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Occupational Therapy for Babies with CHDs

Ages 0 - 12 Months

If you have a baby with a CHD, you have probably heard of Occupational Therapy (OT). OT is an important intervention for most babies with a heart defect. By understanding the role and purpose of OT, you can help ensure that your child is getting the best intervention possible.

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In this section

Why Occupational Therapy?Where to Find Occupational Therapy The Goal of OT

Why Occupational Therapy?

Many babies with heart defects learn skills a little later than is typical. For example, they might have trouble with eating, using their hands, or balancing.

Occupational Therapy (OT) focuses on helping people to participate as fully as possible in their daily life, and to achieve the best possible health and wellness.

OT can help babies with heart defects to build skills and reach developmental goals.

Occupational Therapists (OTs) can work with babies and families on skills such as: 

Fine motor skills (using hands) 
Strength, balance, and coordination 
Play skills
Tolerating diaper changes and baths
Using equipment to make daily tasks easier  
Tolerating different feelings, sounds, sights, smells, and tastes 
Self-soothing and regulating emotions
Eating and drinking 
Handling different textures

Where to Find Occupational Therapy

OTs work in many settings, and have many different specialties.  Families should look for an OT who works with babies with developmental differences.

  OTs work at: 

Hospitals 
Early Intervention (EI) 
Outpatient clinics
Rehabilitation facilities

In general, babies with CHDs should usually receive OT while they are in the hospital. After they are discharged, babies should be referred to their local Early Intervention (EI) program, which can continue to provide OT if needed. In addition, families may want to seek more sessions of OT through a clinic.

If parents are concerned about how well their baby can participate in age-appropriate activities, they should ask their doctor for the best way to get OT.

The Goal of OT

The overarching goal of OT is to help people to fully participate in daily activities, and to feel healthy and well.

OT can help babies with CHDs to learn new skills, to recover from illness and surgery, and to learn how to explore and enjoy their world.

This content was reviewed by an occupational therapist at Boston Children's Hospital.

Families local to Boston can seek help from the Pediatric Occupational Therapy department.

References

Clark, G. F., & Kingsley, K. L. (2020). Occupational therapy practice guidelines for early childhood: Birth–5 years. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(3), 7403397010p1-7403397010p42.https://research.aota.org/ajot/article-abstract/74/3/7403397010p1/9868/Occupational-Therapy-Practice-Guidelines-for-Early

Gronski, M., & Doherty, M. (2020). Interventions within the scope of occupational therapy practice to improve activities of daily living, rest, and sleep for children ages 0–5 years and their families: A systematic review. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(2), 7402180010p1-7402180010p33.https://research.aota.org/ajot/article-abstract/74/2/7402180010p1/6665/Interventions-Within-the-Scope-of-Occupational

Martino, E. M., & Lape, J. E. (2021). Occupational therapy in the preschool classroom-Promoting fine motor and visual motor skills for kindergarten readiness. Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, & Early Intervention, 14(2), 134-152.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19411243.2020.1822261

Phillips, J. M., & Longoria, J. N. (2020). Addressing the neurodevelopmental needs of children and adolescents with congenital heart disease: A review of the existing intervention literature. Child Neuropsychology, 26(4), 433-459.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09297049.2019.1682131

Reitz, S. M., Scaffa, M. E., & Dorsey, J. (2020). Occupational Therapy in the Promotion of Health and Well-Being. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(3).https://openurl.ebsco.com/EPDB%3Agcd%3A7%3A14058279/detailv2?sid=ebsco%3Aplink%3Ascholar&id=ebsco%3Agcd%3A143041171&crl=c

Tanner, K., Schmidt, E., Martin, K., & Bassi, M. (2020). Interventions within the scope of occupational therapy practice to improve motor performance for children ages 0–5 years: A systematic review. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(2), 7402180060p1-7402180060p40.https://research.aota.org/ajot/article-abstract/74/2/7402180060p1/6681/Interventions-Within-the-Scope-of-Occupational

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