Baby Therapy Centre
Children in Pretoria

The Baby Therapy Centre in Pretoria, South Africa, is an Early Intervention service, which helps all babies and toddlers with developmental delays or special needs.
We assist children from birth to 3 years of age to overcome barriers through various techniques, and to prevent secondary handicaps and fixed disabilities.
The Baby Therapy Centre was established in 1994 as an Early Intervention service to improve the development of all babies and toddlers.
We are situated in Lynnwood, Pretoria, and are involved in providing therapy services on an outreach basis.

The team at the Baby Therapy Centre consists of Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists and Speech-language therapists who work within a transdisciplinary or interdisciplinary treatment approach. Our approach is holistic and a transdisciplinary team of therapists is involved according to the needs of each child. The Baby Therapy Centre was established in 1994 as an Early Intervention service to improve the development of all babies and toddlers. The children’s parents and caregivers are guided and supported in handling of their children. The Baby Therapy Centre is a non-profit organisation, founded and run on Christian principles. The Baby Therapy Centre is governed by a Board consisting of volunteers. The Baby Therapy Centre consists of Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists and Speech-language therapists who work within a transdisciplinary- or interdisciplinary treatment approach. At the Baby Therapy Centre a comprehensive, holistic play-based assessment is conducted within a family-centred approach before treatment is initiated. Possible barriers to normal development he needs of the family for their baby. The team conducting the first evaluation consists of a Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist and Speech-language Therapist. Physiotherapy in young children is aimed at improving gross motor development. Special care is taken to address factors such as muscle strength, length and tone, range of movement, biomechanical alignment as well as patterns of movement. Therapy is play based and at the Baby Therapy Centre co-therapy is used occasionally to get the best results from a child. A holistic approach is always used and there is constant interaction between the therapists from different disciplines. The main aim of intervention is to help a child to reach his full potential and independence. The main medium of treatment is through play and interaction. Neuro-developmental therapy and sensory motor integration form the basis of our treatment approach. The process of feeding requires a sufficient appetite, adequate preparation of the food by sucking, biting or chewing, safe and effective swallowing of food, and normal gastro-intestinal function. A speech-language therapist assesses and treats a child’s oral- motor function in order to improve his/her feeding. Music therapy is offered by specialised Music Therapists at the Baby Therapy Centre. Music creates a safe non-threatening environment conducive to therapy and learning. Music and movement provide an orderly integration of auditory, visual and kinaesthetic stimulation Music offers an experience of beauty. All babies and young children can be assessed in hospital with special attention given to infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Incorporation of songs to promote movements in the water and to develop muscle memory, wetting the face and hair, breath control, rolling from the stomach to the back etc.