The Sensory DPT PLLC

08/29/2026

Hi! This is Beverly, physical therapist behind The Sensory DPT (Doctor in Physical Therapy).

It's been a while since I posted about myself. I am mom of 2, health nerd & passionate about what I do. I love working with babies and families from difficulty with feeding to walking 💕

Besides a PT, I have been a breastfeeding counselor since 2015 helping dyads through breastfeeding challenges including latching difficulties, whole body treatment for feeding support & craniosacral therapy techniques.

08/27/2026

Hot take! And I support this... yes, there are exceptions as each baby has different needs, but prolonged swaddling do have negative effects aka a baby that cant regulate unless they are swaddled!

The sleep industry is targeting your vulnerability. As a developmental speech therapist I have an unpopular opinion: your baby needs to be unswaddled for sleep starting by 2–3 weeks, not 2-3 months

Swaddling can feel like magic in the early days.
It quiets the chaos. It helps babies settle. It gives exhausted parents a moment to breathe.

But here’s the part we don’t talk about enough…

Babies are supposed to move in their sleep.

That startle reflex everyone is trying to “fix”?
It’s not a flaw. It’s part of how their undeveloped nervous system organizes and matures.

When we tightly swaddle day after day, night after night, we dampen that process. We override the very movements that help babies learn where their bodies are in space. Research has also shown that dampening the startle which reduces arousability also increases the risk of SIDS

Stretching. Startling. Bringing hands to face. Kicking. Turning the head.

That’s not disruption.
That’s development.

When movement is restricted for long stretches:
– Reflexes can take longer to integrate
– Muscles don’t get the same opportunity to strengthen
– Head position stays more fixed, increasing risk of flat spots (which can lead to needing a helmet later on) or increase the risk of tortícolis
– Babies have fewer chances to practice natural repositioning

And over time, that “good sleeper” can become a baby who struggles more with movement, strength, and coordination. Or who struggles for longer to sleep without aids

Swaddling has a place, especially in the earliest days.
But it was never meant to be a long-term sleep solution.

By 2–3 weeks, babies benefit from more freedom than we often give them.

Because sleep isn’t just about rest. It’s also an active time of growth, wiring, and learning. So by the time they are developmentally able to roll they’ve already practiced all the skills they need to get there

Your baby doesn’t need to be stilled to sleep well.
They need the space to move, to startle, to stretch
To become strong in their own body.

How long did you swaddle for?

Dixley A and Ball HL (2022) The effect of swaddling on infant sleep and arousal: A systematic review and narrative synthesis. Front. Pediatr. 10:1000180. doi: 10.3389/fped.2022.1000180

Dixley, A., & Ball, H. L. (2023). The impact of swaddling upon breastfeeding: A critical review. American Journal of Human Biology, 35(6), e23878. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.23878

Nelson, A. M. (2017). Risks and Benefits of Swaddling Healthy Infants: An Integrative Review. MCN: The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing, 42(4), 216–225. https://doi.org/10.1097/NMC.0000000000000344

08/27/2026

Jacksonville and St. Augustine Bo***ir Photographer Galentine's with Jacksonville Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) lead to me winning a Session that got postponed too many times! Today we finally made it happen 😍 so Happy with Jacksonville Brand & Bo***ir Photographer Kaitlin • Makeup Artist | Jacksonville, Fl work!!!

08/26/2026

Looking for an amazing PT/PTA to work PRN with preschool-aged kiddos! 🚌💚

If you love working with (and playing with!) 2–5-year-olds and are looking for a flexible PRN opportunity in the St. Augustine area, we’d love to hear from you!

Curious about what this position could look like? Send us a DM or email your resume to [email protected]. ✨

Know someone who would be a great fit? Tag them below or share this post! 💕

08/25/2026

You’re worried about how your baby moves. You don’t need permission to do something about it.

Flat spot. Tight-looking neck. Strong preference to one side. Milestones that feel late, or just… off. If you’re noticing it, that’s enough reason to get it checked.

In Florida, you don’t need a referral. We’re a direct access state, you can book a pediatric PT eval yourself, anytime, without waiting on your pediatrician to bring it up first.

Here’s why that matters:

Your pediatrician is an expert. But not in motor development.

They monitor growth, illness, and overall health, including screening for delays. But movement is its own specialty, and most peds get limited hands-on training in it during med school. Knowledgeable ≠ expert.

A pediatric PT is the specialist in how your baby moves: rolling, sitting, crawling, weight-bearing, walking. They hold a doctorate in physical therapy plus pediatric-specific clinical training. Their whole job is movement: muscle tone, torticollis, flat spots, symmetry, tummy time struggles, coordination.

Sometimes it overlaps. A tight neck can affect feeding too. A low-tone baby may struggle with head control AND feeding coordination. The specialists talk to each other — that’s a good thing.

A baby can have a medical issue AND a movement issue. A baby can be “on track” on paper and still be building asymmetrical patterns worth catching early.
We need to normalize this: “Let’s have a PT take a look, just to be sure” is good medicine. Not a failure, not an overreaction.

Your pediatrician doesn’t need to be the expert in movement. They need to know when to refer you to someone who is.

And in Florida, you don’t even have to wait for that referral.

08/16/2026

💕 so blessed to continue expanding on my Breastfeeding/lactation prepping. A lots go behind doors & I don't share most of it.

Congratulations to the worthy recipients of our 2026 Breastfeeding Conferences Scholarship Program

08/14/2026

Calling all Active-Duty Members and Families!

Did you just arrive and miss all the back-to-school events? Or is your child still missing some school supplies now that school has started?

Come visit us and see if we have what you need! We would love to help make sure your little ones have what they need for the school year. 📚💙

📅 Friday, August 14th
⏰ 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
during USO hours
📍 USO Center

While Supplies Last!

08/12/2026

💕 Breastfeeding month is not over!

Indigenous Milk Medicine Week was created in 2019 by the Indigenous Milk Medicine Collective and is celebrated annually from August 8-14. Formerly known as Native Breastfeeding Week, the observance was created to encourage and uplift the diversity of Native breast/chestfeeding experiences. Help us celebrate August 8-14! Check out to learn more

08/08/2026

🤱🏼 World Breastfeeding Week 2026 🌿

Breastfeeding support shouldn’t begin when something goes wrong. It starts with creating systems that support families before, during, and beyond the feeding journey.

This year’s theme, “Breastfeeding for a sustainable start in life: strengthen what works,” reminds us that sustainable breastfeeding support means strengthening the people, knowledge, resources, and communities that help families thrive.

Because breastfeeding is more than a feeding choice—it’s a relationship, a skill, and sometimes a journey that requires a village. 🤍

At The Sensory D.P.T., we believe in supporting the whole baby and the whole family—from regulation and positioning to movement, oral-motor function, and the many factors that can influence feeding.

🌿 And we don’t believe in doing it alone.

We love working through co-management, collaboration, and referrals with lactation professionals, IBCLCs, pediatricians, SLPs, OTs, chiropractors, dentists, and other providers when appropriate.

Because the best support happens when professionals communicate, collaborate, and each bring their expertise to the table.

✨ Support the parent. Understand the baby. Strengthen the system.

Happy World Breastfeeding Week! 🤍

What is one thing you wish every breastfeeding parent had access to? 🤍

07/28/2026

Reminder: The office will be closed this week. We are back on Aug 3rd 💕