Roxanne Atkinson Occupational Therapy

20/07/2025

A little while ago the good folk and sent me this package to investigate.

I sat with speech therapist and new mama and she showed me all the great features.

My favourite is the breast-shaped, dusty pink bottle called the MamaFeel which encourages beautiful eye-hand-mouth connection.

I’m giving this starter set plus one of my books away on Friday. To enter:

Follow .unicorn.baby.book


for Bonus entry DM me a question you have about becoming a mom or being a mom.

20/07/2025

02/11/2024

Grade 7 Farewell came very quickly. Really proud of the choices that this tween makes. Grateful for 7 years at a great primary school and 11 years at school with special Noah’s Ark friends.

01/11/2024

A family full of feelings 😆

30/07/2024

And here is the 4-6 month screener to help you note your baby’s progress.

If your baby is not yet reaching these milestones by the time the end of the phase (eg. By 6 months corrected age) then reach out for some early intervention ideas.

29/07/2024

You asked so here it is. The original baby screening form as used at Bowwood Baby Clinic’s multidisciplinary high risk clinic for the 0-3 month olds. Developed with the amazing Speech Therapist to help us help parents better.

If you are a new parent and this strikes fear into your heart, please take a deep breath and remember you are a parent and not a therapist. This is a guide and not a diagnostic tool.

Development is beautiful ❤️

29/07/2024

Get in on the discussion this week. Sign up details to follow.

05/07/2024

Look what has ended up in the SAJOT! https://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2310-38332023000100013

Thank you Rene Walker for your thorough review. These comments mean a lot when made by an OT with over 36 years of experience and a colleague who is also working in the early intervention space.

The Unicorn Baby Book is described by Rene as "a breath of fresh air"; "easy-to-read"; "light but informative";

"It offers an in-depth but easily digestible narrative of the most important aspects of development in the first year. Roxanne shares practical ideas and activities that support a baby's development. Her approach is a good combination of occupational therapy and down-to-earth advice which is easy to understand and follow - and fits into the hectic schedule of new parents".

"Roxanne covers these aspects in exceptional detail, without it becoming overwhelming."

15/05/2024

Source: How Wee Learn

14/05/2024

Schooled! I love the way his eyes light up as he clearly remembers the births of his own babies ###

06/05/2024

Just finished attending the first of it’s kind in Africa- a two day Neuromuscular disease course run by the silver fox Michelle Eagle from ATOM UK with the hopes of opening up new treatment pathways to children with Duschenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Other than learning some cool new standardised assessments I got the best surprise.

This is Cat Watts a physio and one of the presenters who came all the way from Auckland, NZ.

She is also my friend and clinical partner from the Neurodevelopmental therapy class of 2016. Also known as the best year ever.

Over 3 months back in 2016 she heard all my rants about the lack of evidence-based parenting advice and my plan to write a humourous, comforting, neuroscience textbook for new parents.

How awesome to see her in person and celebrate the book (never too late 😂).

Going to bed happy knowing that these copies are headed to the UK and NZ for some wonderful first time preggy mamas.

05/04/2024

Get the sleep you need! Understand sleep hunger better and you will be able to ensure the best sleep possible for your whole family.

In this video I explain sleep hunger AKA sleep pressure, the role of day sleep versus night sleep as well as how you can use the latest neuroscience and sleep science to ensure sleep happens more easily.

Once you know what you can and can't control you will feel less frustration, less bedtime rage and more trust, connection and joy.

Pop me a message with your email address for access to parts 2,3 and 4 which cover Social Hunger, Food Hunger and Sensory Hunger.