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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

6-month-old in highchair smiles at the camera

How to Start Solids: A Beginner’s Guide

14 min read
a photograph of a baby in a yellow onesie bringing a handful of ricotta to her mouth

What Is Baby-Led Weaning?

24 min read
Maya, 5 months, does tummy time in preparation for starting solids

Readiness to Start Solid Food

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
Eczema Riley L Bottle

Tips for Feeding Babies with Eczema

11 min read
A crying baby wearing a green bib and patterned shirt is being comforted by a person. The scene conveys a sense of distress and care.

FPIES in Babies

14 min read
an icon of a salt shaker

Can Babies Have Salt?

12 min read
a pile of cannellini beans on a table before being prepared for babies starting solids

Iron-Rich Foods for Babies

12 min read
Feeding schedules landscape

Baby Feeding Schedules

45 min read
A toddler girl sitting in a high chair laughing with mouth wide open as an adult attempts to feed her mashed potatoes with a fork, with a plate of food on the tray in front of her.

Travel Food and Snacks for Baby

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
A woman in a kitchen uses a breast pump while seated at a table with a laptop, notebook, and coffee. The scene conveys multitasking and focus.

Pumping Schedules: Guide for Breastfeeding Moms

16 min read
New High Chair Page Feature Image

Solid Starts Guide to High Chairs for Babies (2026)

20 min read
How to Teach Baby to Spit Out Anything

How to Teach Baby to Spit Out Anything

21 min read
Warming-Breast-Milk2

How to Store, Warm, and Cook with Breast Milk

10 min read
Is my child a picky eater?

Picky Eating vs Toddler Selectivity

4 min read

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