Developmental Milestones
At 7 months, babies should be able to roll both ways.
What is rolling tummy-to-back and back-to-tummy?
To hold his head up during tummy time, Liam must have integrated early primitive reflexes and begun developing these postural ones.
What are righting reactions?
The most important motor-building recommendation for Liam, who has limited floor time.
What is increasing tummy time and floor-based play?
Poor postural control affects this major occupation of infancy involving exploration with hands and mouth.
What is play?
This grasp pattern is typical at 7 months and involves scraping objects with the fingers.
What is a raking grasp?
This seated milestone typically emerges around 6–7 months and Liam is currently doing it with support.
What is sitting with support / beginning to sit independently?
This reflex follows a cephalocaudal maturation pattern and supports early head control.
What is the tonic labyrinthine reflex (TLR) integrating?
Supporting Liam at his hips while he plays in supported sitting targets this area of development.
What is trunk control or proximal stability?
If Liam struggles to sit upright, he may have difficulty participating in this daily routine occupation.
What is feeding?
Liam crying or turning away when overstimulated is an example of challenges in this sensory area.
What is sensory regulation?
This fine motor skill involves picking up small items by dragging fingers across the surface.
What is a raking grasp?
Reflex maturation follows predictable sequences according to this major theory you listed.
What is Gesell’s Maturation Theory?
Offering toys he can hold with both hands supports this fine motor milestone.
What is bimanual coordination or hand-to-hand transfer?
Reduced reaching, grasping, mouthing, and exploration affect the development of this overall performance area.
What is fine motor and cognitive development?
Using repetition like banging or shaking toys fits this Piaget substage.
What is Substage 3–4 of the Sensorimotor Stage (repetition + emerging object permanence)?
Liam exploring toys by shaking, banging, and mouthing fits into this Piagetian process.
What is learning through sensorimotor exploration / cause-and-effect?
Weak prone extension may indicate reduced activation of this postural system needed for anti-gravity movements.
What is the extensor system?
Using vibrating teethers, mesh feeders, or textured toys addresses delays in this domain.
What is oral-motor and feeding readiness?
Limited floor play may reduce opportunities for Liam to practice these beginning problem-solving behaviors like banging, shaking, or dropping objects.
What is cause-and-effect learning?
This OT intervention uses floor play, trunk support, and reaching to build foundational motor skills.
What is developmental play & motor facilitation?
This cognitive milestone involves searching for dropped toys and begins emerging around 7 months.
What is object permanence?
Dynamic Systems Theory says reflex integration + strength + environment + motivation all interact to produce this type of change.
What is motor development / new motor skills emerging?
OTs working with infants should always use this family-centered service model that focuses on modeling, coaching, and embedding skills into daily routines.
What is the caregiver coaching model?
When infants lack consistent routines or regulation strategies, this Erikson stage can be negatively affected.
What is Trust vs. Mistrust?
Parents noticing Liam’s cues for readiness or overstimulation is part of this OT education area.
What is caregiver coaching / responsive interaction training?