Understanding Early Intervention, what to expect after discharge, and why live video visits might be a wonderful option for your family.
Bringing your baby home from the NICU is something you've probably been looking forward to for a long time. After days, weeks, or even months of monitors, medical appointments, and hospital routines, you're finally getting to settle into life at home.
But somewhere in the middle of preparing for discharge, someone mentions that your baby is being referred to Early Intervention.
And suddenly, you have another thing to think about.
Does this mean something is wrong? Is my baby delayed? Will we have more appointments? What if there aren't any therapists available near us?!
First, take a deep breath.
A referral to Early Intervention does not automatically mean your baby has a developmental delay. It means your NICU team wants to make sure your baby and your family have access to the support you may need as your little one grows.
As both a NICU occupational therapist and an Early Intervention OT, I get to see both sides of this transition. And one thing I wish every family knew is that Early Intervention isn't something to be afraid of. It's an opportunity to have another person in your corner as you navigate life after the NICU.
Why Was My Baby Referred to Early Intervention?
Babies who spend time in the NICU may have experienced prematurity, medical complications, feeding difficulties, or other challenges that can influence their early development.
Even when babies are doing wonderfully at discharge, their NICU team may recommend Early Intervention (EI) to help monitor development and provide additional support if needed.
In Illinois, Early Intervention is a statewide program that supports eligible infants and toddlers from birth to age three and their families.
Depending on your child's individual needs, EI services may include:
Occupational Therapy (OT): Supporting feeding, sensory processing, fine motor development, positioning, play, and participation in everyday routines.
Physical Therapy (PT): Supporting gross motor development, movement, strength, and mobility.
Speech-Language Therapy (ST): Supporting early communication, language development, and feeding or swallowing when appropriate.
Developmental Therapy (DT): Supporting learning, play, social interaction, and overall developmental skills.
Your baby may benefit from one of these services, several of them, or none at all.
And that's okay!
The goal isn't to find something wrong with your baby. It's to recognize their strengths, identify where additional support might be helpful, and give your family tools to encourage development.
What Happens After the Referral?
Once your baby's referral is received, your local Child and Family Connections (CFC) office will help guide you through the Illinois Early Intervention process.
Here's what you can generally expect:
1. A Service Coordinator Will Contact You
Your service coordinator is someone who helps your family navigate the EI system. They'll explain the program, review your concerns, discuss your baby's medical and developmental history, and help coordinate the next steps.
They are also an important person to contact if you have questions about services, scheduling, or finding providers.
2. Your Baby Will Receive an Evaluation
An evaluation helps determine whether your child qualifies for EI services. Evaluations are almost always completed with two providers — a developmental therapist alongside an occupational therapist, physical therapist, or speech-language pathologist.
For a baby recently discharged from the NICU, the evaluation may look at things such as:
How your baby moves their arms, legs, and body.
How they tolerate different positions, including tummy time.
Their ability to interact with caregivers and respond to their environment.
Early communication and social engagement.
Feeding and participation in daily routines.
Developmental skills appropriate for their age.
For babies born prematurely, therapists also consider their adjusted age, which accounts for how early they were born.
Some infants may qualify for EI based on an established medical condition, while others may qualify based on developmental delays or other eligibility criteria.
And remember, an evaluation is not a test that your baby can pass or fail. It's simply an opportunity to learn more about their development.
3. Your Family Will Help Create a Plan
If your baby qualifies, your EI team will work with you to develop an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP).
That sounds like a lot of paperwork (and it is, but not for you!), but the idea is pretty simple.
Your IFSP identifies what matters most to your family and how your team can help you work toward those goals.
Maybe you're hoping to help your baby become more comfortable with tummy time. Maybe feeding continues to be stressful. Or perhaps you simply want to know how to support your baby's development between medical appointments.
Those are all meaningful things to work on.
Early Intervention should fit into your family's life, not the other way around.
What Does Early Intervention Actually Look Like?
One of the biggest misconceptions about EI is that a therapist comes into your home, works directly with your baby for an hour, and then leaves.
While therapists certainly observe, demonstrate, and interact with children, Illinois EI uses a family-centered coaching approach.
That means we're working with you, too.
Why?
Because your baby learns through the everyday experiences they share with the people who care for them.
Think about how many opportunities for development happen naturally throughout the day:
Looking at your face during diaper changes.
Practicing head control while being held.
Moving their arms and legs during floor play.
Building positive experiences during feeding.
Learning to calm and organize their body with your support.
Listening to your voice while you talk, sing, and interact.
These moments might seem small, but they're meaningful opportunities for learning.
Your therapist's job is to help you recognize those opportunities, understand your baby's cues, and find strategies that work for your family.
And no, you don't need to buy a bunch of special toys or turn your living room into a therapy clinic!
What If There Aren't Any Early Intervention Providers Near Me?
Unfortunately, access to Early Intervention providers can be challenging in most areas.
Depending on where you live, there may be limited availability of occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, or developmental therapists who serve your community.
You might be told that there isn't currently an in-person provider available, but that your family has the option to receive services through Live Video Visits (LVV).
If that happens, you may feel disappointed.
After everything you've been through in the NICU, you might have pictured someone coming into your home, getting to know your baby, and physically showing you what to do.
And now you're wondering how therapy through a screen could possibly help.
I completely understand that hesitation.
But here's something I really want families to know:
Live video visits are not automatically a lesser version of Early Intervention. They can be an incredibly valuable way to support your baby's development.
What Are Live Video Visits?
Live Video Visits, often called LVV, are Early Intervention services provided through a secure, real-time video connection.
You and your therapist can see and hear one another, ask questions, observe your baby's movements and interactions, and work together on strategies to support development.
And here's the important part:
Your baby does NOT need to sit in front of a screen for the visit!
In fact, much of the session may involve your therapist watching you interact with your baby during activities you're already doing.
For example, imagine you're having difficulty getting your baby comfortable during tummy time.
During an LVV, your OT or PT might:
Ask you to show how you've been positioning your baby.
Observe how your baby responds and what movements they're demonstrating.
Suggest small adjustments to positioning or support.
Watch you try those adjustments and offer feedback.
Help you identify ways to practice during your normal daily routine.
You're still receiving individualized guidance from a trained professional.
The biggest difference is that you're the one providing the hands-on support while the therapist coaches you through it.
And that can actually be a really wonderful thing.
Why Live Video Visits Can Be So Effective
You Become More Confident Supporting Your Baby
When a therapist works directly with your baby, you may see your baby demonstrate a new skill during the session.
But what happens when the therapist leaves?
With live video visits, you're actively involved in practicing strategies with your baby. You learn how to make adjustments, recognize subtle cues, and understand why certain activities are helpful.
Over time, you're building confidence in your own ability to support your baby's development.
Therapy Happens in Your Real-Life Environment
Your therapist gets to see your actual routines, the spaces where your baby spends time, and the challenges you're experiencing at home.
Maybe tummy time works beautifully on a therapy mat, but your baby cries every time you try it on your living room floor.
Maybe feeding looks different at home than it did in the NICU.
Those are exactly the kinds of things your therapist can help you problem-solve.
You don't need to recreate a clinical environment. The goal is to make strategies work in the environment where your baby spends their day.
It Can Help Families Access Services Sooner
When in-person providers aren't available in a particular area, LVV can connect families with qualified providers who may live farther away.
Rather than waiting for an in-person therapist to have an opening, your family may be able to begin receiving support through live video visits.
For babies in their first months of life, having timely access to developmental guidance can be especially valuable.
It Gives You More Opportunities to Ask Questions
Sometimes the most meaningful part of an Early Intervention visit isn't practicing a particular skill. It's having someone available to answer questions like:
Is this movement typical for my baby's adjusted age?
Why does my baby always turn their head to one side?
How can I make tummy time more comfortable?
Am I doing enough to support their development?
Those conversations can happen just as naturally through a video visit as they do in person.
But What Does the Research Say?
Research supports the use of telehealth as a valuable way to provide Early Intervention services, particularly when visits include caregiver coaching and active family participation.
A 2025 systematic review examining telehealth interventions for infants and toddlers identified promising outcomes related to child development and caregiver involvement. However, the research also highlights the need for additional studies across different developmental needs and populations.
In other words, LVV is a meaningful, evidence-supported option, but that doesn't mean it's the perfect fit for every child or every situation.
Some infants, particularly those with complex medical needs, may benefit from hands-on assessment or intervention that cannot be fully provided through video.
For example, when there are concerns about swallowing safety, respiratory stability, or other medical issues requiring direct clinical assessment, the team should consider whether additional in-person services or medical follow-up are necessary.
The best approach is always individualized.
Families should be part of the decision about how services are provided, whether that means in-person visits, LVV, or a combination of the two.
How Can I Make the Most of Live Video Visits?
If your family is getting ready to try LVV, here are a few suggestions:
1. Don't worry about having a perfect setup.
You don't need a spotless house, fancy equipment, or a special therapy space. A phone, tablet, or computer with a reliable connection and a safe place for your baby to play is often enough.
2. Have another adult available if possible.
Especially with young infants, having someone who can hold or reposition the camera can be helpful. But if that's not possible, let your therapist know. You can work together to find a setup that works.
3. Bring your real questions.
You don't have to save your questions for something that feels like a major developmental concern. If diaper changes are difficult, tummy time is frustrating, or you aren't sure how to play with your baby, those are great things to discuss.
4. Don't feel pressured to make your baby perform.
Your baby might sleep through part of the session, become fussy, or have absolutely no interest in the activity you planned.
That's normal!
Especially for babies who have recently come home from the NICU, following their cues and respecting their need for rest is important.
Your therapist can still use that time to talk through concerns, review strategies, and plan for the week ahead.
5. Speak up if something isn't working.
If you're struggling with the technology, feel uncomfortable with a particular activity, or think your baby needs more hands-on support, tell your therapist and service coordinator.
Early Intervention is a partnership, and your perspective matters.
Illinois also has a technology loan program through the Early Intervention Clearinghouse for eligible families who need assistance accessing devices or internet connectivity for visits.
A Final Thought for NICU Families
If your baby is getting ready to leave the NICU, or you've recently brought them home, I want you to remember something.
Your baby's journey does not need to look like anyone else's.
Some babies will leave the NICU and meet developmental milestones without needing ongoing therapy. Others will benefit from additional developmental support for months or even years.
Neither journey defines your baby's potential.
And whether your Early Intervention therapist is sitting on your living room floor or joining you through a video call, the purpose remains the same: to help your child grow, learn, and participate in the everyday moments that matter to your family.
You are not expected to become a therapist.
You are not expected to know all the answers.
And you certainly don't need to spend every waking moment working on developmental milestones.
You get to be your baby's parent.
Early Intervention is simply another layer of support to help you feel more confident in that role.
You've already helped your baby through so much.
Now, as you begin this new chapter at home, know that you don't have to navigate it alone.
Helpful Resources for Illinois Families
Illinois Early Intervention Program — Eligibility, referrals, and finding your local Child and Family Connections office.
Illinois EI Clearinghouse: Introduction to Live Video Visits — A helpful FAQ for families considering virtual services.
Choosing Between In-Person and Live Video Visits — Information to help families decide which services best meet their needs.
Live Video Visits and Telehealth Resources — Family resources, tip sheets, and technology support.
Research: Early Intervention Through Telehealth (2025) — A systematic review of telehealth interventions for infants and toddlers.
