Did you know your baby's brain builds over one million new neural connections every second during their first year? And every roll, reach, and wiggle is literally designing your baby's brain.

In this episode, we're diving into the first three phases of infant motor development—from birth to independent sitting—and exploring what's happening inside your baby's brain at each stage.

What You'll Learn:

• What developmental milestones actually are (and the 4 categories every parent should know)
• How the brain builds from the bottom up—from brainstem to cortex
• The "house foundation" analogy: why tummy time, rolling, and crawling are the foundation for all future learning
• Phase 1: Intro to Gravity (Birth–3 months)—how your baby adjusts to life outside the womb and why that tiny head lift is HUGE for brain development
• Phase 2: Rolling (4–7 months)—how rolling activates the brainstem, vestibular system, and cerebellum
• Phase 3: Sitting (5–9 months)—why you should NEVER place your baby in a position they can't get into themselves
• Why floor time beats fancy baby gear every single time
• Sarah's personal story: How her son August's developmental delays taught her that milestones aren't random—they're beautifully designed

Key Takeaway: "Everyday movements build bigger brains." Each milestone builds on the one before, creating the foundation for the next through specific neural pathways. Skipping one phase—like tummy time—makes the next phase that much harder.

Free Resource: 📥 Download your FREE Ultimate Baby Motor Milestone Checklist (Birth to Walking)

This visual guide will help you track your baby's progress through all six phases of motor development.

Perfect For:

• Parents worried their baby is "falling behind"
• First-time parents navigating infant milestones
• Parents whose babies hate tummy time
• Anyone told "don't worry, your baby will catch up" but their gut says something isn't right
• Caregivers supporting infants with developmental delays

Coming Next: Episode 3 covers Phases 4–6: Crawling, Standing, and Walking—and how these milestones build the brain for balance, focus, and coordination.

About Your Host: Sarah Cook, MOTR/L, is a licensed pediatric occupational therapist and mom of three boys. She combines clinical expertise with lived experience navigating developmental delays and Down syndrome. Sarah created WeeThrive to give parents evidence-based tools to help their children thrive—not just reassurance.

References: Goddard Blythe, S. (2009). Attention, balance and coordination: The A.B.C. of learning success. Wiley-Blackwell.

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