include, but are not limited to, individuals with cerebral palsy, autism, global delay, genetic disorders and sports injuries. Deanie holds her MS in physical therapy from New York Medical College and a BA in Communication from the University of Delaware.
She currently resides and practices in New York City.
Frequently Asked Questions
- My daughter is 15 months old and has not started to walk yet. At what point should I be worried if she's not walking?
- Milestone charts should be used as general guides, not absolutes. All children walk in their own time, some earlier or later than others. Many factors can play a role, such as if your child was premature. If your child is not yet pulling to stand or attempting to cruise along furniture, consult your pediatrician. If your child is not walking by 18 months, we recommend you speak with your pediatrician.
- My baby hates tummy time, what should I do to encourage him to stay on his tummy?
- Try starting him on a bit of an incline first. For example, take a sofa cushion and prop it up on a couple of pillows so it is on an angle (about 30 degrees) and then place him on top (please supervise and assist accordingly). Make sure to keep him entertained with his favorite toys, mirrors, music, etc. Gradually reduce the angle of incline until, finally, he will be playing happily on his tummy.
- When should my child crawl?
- Milestone charts should be used as general guides, not absolutes. Some children may start to crawl as early as 7 months. Usually, you will see your child start to attempt crawling around 8 months and become more proficient from 9 – 10 months.
- When will I know if my child is left handed or right handed?
- Although your child may seem to favor one hand over the other around 7 months when he/she first start throwing and retrieving objects, you will not know true hand dominance until the child is closer to two to three years of age. Some children keep switching back and forth until they finally make a decision around kindergarten.
Developmental Articles
