Meet Dr Bonnie Soto, PT, DPT of Be Well Bebé

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr Bonnie Soto, PT, DPT.

Dr Bonnie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I have been practicing as a pediatric physical therapist for 12 years now. My experience in pediatrics ranges from working with infants up through 18 years of age in outpatient settings, PICU/NICU floors, NICU aftercare support, and early intervention. I have taught yoga classes for young children with disabilities, supported teens with post-concussive disorders, and helped a lot of babies learn how to move their bodies. When I began having children, a little over 5 years ago, my oldest and I had difficulty establishing breastfeeding due to my baby’s body tension, tongue tie, and torticollis- among other factors. I had to advocate really hard to get the support I needed to for us to be successful with breastfeeding. I had no idea how much all of these things were connected and how beneficial my background in physical therapy could be to other families going through the same struggles. Since that time I have spent thousands of hours in courses, reading books, participating in mentorships to specialize in treating infants experiencing issues with feeding, body tension, torticollis, head shape abnormalities, and milestone difficulties. Along this journey I also realized that I needed more time one-on-one with families to cover everything needed for success. That time is just not generally available in a typical clinic setting. Which is why I started Be Well Bebé- to provide comprehensive, in-home care for babies and their families. My goal is to support the baby and the whole family unit holistically with hands-on care and education so that the family also feels empowered to help their baby progress and reach their goals. I am incredibly passionate about providing the support to families that I so desperately needed during this phase of parenthood.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I have known I wanted to own a practice since a few years out of PT school but I never really admitted it to anyone. As a PT, the expected thing to do after school was to get a good 40+ hour a week clinic or hospital job and be happy about that. So that’s what I did. And at that time, I didn’t see many pediatric physical therapists owning their own practice so it just felt out-of-reach. I would start to put the “wheels in motion” but then life seemed to push me in a different direction so it was placed on the back-burner. Once I began having children I realized that the only way I could find the work-life balance that I needed as a Mother, while still being able to provide the support that our entire family unit needed, was to make it myself. Create my own schedule so that I could choose how I showed up to work and choose how I would show up in my family. Even after I knew this was the only way it still took me years to finally commit to this path. Building a business while raising babies is one of the most difficult things I have ever done. It’s been a lot of late nights, long weekends, and sacrifices by my whole family to support this dream. A lot of nudging from my husband, my parents, and best friend to make sure I keep pushing even when things feel tough. And then with each client visit I am reminded why I chose this path because actually doing the work of this job is incredibly rewarding. I feel very proud of what I am building.

As you know, we’re big fans of Be Well Bebé. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
At Be Well Bebé, I provide in-home pediatric physical therapy services across the East Valley and Scottsdale. I specialize in treating infants having difficulty with torticollis, body tension, head shape concerns, oral motor dysfunction, and milestone delays or motor skill challenges. I have completed multiple trainings and mentorships to provide lactation-informed, evidence-based support for infants and their families. I have trainings in Tethered Oral Tissues, Craniosacral Fascial Therapy, General Movements Assessment, and myofascial release among other techniques. I am always taking a course, reading a book or research or collaborating with colleagues to further improve my skills.

I pride myself on providing holistic services which means I’m really assessing and treating the infant as a whole person and looking at how all of their body systems + the dynamics of the family play a role in the concerns. Not just a tongue tie, or just a tight neck muscle but how everything in their body and environment is all connected.

I feel really honored each time I am invited into a client’s home to support the family during a such a special transition in their life.

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
A few years ago, during the pandemic and while postpartum with my second child, I began posting on social media about infant and toddler development and I kept going viral. My account on TikTok (@milestone_mama) grew in popularity quickly and, to me, it just felt like luck. But that luck made me realize that my voice was important for parents to hear. The info I was providing allowed them to feel heard and understood. It allowed so many families to advocate for services for their child when they otherwise might not have known it was available. And it made me realize that I have a lot of value to provide. I don’t know that I would be launching my own practice today with out the support I received from complete strangers online. I am forever thankful for that luck.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bewellbebept.com
• Instagram: @bewellbebept