Physical Therapy

Trust your instincts. If something feels off, it’s worth paying attention to. 

Some signs are more obvious, like a clear preference for turning their head one way, a flat spot (plagiocephaly) developing on their head, or missing milestones like rolling or crawling in the expected window. 

Others are more subtle. Tummy time struggles often fall into this category. If your baby seems unusually uncomfortable, fussy, or outright refuses tummy time, it could signal neck tightness from torticollis. If tummy time is a struggle for your baby, that’s a great reason to give us a call.

You don't need to have all the answers before you reach out. That's what we're here for. An evaluation with our team will give you a clear picture of where your baby is at developmentally and whether or not they need any extra support.

Sometimes babies fuss during tummy time, but if your baby consistently struggles, avoids turning their head, or becomes very upset, it can sometimes point to underlying issues like body tension, weakness, or torticollis. For many babies, it’s one of the earliest signs that something else is going on. 

We see this pattern all the time: babies with torticollis find it harder to lift and turn their head during tummy time, and when they protest, parents can stop trying. But without regular tummy time, babies miss out on building critical neck and core strength.

If tummy time is continually a source of frustration for you and your little one, an evaluation can help identify what’s going on and give clear steps for moving forward. 

Starting early gives us the best opportunity to address the root cause and keep development on track. We work with babies like this every day, and you don’t have to figure it out on your own.

The earlier we catch something, the more options we have. That’s why we always advocate for early intervention and even preventative care. 

Babies showing signs of torticollis often start with us as young as 2 to 4 weeks old. At that age, their bodies are growing and changing so rapidly that they respond to treatment remarkably well, which is why we love seeing little ones early.

For gross motor development, there's no set starting age. We work with babies and toddlers at whatever stage they're at. If you’re concerned, it's never too early to come in and learn more. 

That said, we also want to be clear: coming to us later doesn't mean you've missed the window. Life is busy (especially as a parent…we get it!), not every sign is obvious, and sometimes things just aren't caught right away. We meet every family exactly where they are. 

A lot of parents we see wish they would have started sooner, and if that thought is coming up for you too, know you’re not alone. There’s no guilt or shame in our practice, only clear direction and support for your next step. 

One of the things we treasure most is when families who've been through treatment with us bring in a younger sibling after birth, not because anything appears wrong, but just to make sure everything looks good from the start. We call those Developmental Wellness Check-Ins. That level of trust is something we don't take lightly. We are passionate about being a resource families can count on, right from the beginning.

Every baby is different, so our approach is always tailored to what your specific child needs. That said, there are a few things that are true across the board at Looking Ahead.

All of our sessions are play-based, which means we're working with your baby's natural instincts and the way they naturally learn.  

Our physical therapists use a variety of evidence-based techniques like traditional stretching and strengthening, developmental motor learning, Neuro-Developmental principles, and TMR (Total Motion Release) for Tots —but we never rely on just one tool. We also incorporate bodywork techniques such as the Vaughn Approach, which incorporates myofascial release and Craniosacral Therapy (CST), and infant massage when appropriate. We look at your baby holistically to understand exactly what they need and build a plan customized specifically to them.

Our tight-knit team of physical therapists are hands-on (often on the floor with your baby) and intentional with each exercise. Everything we do in our sessions is designed to carry over into your daily routine. After each visit, you'll get a link to online homework with specific exercises and techniques you can do at home to continue to support your baby’s progress.

In between sessions, we love to hear how things are going, whether that’s a celebratory update on your baby’s latest achievement or a question that’s keeping you up at night. We’re here for all of it, and we have a specific number just for that purpose. You don’t have to navigate this alone, and it is our joy to support parents on this journey.

Yes, in most cases physical therapy for infants and young children is covered by insurance. 

We are in-network with many insurance providers like Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), United/UMR, Aetna, and Cigna, as well as some Humana and TRICARE plans. If you're covered by a different plan, we can provide a superbill for you to submit to your insurance for potential reimbursement. We are not in network with TennCare and TEIS.  

We also accept self-pay. 

It’s important to us that there are no surprises in the cost of your therapy visits, so we will work with you and your insurance to make sure you know exactly what to expect. 

Payment rates vary depending on the specifics of your insurance plan. Please call our office and we will be happy to work with your family to find out exactly what your insurance covers so you know what to expect. 

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost.

Under the No Surprises Act, healthcare providers are required to provide you with an explanation of how much your medical care will cost.

Looking Ahead Pediatric Therapies provides all patients (self-pay and insured) with a written copy of an estimate of expected charges for medical services by the time services are provided. This estimate, known as the Verfication of Benefits letter, is based solely on the information provided by the primary caregiver and the insurance provider at the time of the request to Looking Ahead P.T. For questions or to request a Good Faith Estimate, please contact Looking Ahead Pediatric Therapies at 615-784-8104 or info@lookingaheadpt.com.

For more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises

No! You can reach out to us directly.

Tennessee is a direct access state, which means you do not need a referral for physical therapy. We'll walk you through everything you need to get started and let you know if there are any additional steps specific to your situation.

Your first appointment at Looking Ahead is all about getting to know you and your child. We'll start with a comprehensive evaluation with one of our physical therapists, who will take the time to understand where your little one is developmentally and what they need to thrive. 

You can expect a warm, relaxed environment where your child is free to be themselves, no pressure, no rush. Our therapists are experts at creating a play-based experience to help your child build important skills in the way they learn best. From there, we'll walk you through our evaluation and build an individualized treatment plan together. Our goal is for you to leave with a clear path forward and the confidence to start supporting your child at home right away.

This is a common question, and we understand why. No parent wants to see their baby upset. The truth is, physical therapy asks babies to do hard things. Working through tightness or building new strength can be uncomfortable, and babies may fuss, especially in those first few sessions. But our therapists are experts at working with infants through these moments. 

Our physical therapists are specifically trained on reading your baby's cues, knowing when to modify an approach, and making the work as gentle as possible while still being effective. 

You will be right there with your baby the entire time, which means we'll walk you through what we're doing and why. As your baby gains strength and flexibility, the work gets easier for them, and most little ones start tolerating sessions much better.

All of our work is intentional, and over time, physical therapy helps your baby become more comfortable in their body. As their muscles get stronger, their range of motion improves, and they build trust with us, you'll start to notice a real difference in how at ease they feel and move.

We work with babies, toddlers, and young children, usually up to age 5.

Our office is located in the Cool Springs area of Franklin, TN, and we've been serving families across Middle Tennessee since 2014. 

Our families come to us from Nashville, Brentwood, Spring Hill, Thompson’s Station, Mt. Juliet, Columbia, and right here in Franklin—and some drive over an hour to see us. That kind of trust means everything to our team.

Our address is: 725 Cool Springs Blvd #110, Franklin, TN 37067.