About Baby Steps Physiotherapy
Welcome to Baby Steps Physiotherapy
Treating infants and children requires expert knowledge and clinical skills, held by a select group of healthcare professionals who specialise in paediatric care. This additional training and experience ensures safe and effective treatment.
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At Baby Steps Physiotherapy, we specialise in the assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of babies aged 0-2 years old, (corrected for prematurity) presenting with a multitude of conditions. You will work with a clinical specialist in this age group, who has extensive knowledge and experience of baby growth and development.
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Our physiotherapist has undertaken extensive training within developmental care and holds many additional qualifications to complete multi-faceted developmental observations and assessments. Having this additional knowledge and experience allows for a truly holistic approach, with your baby at the centre of care.
We understand that babies have their own unique and varied needs, therefore all services provided are fully bespoke. We pride ourselves in providing excellent care, education and support to all our patients and their families throughout the process.
Our philosophy is to promote strength, development and function though play-based activities and exercise.
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Visit our 'Services' page for more information.
About Me
When I was little I always said I wanted to be a Physiotherapist or a Marine Biologist… but after deciding the English Channel in winter was not all that appealing, I set my sights on Physiotherapy.
My desire to be a Physiotherapist was confirmed after requiring Physiotherapy myself, following various injuries I sustained whilst competing at National level in both Netball and Athletics.
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I completed my degree at Oxford Brookes University in 2011 with a BSc First class (Hons) degree in Physiotherapy.
My first job was at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust where I completed all core areas of Physiotherapy and fell in love with Paediatrics. I was quickly able to specialise, by securing a permanent role as a Paediatric Physiotherapist at Southampton Children’s Hospital. I developed skills caring for children with Respiratory, Orthopaedic, Musculoskeletal, Neurological and Developmental needs. One of my proudest moments was facilitating the first Paediatric Hydrotherapy session at Southampton Children's Hospital for a fully ventilated patient.
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I have been lucky enough to travel a lot throughout my life, and in 2017, I moved to New Zealand where I worked at Starship Children’s Hospital in Auckland. Here, I worked as a Team Lead Paediatric Physiotherapist and pioneered a new Physiotherapy service for infants under 2 years of age.
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Now that I am back in the UK, I split my time between working as a Highly Specialist Neonatal Physiotherapist within the NHS, covering the Neonatal Unit, acute hospital wards and outpatient clinics, as well as working privately at Baby Steps Physiotherapy. I have vast experience treating infants with a wide range of conditions, such as Torticollis (preferential head turn), Plagiocephaly (abnormal head shape/flattening), Talipes (club foot), neurological conditions and developmental concerns.
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My husband is also a Physiotherapist, and I am a proud Mummy of two little people. Being a mother has really helped to develop my skills as a clinician, as I now understand the delicate balancing act that is parenthood and the importance of realistic, practical advice.
Kimberly Best
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Highly Specialist Paediatric Physiotherapist
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BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy
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HCPC registered
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MCSP, MAPCP
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Enhanced DBS checked
I have completed extensive further education, training and qualifications including:
Australian Physiotherapy and Pilates Institute (APPI) Matwork 1
International Therapy Examination Council (ITEC) Level 3 Sports Massage Diploma
Bobath Neurological Handling
BPNA Neonatal Neurology and Foetal Neurology
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Prechtl’s General Movements (GM) Assessment
Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development III (BSID3)
Family and Infant Neurodevelopmental Education (FINE) Level 1
Brazelton Newborn Behavioural Observations (NBO)
Sensory Beginnings
Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE)
Erb’s Palsy, Neurology, Trauma, Breastfeeding and Developmental Care courses
Frequently Asked Questions
We have provided answers to some of our commonly asked questions below. If you cannot find the answer to your question here, please get in touch and we will be happy to help.
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Can physio really be done online?Yes, it can! Baby physiotherapy is ideal to be completed virtually as much of our assessment is formed by observing how your baby moves and interacts. This is optimised when your baby is in their own environment, with all their familiar smells and noises. We use a therapy demonstration doll, so that any handling and movement techniques can be shown via video. During the covid-19 pandemic even NHS services used virtual consultation platforms, and some continue to do so as they worked so well.
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What happens during an appointment?During the session, I will listen to your concerns and take a very detailed antenatal, birth and postnatal history. I will observe your baby’s behaviours and movement patterns in different positions and can plot your baby's gross motor development on a centile (just like for height and weight in the red book) which provides a baseline to monitor progress. I will formulate an appropriate play-based treatment plan to implement at home, and demonstrate any handling and movement techniques using a therapy demonstration doll. You will have an opportunity to ask any questions and we will discuss a plan for follow-up, if required.
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Do I need any equipment?A play mat, a couple of toys and somewhere to prop the camera is great. I might ask you to move the camera angle so that I can see what your baby is doing from different perspectives. It might be helpful to have a second pair of hands to make things easier for you. I will let you know in advance if there’s anything extra you will need for the session.
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What if my baby is asleep for the session?I will do my best to offer an appointment that best suits you and your baby’s schedule and wake windows. I will never expect you to wake your sleeping baby for a session, so please don’t worry about the timing, we can cover a lot while your baby is asleep. You can also send in videos of your baby prior to or after appointments for me to review if we don’t manage to catch them awake.
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How many sessions will we need?As each baby is unique, guidance on the frequency of sessions and duration of treatment required will be determined after the initial assessment. Options will be discussed with you to ensure you are fully informed on the best pathway to meet your baby’s needs.
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My child is over 2, can you still help?Yes! I am a Paediatric Physiotherapist with a clinical specialism in baby physio, so if your child is under 16 years old, I may still be able to help. Please do not hesitate to get in contact to discuss your query.
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Do you offer in-person appointments?In the majority of cases, we can complete everything we need to via video. Hands-on treatment is often not required, and can even be contraindicated when treating infants. Treatment plans are best implemented regularly by caregivers, therefore face-to-face appointments are not usually needed. If you feel your child would benefit from a face-to-face appointment, please contact us.
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Can we use private medical insurance to fund sessions?This is dependant on your individual insurer; therefore we always advise to check with your insurer for pre-authorisation before booking. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about this process.
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Do you also provide physio for Mums?Although I am fully trained to assess and treat adults and children, my area of expertise is within paediatrics, therefore I do not offer sessions for adults. If you are an expectant Mummy, have a look at our ‘Get Ready for Your New Arrival’ package, which will get you fully prepared for your new addition.
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Do you have any resources to follow?Yes, PDF resources covering a range of subjects are available to purchase in our resource area. We have a blog which covers an array of topics, and we occasionally offer resources for free through this, so keep an eye out.
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What are the payment T&C’s?We have booking and payment terms on the website, including a cancellation policy. Please have a look though these prior to booking.