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Marisa Suarez

Marisa Suarez

LinkedIn

Occupational Therapist & Pediatric Feeding Therapist

MS, OTR/L, SWC, CLEC, PMH-CMom of three

About

Marisa is an occupational therapist who supports families through the emotional complexities of parenting. She brings a uniquely integrated perspective to infant feeding and caregiver support with 17 years of clinical and mental health experience at leading institutions like Stanford Hospital working with children and adults. She is a mom to a son and twin daughters.

Credentials

  • Licensed pediatric occupational therapist
  • Certified feeding, eating, & swallowing clinician
  • Certified perinatal mental health clinician

Education

  • San Jose State University

Expertise

Marisa specializes in feeding therapy, lactation education, and mental health across the lifespan. With a foundation in both clinical care and mental health, she supports the whole family unit through evidence-based practice blending compassion and family-centered care. Her work spans hospitals, primary care, outpatient settings, and digital health education, where she supports families navigating emotional and practical challenges with feeding.

“I love helping families tap into the joy of mealtimes and overcome feelings of stress and anxiety, which are such commonly experienced emotions in parenthood.”

By Marisa Suarez

50 Fantastic - Apple

Choking Hazards for Babies

9 min read
a baby hovers over his edible finger paints and tastes them

10 DIY Toys for Babies

7 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 pile of cannellini beans on a table before being prepared for babies starting solids

Iron-Rich Foods for Babies

12 min read
a small brown swirl, meant to look like poop, with a smiley face on it

When to Worry About Baby's Poop

7 min read
side view of a baby drinking a glass cup of water

Water for Babies

9 min read
A 7 month old baby holding an open cup

How to Teach Baby to Drink from a Cup

18 min read
Sick baby

How and What to Feed a Sick Baby

13 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 10 month old with facial swelling and rash from allergic reaction to cashews

Signs of Anaphylaxis in Baby

8 min read
A baby in a white dotted onesie lying on a soft surface, sucking on their fist while an adult holds their other hand, with a teal pillow in the background.

Baby Hunger & Fullness Cues

8 min read
A close-up of a wide-eyed baby with bright blue eyes and mouth open, with an adult's finger touching their lower lip, against a soft blurred background.

Newborn Feeding Reflexes

4 min read
A toddler in a grey sweater sitting in a white high chair, drinking from a small stainless steel cup with both hands, with a matching steel bowl and spoon on the tray in front of them.

What’s the Best Cup for Babies?

20 min read
Baby Spitting Food Out_Solid Starts

Baby Spitting Food Out?

11 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 photograph of a baby in a yellow onesie bringing a handful of ricotta to her mouth

What Is Baby-Led Weaning?

24 min read

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