dad trips over air and her mom gets carsick going around the block.

Let’s talk about something that doesn’t get nearly enough attention, the vestibular system.

It’s the part of our inner ear that helps us balance, coordinate movement, and understand where our body is in space. You know, so we don’t trip over air or feel like the world is spinning when we move too fast.

It starts forming early in pregnancy (around 8 weeks) but isn’t fully developed until around 37 weeks gestation. That’s why full-term babies are generally better equipped to handle movement and develop motor skills, but they still need our help fine-tuning it after birth.

👶 After Birth: Why Movement Matters

Babies spend a lot of their first few months lying flat, and while that’s normal, if they’re just lying there all day (especially in things like car seats, bouncers, or swings), it can actually slow down vestibular development.

What helps this system thrive? Gentle, varied motion, like:

Contact naps while you sway

Babywearing during chores or walks

Tummy time on your chest

Rolling and rocking games on the floor

Slow bouncing, rocking, or dancing

All these simple movements send signals to the brain saying, “Hey! This is how gravity works. Let’s figure out how to move safely through the world.”

🧠 Why It’s So Important

An underdeveloped vestibular system can lead to:

Delayed crawling or walking

Clumsiness

Sensory issues or motion sensitivity

Poor coordination

Difficulty with visual tracking (which can affect reading later)

And in our house? Let me tell you…

This is especially important for Alice, because she’s got some odds stacked against her:

A dad who trips over everything (seriously, everything),

and A mom (hi 🙋‍♀️) who gets violently carsick on short drives if the wind blows wrong.

So yeah, helping her vestibular system get strong early on? That’s high on my priority list.

🛑 It’s Not Too Late, And Here’s Why

Even though Alice is now 1 year old, it’s absolutely not too late. In fact, the vestibular system keeps developing all the way through age 5, and that means we still have tons of time and tools to support her.

That’s why I’m so happy we have:

Her Pickler set (can’t wait for her to dive into that!) And her Nugget couch, oh man, this girl is on and off that thing all day long, tumbling over the top of the cushions like it’s her personal training gym. 😂

Every roll, bounce, slide, and awkward baby somersault is building her coordination, balance, and confidence in her own little body.

💡 Final Thought

You don’t need to be a therapist or buy fancy equipment. Just let them move. Let them climb. Let them fall safely and try again.

Whether your baby is 3 months, 1 year, or even 3 or 4, you can help them grow a stronger, steadier foundation with just a little bit of motion and a lot of encouragement.

So when someone gives you a side-eye for babywearing all day or rocking her to sleep…

Just smile and say:

“I’m literally helping her not trip over everything when she’s older. You’re welcome.”