Almost every job prepares you for parenthood in some way, but some have more obvious applications than others. As a pediatric physical therapist and child development expert at Lovevery, the connection between Maral’s day job and her role as a parent is pretty clear. Still, caring for children at work and caring for your own child are two totally different experiences, so we sat down with the new first-time mom to hear more about what’s been good, what’s been tough, and what’s been unexpected.
Name: Maral Amani
Children: 2-month-old son
Location: San Diego, CA
Occupation: Pediatric physical therapist
You’re a first-time mama! Congratulations! How are you feeling?
I am feeling great! I am so in love with my baby boy, and feel so lucky to be his mom. Thankfully, I’ve had a relatively easy postpartum recovery.
We’re big fans of Lovevery here at Solly. Tell us a little bit about your work with them.
I've worked for Lovevery for over 3 years now as one of their in-house child development experts. I develop their parent resources for all things motor development, including written and video app content, parent courses, blog posts, and social media content! I also launched Lovevery’s disability support service, which provides individualized support for children with disabilities, prematurity, or developmental delays.
You’re also a pediatric physical therapist. How has that impacted and helped prepare you for motherhood?
I specialize in working with 0-3 year-olds for my job, and that’s really helped me get comfortable with caring for babies. Nothing could have prepared me for the lack of sleep though! I’ve been baby-crazy for years, so I’m so happy that I finally have my own little one. With that said, I’ve also had to remind myself to turn off my “PT brain” and just enjoy my baby boy.
What’s something that’s been unexpected about motherhood so far?
How it would bring my entire family closer together. My mom rented an apartment nearby and stayed to help me with my son for a month. It was such a magical time and made me so appreciative for my mom and my whole family. It’s been incredible to see how much joy this little guy has brought everyone.
One tip you’d give to new parents as a pediatric physical therapist?
Give your baby plenty of time on the floor on a cushioned mat! Babies are scrunched up in the womb, so placing them in a safe space on the floor helps them stretch and learn to move their body without restrictions. I’ve found that parents often feel hesitant to place their baby on a mat when they’re so tiny, but trust me—they are learning so much with each tiny movement.
What does maternity leave look like for you?
Lots of lattes and beach walks! The one thing that has helped me both physically and mentally in these first few months has been grabbing a latte from my local coffee shop and walking on the beach while babywearing. I’m also binge watching old seasons of Survivor.
What’s a “full heart” moment you’ve experienced recently?
My heart has truly never been so full. I recently gave my baby a bath by myself for the first time, and I was so nervous. My little guy looked up at me with the sweetest eyes and smiled. It’s like he was telling me that I was doing a good job and it truly melted my heart. I’ve loved all the tiny moments of connection between us, especially since he’s smiling and beginning to show his social personality. Seeing him grow and develop right before my eyes feels surreal. I wish he could stay this little forever, but I also cannot wait for all the moments to come.
What’s your feeding journey been like?
I am breastfeeding primarily, but working on building his ability to take a bottle! My baby has a tongue tie and reflux, so making sure he is eating enough is my primary focus right now. I couldn’t be more thankful to have resources like our lactation consultant and occupational therapist to help us in our feeding journey.
Three items you’d recommend for a new mom:
Solly Baby Wrap, a bottle washer, and a wearable pump!
What Solly product(s) do you already have and what are you currently eyeing?
We have been using our Solly Baby Wrap since we brought our baby home from the hospital, and I am eyeing the floral Totepack (patiently waiting for the restock!!) and matching PJ sets!
Rapid-fire round:
Favorite indulgence: Butter croissant
Drink of choice: Iced lavender matcha
Favorite sans-kids activity: Surfing
Motherhood topic you could talk about forever: The benefits of boredom for brain development
Post-bedtime with the kids snack: Uncrustables lol (I have one every time I do my 3am pump!)
Love getting to know moms like Maral? We'd love to introduce you to more. Read more stories in our Full Heart series here.
