About this episode

This episode discusses baby motor skill milestones with pediatric physical therapist Dr. Allison Mell, emphasizing their importance and what parents should watch for.

Motor skills development is one of those things parents are understandably curious about, but most people aren't actually taught much about it. You hear about tummy time, rolling, and crawling, but beyond that, it can feel really unclear what matters, what's normal, and when something is actually worth paying attention to. In this episode, I'm talking with Dr. Allison Mell, founder of Tots on Target and a pediatric physical therapist with years of experience helping babies build strong motor foundations. We get into why these early milestones matter so much more than people realize, how movement supports everything from strength to body awareness to attention, and why the "wait and see" approach is not always as harmless as it sounds. Join us today to hear what mini-milestones to watch for, what kinds of asymmetries or movement patterns can be red flags, and why it's so important to give babies both the opportunity to move and the support they need if something feels off. We also talk about the mixed messages parents get around baby development, and how everyday opportunities for movement can make a huge difference. If you've ever wondered whether your baby is on track, or if you…

People in this episode

Host: Devon Clement

Guest: Dr. Allison Mell

Topics covered

• motor skills development
• baby milestones
• pediatric physical therapy
• parenting advice
• movement patterns
• child development

Keywords

• motor skills
• baby development
• tummy time
• crawling
• movement patterns
• parenting
• pediatric therapy

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Tots on Target

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