Baby Falls When Getting Down from Standing? 👶🏻 | Torticollis PT #44

Getting Down from Standing with Control 👶🏻 | Torticollis Pediatric Physical Therapy #44 Meet Ilya! 👶🏻 Ilya is 13 months old and was born one month premature. At this age, only minimal developmental correction is typically applied for a one-month prematurity, so his skills are expected to be very close to his chronological age. In his early months, Ilya experienced several medical and feeding challenges, including: • Torticollis with right-sided shortening • Plagiocephaly • Projectile vomiting and difficulty gaining weight • Failure to thrive / infant malnutrition • GERD • Lip tie and tongue tie • Feeding difficulties, including poor suction and latch 🍼 As feeding improved, his overall strength and motor development became more consistent — a good reminder of how closely nutrition, growth, and movement are connected 🧠💪🏽. --- WHERE ILYA IS NOW Ilya is currently: • Crawling independently • Pulling to stand • Cruising along furniture • Beginning to briefly let go Although he is making excellent progress toward independent standing and walking, his mom reports that he does not yet get down from standing with control. He lowers into a squat — and then drops to the floor with a “boom.” --- IN THIS VIDEO In this session, pediatric physical therapist Amy Sturkey works with Ilya on developing a more advanced and controlled way to transition down from standing. In typical development, children first drop into a squat to get down. As control improves, they begin to lower one leg at a time — placing one foot down, then the other — to return safely to the floor. Because Ilya prefers to lead with his left leg when pulling to stand (as seen in Video #43), Amy helps him practice lowering with the opposite leg first, encouraging: • Controlled single-leg lowering • Better weight shifting • Symmetrical use of both legs • Improved transitional balance The goal is not to force movement, but to help Ilya experience success using both legs so he can move safely and efficiently as he approaches independent walking. --- THIS ACTIVITY HELPS SUPPORT: • Controlled transitions from standing • Single-leg strength and stability • Safer lowering to the floor • Carryover from early asymmetries (such as torticollis) • Confidence during pre-walking transitions 👶🏽👶🏿👶🏻 Practicing both directions supports long-term balance and coordinated motor development. --- ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 – Intro 0:08 – Current standing and cruising skills 0:21 – Squat and drop pattern 0:39 – Typical developmental progression 0:51 – Practicing one-leg lowering 1:20 – Repetition and support 1:47 – Wrap-up --- 🔔 Subscribe for more expert pediatric physical therapy videos, and click the bell to get notified when new videos are posted. 📺 Watch all of Ilya’s videos here (playlist): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAkJbMrHyKjOe_0TzQ-5tHANgHjeBzjui --- ⚠️ SAFETY NOTE These videos are educational and are not a substitute for in-person physical therapy. Please do not try these techniques if your child’s skills or medical history differ significantly from Ilya’s. For individualized guidance, contact a licensed pediatric physical therapist near you. 📧 Contact: amysturkey@gmail.com 🌐 Website: www.pediatricPTexercises.com --- 🪶 ACCESSIBILITY Closed captions have been reviewed and corrected. To turn on captions: Click “CC.” To change languages: ⚙️ Settings → Subtitles/CC → select a language or Auto-translate. If captions block details, toggle them off in the bottom corner of the player. --- 📚 BOOKS BY AMY STURKEY (Amazon) “P is for Poop and Pee Accidents” https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLSRJ483 “A is for Anxiety” https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09LXQ3W6V “A is for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder” https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08QH9H5HR “C is for Cerebral Palsy” https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088TSJCYP “D is for Down Syndrome” https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079P8HH49 “A is for Autism” https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071F4FFTB --- PROFESSIONAL PEDIATRIC PHYSICAL THERAPY BOOKS Pediatric Physical Therapy Strengthening Exercises for the Hips https://www.amazon.com/dp/0998156736 Pediatric Physical Therapy Strengthening Exercises for the Knees https://www.amazon.com/dp/0998156760 Pediatric Physical Therapy Strengthening Exercises for the Ankles https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08TX2ZCFD