Paediatric Physiotherapy
Developmental Delay in Children: How Paediatric Physiotherapy Can Help
When rolling, sitting, crawling or walking is slower to arrive than expected, physiotherapy can help build the strength, coordination and confidence behind those milestones — with clear guidance on whether it's worth a closer look, and a structured plan if it is.
Why It Matters
Milestones aren't a race — but they are a useful signal
Every child develops at their own pace, and some variation is completely normal. What matters clinically is whether a delay is isolated and catching up on its own, or part of a pattern worth understanding early — before it shapes how a child moves, plays and keeps up with peers.
What We're Assessing
Gross motor milestones against expected age ranges, plus how your child moves, weight-bears and transitions between positions.
Why Early Review Helps
Foundational strength and coordination build on each other — gaps left unaddressed tend to compound rather than resolve on their own.
Often Multifactorial
Prematurity, low muscle tone, limited tummy time or a broader developmental picture can all play a part — assessment looks at the whole child.
Coordinated Care
Where useful, we work alongside your paediatrician, occupational therapist or speech therapist rather than in isolation.
A Useful Starting Point
Typical variation vs. patterns we'd like to review
This isn't a diagnosis tool — it's a guide for whether booking an assessment sooner is a good idea. When in doubt, an initial review costs you little and rules a lot out.
- Slightly later than average on one milestone, with steady progress otherwise
- Your child is exploring new positions and movements, even if not yet mastering them
- Strength and coordination are improving week to week, even gradually
- No history of prematurity, low tone, or other developmental concerns raised
- Not sitting unsupported by around 9 months, or not crawling by 10–12 months
- Not pulling to stand and cruising by around 12 months
- Not taking independent steps by around 18 months
- Persistent low muscle tone, marked asymmetry, or skills that seem to plateau or regress
These are general guides, not fixed cut-offs — premature birth, for example, is usually accounted for using corrected age. An assessment will always consider your child's full history.
What To Expect
Our approach to assessing and supporting motor delay
Every plan starts with a proper look at movement and history before we recommend anything — no generic exercise sheets handed out on a first visit.
01
Assessment & History
We talk through your concerns, birth and developmental history, then observe your child moving and playing to understand strength, tone and coordination against expected milestones.
02
Tailored Treatment Plan
Findings are explained in plain terms, with a structured programme built around your child's current stage, temperament and the specific milestone we're working toward next.
03
Guided Home Programme
Simple positioning and movement activities woven into daily play, so progress continues well beyond the clinic between sessions — with clear guidance for you as a parent.
Care Across Every Stage
What we typically watch for, by age
Motor development builds in a fairly predictable sequence — our assessment maps where your child sits against it, and what the next achievable step looks like.
0–4months
Head Control
Lifting and holding the head during tummy time, and settling head lag when pulled to sit.
5–9months
Rolling & Sitting
Rolling both ways, then sitting unsupported with steady balance and reach.
9–12months
Crawling & Pulling to Stand
Reciprocal crawling on hands and knees, then pulling up to stand and cruising along furniture.
12–18months
First Steps
Standing independently, then taking first steps and walking with growing confidence.
18mo+toddler
Refining Movement
Walking on varied surfaces, early running, and building toward stairs, jumping and balance.
Who's Looking After Your Child
Led by a Paediatric Physiotherapist with Advanced Specialist Training
Every plan is guided by clinical standards adapted thoughtfully for growing bodies, and backed by ongoing professional development.
Session Fees
Straightforward pricing
Speak with us about insurance direct billing eligibility.
$260 / 45 mins
Assessment, treatment and home programme guidance at our Bukit Timah clinic.
$350 / 45 mins
Singapore-wide, for children more settled moving in a familiar environment.
Direct billing available with select insurance providers — see our full fees page for all services.
Common Questions
Frequently asked questions
My child was born premature — how does that affect this?
We typically assess against your child's corrected age (their due date, not their birth date) rather than chronological age, particularly in the first two years. This is factored into your child's initial assessment and any timeline we discuss.
Do I need a doctor's referral first?
No referral is required to book an initial assessment. If your child has an existing diagnosis or is under a paediatrician's care, we're glad to coordinate directly with them.
Is my child likely to just "catch up" on their own?
Sometimes, yes — mild, isolated delays often resolve without intervention. An assessment helps distinguish that from a pattern that benefits from structured support, rather than leaving you guessing which one you're looking at.
How many sessions will my child typically need?
This depends entirely on the concern — some children need a short course focused on one milestone, while broader developmental support is often reviewed over a longer period. We'll give you a clear expected timeline after the initial assessment.
Will you work with our occupational therapist or paediatrician?
Yes, where it's useful for your child. We're glad to coordinate directly with other members of your child's care team so everyone's working from the same picture.
Is this covered by insurance?
Coverage depends on your specific policy. We offer direct billing with select insurance providers — reach out and we'll help confirm your child's eligibility.
Ready to get a clear picture?
Book an initial assessment and we'll give you an honest read on where your child is at — and a plan if one is needed.
📍 557 Bukit Timah Road, #02-03, Crown Centre, Singapore 269694 · 📞 +65 8836 8526
Meet Our Paediatric Physiotherapist
Ahmad Iqbal Bin Kamari, a paediatric physiotherapy specialist, has carefully reviewed the information on this page.
Principal Paediatric Physiotherapist
- Master of Advanced Paediatric Physiotherapy Practice (Monash University, Australia)
- BSc (Hons) in Physiotherapy (SIT-TCD))
- FIFA Diploma in Football Medicine
- Full registration with Allied Health Professions Council, Singapore, and Health and Care Professions Council, UK
Ahmad Iqbal Bin Kamari blends high-level clinical precision with an energetic, child-centered approach to paediatric physiotherapy. Holding a Master of Advanced Paediatric Physiotherapy Practice from Monash University, a BSc (Hons) from SIT-TCD, and a FIFA Diploma in Football Medicine, he brings specialist clinical training from KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) and Evelina London Children’s Hospital. His rich expertise spans Early Intervention, Special Education (SPED), youth sports care, and his leadership as a Special Olympics Clinical Director.
At the heart of his practice—and his teaching as an SIT faculty member—is the belief that real movement progress starts with trust. Ahmad designs every session to be a safe, warmly tailored environment where children and youth feel completely comfortable to explore, play, and challenge themselves. By meeting each young person at their level, he turns therapy into an engaging experience that builds both physical strength and lasting confidence under his care.
- Early Intervention
- Special Education (SPED)
- Youth Sports & Adapted Athletic Care