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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

Feeding schedules landscape

Baby Feeding Schedules

15 min read
an icon of a salt shaker

Can Babies Have Salt?

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

When to Worry About Baby's Poop

7 min read
Three glass bottles of milk

Cow’s Milk for Babies & Toddlers

8 min read
a toddler girl drinks a berry smoothie

Smoothies for Toddlers

4 min read
a baby with a full body rash in an allergic reaction

Allergy Symptoms in Babies

31 min read
A baby in a seated position and pink dress reaches for the camera. Text appears around her to describe readiness for solids, including the ability to sit, hold head upright, and show interest in food. And a red X near a drawing of a tongue sticking out to

Tongue Thrust and Starting Solids

15 min read
Alt text: A close-up of a newborn breastfeeding, with the mother's hand supporting her breast and the baby's tiny fist visible.

Breastfeeding Latch Tips

9 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

8 min read
A baby with yogurt on their face and hands sits in a high chair, smiling with curiosity. A green bowl and mat are in front, conveying playful chaos.

Why Messy Eating Is Good for Babies

10 min read
Eczema Riley L Bottle

Tips for Feeding Babies with Eczema

5 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
Introducing Allergens 4:3

Introducing Food Allergens to Baby

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

Readiness to Start Solid Food

15 min read

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