The OT Mom

The OT Mom 👋 I’m Olivia, a pediatric OT & mom sharing tips to support your baby & toddler’s development.
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From feeding to fine motor, potty training to play—follow for realistic advice, helpful tools & baby gear recs that actually make sense.

Hi, I’m Olivia, a pediatric OT & mom.When a child hits, kicks, bites, or throws things during a tantrum, it can feel ove...
06/05/2026

Hi, I’m Olivia, a pediatric OT & mom.

When a child hits, kicks, bites, or throws things during a tantrum, it can feel overwhelming. In those moments, our instinct is often to stop the behavior immediately, teach a lesson, or find the perfect consequence.

But during the peak of a tantrum, your child’s brain isn’t in a place to learn.

Instead, focus on what matters most:
✔️ Keep everyone safe
✔️ Hold the boundary
✔️ Stay as calm as you can
✔️ Save the teaching for later

You can be understanding and firm at the same time.

“I know you’re upset.”
AND
“I won’t let you hit.”

That’s not being permissive. That’s teaching emotional regulation while keeping everyone safe.

What’s the hardest part about handling tantrums for you right now? Let me know in the comments. I may use your answer for a future post.

❤️ Save this for the next hard day.
💙 Share it with a parent who needs this reminder.

06/02/2026

If your toddler is struggling to 💩 on the potty, this simple trick might help.

While they’re sitting on the potty, have them blow bubbles, spin a pinwheel, pretend to blow out birthday candles, or use a party blower.

These activities encourage a deep breath and gentle pressure, which can help with p**ping. They also give toddlers something fun to focus on instead of the stress, fear, or frustration that sometimes comes with potty training.

It’s not a magic fix, but it’s one of my favorite tricks for toddlers who can p*e on the potty but seem stuck when it comes to p**p.

Don’t forget the basics too:
✔️ Feet supported on a stool
✔️ Knees slightly higher than hips
✔️ Plenty of fluids
✔️ Address constipation if needed

Have you tried this with your toddler? Let me know what worked for your family. 👇

Hi, I’m Olivia, a pediatric OT & mom helping parents support their child’s development through play, daily routines, and practical strategies that actually fit into real life.

06/01/2026

Hi, I’m Olivia, a pediatric OT & mom helping you support your child’s development through play, routines, and everyday activities.

I’ve heard some WILD potty training stories over the years, and honestly, sometimes the thing that finally works makes absolutely no sense. 😂

So let’s hear them 👇🏻

What was the most unhinged thing that got your toddler potty trained? Not a sticker chart. Not a reward chart. I want the weird, random, unexpected thing that somehow made it click.

Drop your story below. 👇🏻

And if you’ve learned something from my page, engaging with my content is one of the best free ways to support it. I spend a lot of time creating free resources for parents, so every like, comment, save, and share helps more than you know. ❤️

05/31/2026



Potty accidents and mystery messes? I can handle those.

Bugs? Absolutely not. 😂

With a 3-year-old constantly opening the door, bugs occasionally sneak inside.

When they do, I use Trap + Kill Foam. Its foaming formula traps and kills crawling bugs fast, giving me one less thing to worry about.

It’s become a summer essential for anyone who prefers to keep their distance from bugs.

What’s the one thing that immediately sends you running? 👇

05/30/2026

Hi, I’m Olivia, a pediatric OT & mom, and here’s your reminder that sensory play does NOT have to be complicated.

Parents tell me all the time that they don’t have time to set up sensory activities. But sensory play doesn’t have to mean elaborate bins, expensive supplies, or a huge mess.

This activity took less than 2 minutes to set up: toss a few figurines into a bowl of water, freeze them, and let your toddler rescue them with a toy hammer.

Sensory play helps children:
• Explore and learn through their senses
• Build problem-solving skills
• Develop fine motor strength and coordination
• Practice focus and attention
• Support creativity and imaginative play
• Regulate their nervous system through hands-on exploration

Plus, this activity adds an extra challenge as toddlers work to figure out how to free the toys from the ice.

Save this one for a hot afternoon when your toddler is bored and you’re running out of ideas!

Comment ICE for all the 🔗

Have you tried this activity before?

If you found this helpful, the best way to support pages you love is by liking, saving, sharing, or leaving a comment. I share a lot of free OT and parenting content here, and every interaction helps me continue creating resources for families like yours.

05/29/2026

Thank you to Mochi Health for giving me the tools, support, and accountability to make lasting changes. The weight loss has been amazing, but the confidence, energy, and freedom I’ve gained along the way mean even more.

If you’re in a hard season right now, keep going.

If you’d like more information comment INFO below 👇🏻

Check out the 🔗 in b!0 & use Code 4NADN3 to save 4️⃣0️⃣

05/28/2026

The 3 year old stage is humbling me a little lately 😅

One second they want to do EVERYTHING independently… and the next they’re melting down because you gave them the snack they asked for but no longer want…

A lot of what looks like “bad behavior” at this age is actually overwhelm, frustration, big feelings, difficulty with transitions, and wanting control without fully having the skills to manage it all yet.

As a pediatric OT & toddler mom, one of the biggest things I’ve learned is that routines, movement, connection, and staying calm yourself usually go a lot farther than constantly escalating consequences.

And honestly? Some days surviving this stage just means everyone making it to bedtime. 🤍

If you’re in the thick of the 3 year old stage right now, you’re definitely not alone.

🩷 If you’ve ever learned something from my page, felt less alone, or found a tip helpful, engaging with my posts is one of the easiest ways to support my content. 🤍 Saves, shares, comments, and likes help my posts reach more parents who may need them too.

05/27/2026

Hi, I am Olivia, a pediatric occupational therapist and toddler mom, and p**p refusal is one of the most common concerns I see, as well as in my own home.

Peeing and p**ping are two completely different milestones and so many parents are blindsided when their toddler masters one and completely shuts down on the other. You are not doing anything wrong and your toddler is not giving you a hard time, their brain and body just need a little more time and the right conditions to feel safe enough to let go.

This is part of my ongoing series where I answer your real potty training questions as both a pediatric OT and a mom who has been in the trenches.

Drop your questions in the comments and your question might be my next video. 👇

Has your toddler ever mastered one part of potty training and completely stalled on another? And which part has been the hardest: p**ping, public restrooms, or getting them to tell you when they need to go?

Tell me below because I want to make sure I am covering exactly what you need. 👇

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05/26/2026

The outdoor toy that’s getting used every single day lately 👏🏼 My toddler has been obsessed with this outdoor kitchen and… I get the hype. Between the water play, scooping, pouring, squeezing and pretend play, it keeps him busy forever while working on so many important skills through play.

As a pediatric OT, I love toys like this because they naturally encourage:
• sensory play
• fine motor skills
• bilateral coordination
• imaginative play
• independent play
• problem solving

And it’s a toy that grows with them too. We’ve already gotten SO much use out of it.

Comment KITCHEN for the link and to the “potion” for our favorite pretend play potion recipe

05/25/2026

How my 3 year old learned to ride a pedal bike without ever using training wheels 🚲🤍

I really think learning happened in stages over time instead of all at once.

Around 1 year old, we introduced ride-on toys that helped build coordination, steering, body awareness, and confidence with movement. Then he moved to tricycles where he learned how to pedal. After that, we introduced a balance bike so he could fully focus on balancing and steering without training wheels.

By the time we got to a pedal bike, he already knew HOW to pedal and HOW to balance separately… now he just had to combine the two skills together.

We also used the towel method while practicing, which helped support his body without us holding onto the bike itself. I feel like this gave him a little extra confidence while still allowing him to learn how to balance more independently.

We’ve been loving the Air 14 because it’s lightweight, easy to maneuver, and feels really toddler-friendly for early riders.

We kept practice short, low pressure, and focused on building confidence first 🤍

Comment BIKE and I’ll send you links to the bike we used

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