The 6–12 month stage is full of curiosity, crawling, teething, and starting solids. In this holiday gift guide, pediatric PT and mom Dr. Alli shares her favorite toys, feeding gear, and soothing essentials that babies actually use—and parents truly appreciate.

The first six months are all about connection, feeding, and laying the groundwork for movement. In this holiday gift guide, pediatric PT and mom Dr. Alli shares her favorite toys, feeding tools, and soothing essentials that babies actually use—and parents truly appreciate.

Noticing your baby crawl with one leg out or in a “janky” three-point crawl? This guide explains what hitch crawling is, why it happens, simple exercises you can try at home (including my favorite crawling tool, the Nugget Play Couch), and when it might be time to get extra support.

If clothes are stiff, too tight, or constantly covering hands and feet, they can slow down progress. Small changes—like breathable fabrics, leaving toes out, or giving your baby diaper-only floor time—make a huge difference for motor skill practice.

If you've ever spiraled after googling “muscle tone,” you’re not alone. Let’s unpack this together—without shame, fear, or overcomplication.

Let’s be real: when you see “virtual infant physical therapy”, your brain goes to how the H-E-double hockey sticks does that even work??

And let me tell you, when I first started this work, I thought the same thing.

But then something magical happened: I started providing virtual services and families were getting incredible results…

Even better than what you might see in person. 

Why? Well, for many reasons, but largely related to the reasons listed here.

You’ve seen it all over Instagram. You’ve heard it from your pediatrician. Everyone says: “Get your baby on their belly!”—but what’s the deal with tummy time, really?

Is tummy time actually necessary for your baby’s development?

Short answer: Yes, it’s important—but it’s also not the only thing that matters. Let me explain.