The Baby-Led Weaning Approach: An Excellent Feeding Option to Assist Babies with Down Syndrome in Transitioning to Solid Foods
Why is the use of a baby-led weaning approach an optimal way to introduce solids to babies with Down syndrome? Baby-led weaning is a child directed feeding approach that exposes babies to a variety of healthy food choices, allowing them to develop their own food likes and dislikes while simultaneously developing strong oral motor skills and feeding skills. Baby-led weaning also encourages and further develops fine motor and self-feeding skills. This lecture will address implementation and healthy feeding choices that can positively impact the health of children with Down syndrome and their families.
Jill Rabin M.S. CCC-SLP/L IBCLC
Jill Rabin is a pediatric speech pathologist and lactation consultant that has been working primarily with infants to 3 years olds for over 27 years. She’s often able to combine both professions to assist families with babies with Down syndrome, often beginning with counseling families with a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome on the importance of breastfeeding, providing breast milk and the importance of early feeding choices, and methods. She currently maintains a private practice in the northern suburbs of Chicago, and she also teaches classes on child development and transitioning babies to solid foods at a lactation center.
