Digital Resources for Families 0–2

You don't have to wait
to do something.

Two research-backed resources built by a pediatric SLP and a mom — so you know what to watch for, when to act, and how to get help before "wait and see" costs you time you can't get back.

The Blooms Blueprint The Milestone Tracker
Created by Mackenzie Shiba, M.S., CCC-SLP, CMT®  |  Pediatric SLP + Myofunctional Therapist  |  Lodi, CA  |  In-person & Telehealth

Here's what I know as both an SLP and a mom:

The window from 0 to 2 is the most important developmental stretch of your child's life. It's when feeding patterns solidify, airway habits form, and language begins to take shape. It is not the time to watch and wait.

But most families don't know what to look for. Pediatricians are stretched thin. And the guidance you find online is either too vague to be useful or too alarming to feel actionable.

"I built these resources because I drove to Modesto and the Bay Area just to find someone who would look at my own kids and take me seriously. You shouldn't have to do that. You should be able to open a guide and know."

These aren't generic milestone checklists. They're grounded in clinical practice, written in plain language, and designed to help you move forward with confidence instead of wondering.

Most Comprehensive
📖
The Blooms Blueprint
0–24 Month Parent Guide
$115
Product 01

The guide that tells you what to watch for — and what to do when you see it.

This is not a pamphlet. The Blooms Blueprint is a full developmental guide covering every major milestone window from birth through 24 months — feeding, airway, oral motor, language, and movement — with specific guidance on what typical looks like, what a red flag looks like, and what your next step should be.

I wrote it because the information parents need is either locked behind a clinical evaluation or scattered across the internet in ways that are impossible to piece together. You deserve something you can actually use.

What's inside:
  • Six age windows: 0–3, 4–6, 7–9, 10–12, 13–18, and 19–24 months
  • Feeding and oral motor milestones at every stage — including what mouth breathing and tongue posture actually mean for your baby
  • Language development guidance that goes beyond "should have 50 words by 2" — we look at how your child communicates, not just how many words
  • Red flag signals for airway, feeding, and communication that warrant action now, not later
  • Curated product recommendations for each age window — bottles, tools, and gear that support development (not just whatever is trending)
  • A full FAQ section covering the questions I hear most from families at every stage
  • Clear language on when to call an SLP, when to ask your pediatrician, and when to seek a specialist
A word from me directly: Early is not too early. If something feels off, that instinct matters. This guide will help you figure out whether it's a red flag or a variation of normal — and either answer is useful. The goal isn't to alarm you. It's to make sure you are never sitting in an evaluation room wondering why nobody told you sooner.
Get the Blooms Blueprint — $115 Instant digital download
Use It Daily
📋
Digital Milestone Tracker
Signals + Milestones 0–24 Months
$27
Product 02

Stop trying to remember everything.
Track it instead.

The Milestone Tracker is the tool I wish every parent had at their first pediatrician appointment. It's a clean, simple digital tracker designed to help you document what you're seeing — milestones hit, signals that concern you, patterns you've noticed — so that when you walk into an evaluation or a well-child visit, you're not starting from scratch.

Pediatric evaluations are only as good as the information you bring into them. This gives you something concrete to bring.

What's inside:
  • Milestone checkpoints organized by age window from birth through 24 months
  • Signal tracking for feeding, airway, oral motor, and communication — not just "is talking" but how they're talking
  • Space to note patterns over time, not just snapshots
  • Designed to use alongside the Blooms Blueprint — or completely on its own
  • Clean digital format you can access anywhere — no binder required
Why this matters more than a standard checklist: Most milestone trackers tell you what your child "should" be doing. This one helps you document what your child is actually doing — and flag patterns across multiple domains that, together, might tell a story no single checklist would catch. That's how I think as an SLP. Now you can think that way too.
Get the Tracker — $27 Instant digital access
What Comes Next

These resources are a starting point.
Not the whole picture.

The goal was never to hand you a guide and wish you luck. If what you read raises questions, or if you see something in the tracker that doesn't sit right, there are clear ways to get more support.

01

Book a Bloom Consultation

If you've gone through the Blueprint and want to talk through what you're seeing, a one-on-one consultation is the natural next step. You bring your notes. I bring the clinical lens. We figure out together whether further evaluation makes sense. Book here →

02

Request an Evaluation

If you're past wondering and ready for answers, a comprehensive evaluation gives you a full picture. We see families in-person in Lodi and via telehealth. You don't need a referral. You don't need insurance. You just need to reach out. Get started →

Not sure which step is right?

That's a completely normal place to be. Most families come to me not knowing exactly what they need — just knowing that something feels worth a closer look. Send us a message at communicationblooms.org and we'll point you in the right direction. No pressure. No commitment. Just a real answer.

🌸

Why I built these — and why it matters that it was me.

I'm a licensed speech-language pathologist and certified myofunctional therapist. I've spent years specializing in the areas most practices avoid: infant oral motor, airway, feeding, and early language. I know this clinically.

But I also know it as a mom who drove across the valley looking for someone who would take my kids seriously. Who pieced together telehealth providers out of desperation. Who wondered, more than once, why no one local had answers.

That experience changed how I practice. It's why I believe preventative care isn't a luxury — it's the point. And it's why these resources exist. Because every family in San Joaquin County deserves access to the same information my private clients get in their first appointment.

Mackenzie Shiba, M.S., CCC-SLP, CMT®  |  Founder, Communication Blooms Speech Therapy Inc.

Common Questions

My pediatrician said my child is fine. Why would I need this?
Pediatricians are generalists with limited time and broad caseloads. They're excellent at identifying major concerns — but the early signals for feeding differences, airway patterns, and communication delays are subtle and often outside the scope of a 15-minute well-child visit. If your instinct says something is worth a closer look, it probably is. This guide helps you know what to look for.
My child is only 4 months old. Isn't it too early for any of this?
No. It is never too early. The 0–3 month window in the Blueprint covers infant feeding, oral motor function, and airway patterns that matter from day one. The earlier we identify a concern, the more options we have. Early is not too early — it's the whole point.
Will this tell me if my child needs speech therapy?
It will help you understand what typical development looks like, identify patterns that might warrant a closer look, and give you clear language for talking to a provider. It won't give you a diagnosis — that requires an evaluation with a licensed clinician. But it will help you walk into that conversation informed and prepared. If after reading through the guide you want to talk through what you're seeing, a consultation with our team is always available.
Do I need both products or just one?
The Blueprint is the complete guide — it's where most families should start. The Tracker is the tool you use alongside it (or on its own) to document what you're actually observing over time. If you're someone who wants to keep track, bring data to appointments, and notice patterns across weeks and months, the Tracker adds real value. If you're not sure, start with the Blueprint.
Do you take insurance?
Communication Blooms is a private-pay practice. We don't bill insurance, which means no session caps, no prior authorizations, and no compromised treatment plans. Our care decisions are made by us and your family — not a billing code. We're happy to provide superbills for out-of-network reimbursement where applicable. Reach out to learn more about our rates.
Where are you located? Do you see families virtually?
We're based in Lodi, California and serve families throughout San Joaquin County in person. We also offer telehealth evaluations and therapy for families across California. The Blooming Babies workshop is in-person in Lodi. Contact us to learn what format is right for your family.

Still have a question?

Contact Us Directly

Begin today.
Watch your child bloom.

You've been given enough reasons to wait. These are the resources that help you move.

Get the Blooms Blueprint — $115 Get the Tracker — $27