Key Baby Development Milestones with Dr. Allison Mell | 187

Key Baby Development Milestones with Dr. Allison Mell | 187

Author: Trish Ware, RN July 18, 2025 Duration: 34:50

Ever wondered about the significance of your baby’s milestones, particularly crawling, or concerned about what to do if they're not meeting them? In today's episode, Trish sits down with Dr. Allison Mell, a pediatric physical therapist and founder of The TOT Spot, for a deep dive into why crawling is crucial for sensory and motor development. 

Learn about: 

  • The real reasons behind these baby development milestones, and why they matter.
  • How to spot red flags early.
  • Gain insights into effective early intervention strategies. 

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Dr. Allison also shares her experience as a mom of four and offers valuable advice on navigating the overwhelming world of child development. Discover the importance of tuning into your parental instincts, advocating for your child, and how timely interventions can lead to success in later stages of life. 

Join us as we unpack these vital topics and empower yourself with the knowledge to support your baby’s growth journey!

Helpful Timestamps:

  • 00:56 Meet Dr. Allison Mell: Pediatric Physical Therapist and Mom
  • 02:43 The Importance of Early Milestones
  • 04:30 Common Issues and Red Flags for Baby Development
  • 06:10 The Role of Pediatricians and Early Intervention
  • 08:36 The Connection Between Crawling and Development
  • 10:47 Sensory Development and Body Awareness
  • 13:28 Key Milestones and When to Seek Help
  • 17:26 Trusting Your Parental Instincts
  • 18:44 Advocating for Your Child's Health
  • 20:39 Navigating Early Intervention Programs
  • 21:50 The Benefits of Online Consultations
  • 27:03 How the TOT Spot Membership Works

More from Dr. Mell:

Visit TotsOnTarget.com 

Follow her on Instagram: @totsontarget

Join the TOT Spot Membership

Tots on Target Free Resources

Resources:

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Second Trimester Prep Pack

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For more pregnancy & birth education, subscribe to The Birth Experience on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services

Next Steps with LNM:


If you are ready to invest in your pregnancy & postpartum journey, you are in the right place. I would love to take your hand and support you in your virtual labor room!

If you are ready to dive into a birth class and have your best and most powerful birth story, then Calm Labor Confident Birth or The VBAC Lab is your next step.

If you have a scheduled cesarean, take our Belly Birth Masterclass and own that experience.

If you are a newly pregnant mama or just had the babe, you want to join our private pregnancy and postpartum membership, Calm Mama Society.

Remember, my advice is not medical advice. Always discuss what you learn with your team. See my Disclaimer here! Also, We make a small commission from some of the links (you don’t pay any more for using our links); however some of the recommendations, we do not earn anything; we love ’em and want you to know about them.


Ever find yourself scrolling through endless forums late at night, wondering about the real, unfiltered details of childbirth that no one seems to talk about plainly? The Birth Experience with Labor Nurse Mama is here to change that. Hosted by Trish Ware, RN, this podcast draws directly from her years in the delivery room, where she’s helped bring thousands of newborns into the world. She knows the questions that keep you up at night, from the logistical-like how to effectively push or what Pitocin actually does-to the vulnerable fears about epidurals, VBACs, or those embarrassing but totally normal moments. Trish moves beyond clinical jargon to offer honest, compassionate, and evidence-based insights that feel like a conversation with a trusted friend who’s seen it all. Each episode tackles a specific aspect of pregnancy, labor, and early parenting, like navigating breastfeeding challenges or figuring out newborn care, with the goal of replacing anxiety with practical knowledge. Tuning into this podcast means getting a seasoned labor nurse’s perspective delivered with warmth and a deep understanding of what you’re going through, helping you feel more prepared and empowered for your own journey.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Birth Experience with Labor Nurse Mama
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