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Kary Rappaport

Kary Rappaport

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Executive Director, Pediatric Feeding & Swallowing Specialist

OTR/L, MS, SCFES, IBCLCMom of two

About

Kary is a licensed pediatric occupational therapist, certified feeding and swallowing specialist, and international board-certified lactation consultant. With over 20 years of clinical experience and as a mom of two, she passionately advocates for clinical care that improves family access to connection-driven, research-supported interventions for infant feeding, from birth to solid foods and family meals.

Credentials

  • Licensed pediatric occupational therapist
  • Board-certified feeding and swallowing specialist
  • International board-certified lactation consultant

Education

  • University of Southern California
  • Mary Mount University

Expertise

Kary evaluates and treats infants and toddlers with feeding and swallowing challenges, including aversions related to cancer, prematurity, and sensory processing disorder, and dysphagia from cardiac and gastrointestinal conditions. She specializes in interpretation of modified barium swallow studies and complex feeding therapy cases, but has extensive experience supporting typically developing babies and toddlers with learning to eat.

“Babies are naturally wise and resilient. A safe feeding environment and the encouragement of a loving caregiver is typically all it takes for babies to build new skills.”

By Kary Rappaport

side view of a baby drinking a glass cup of water

Water for Babies

9 min read
Feeding schedules landscape

Baby Feeding Schedules

45 min read
a photograph of a baby in a high chair exploring some food while sticking their tongue out

Tongue Thrust and Starting Solids

15 min read
a landscape photograph of a baby looking toward the camera in their high chair, not eating food that's lying on the tray

Baby Won't Touch Food?

22 min read
A green measuring scoop filled with powdered infant formula in front of an empty baby bottle with measurement markings, with a second bottle filled with prepared formula in the background.

How to Choose the Best Baby Formula

16 min read
A baby in a striped top reaches toward three black olive slices on a white high chair tray, practicing the pincer grasp.

6 Ways to Help Baby Practice the Pincer Grasp

13 min read
a variety of colorful popsicles for babies starting solids

Popsicles for Babies & Toddlers

12 min read
A baby in an avocado-print onesie sitting in a white high chair, eating while an adult offers a piece of soft white food, with the baby's hand also reaching toward their mouth.

5 Month Feeding Schedule

4 min read
A blue-eyed baby in a yellow top sitting in a high chair with food smeared on her face and hands, mouth open wide, with scattered food pieces on the tray in front of her.

How to Help Baby Gagging on Solids

5 min read
A little girl in a blue star-print top covers her face with both hands in protest in front of a plate of broccoli, tomatoes, and other vegetables on a wooden table.

When to Seek Help for Picky Eating

24 min read
a baby in a high chair with their tongue out and eyes closed after tasting a tart strawberry

Is This Normal? Things Babies Do When Tasting New Foods

8 min read
A white cupcake with vanilla frosting and rainbow sprinkles

Sugar in Food for Babies 6 to 12 Months

15 min read
a photograph of a baby in a high chair with five pieces of quartered grape on the high chair tray and food in their mouth

When Baby Stuffs Food in the Mouth

11 min read
A mother with curly hair tenderly resting her cheek on her baby's head while bottle-feeding the infant on a couch.

4 Month Feeding Schedule

10 min read
a photograph of a baby in a high chair with a few pieces of cooked vegetables on the tray in front of him and a piece of zucchini in his outstretched hand

How to Safely Cut Food for Babies

18 min read
Eczema Riley L Bottle

Tips for Feeding Babies with Eczema

11 min read

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