Adapted Baby-Led Weaning: A Feeding Approach for Every Baby with Jill Rabin

In this episode of Behind the Latch, Margaret Salty interviews Jill Rabin, MA, CCC-SLP/L, IBCLC, speech-language pathologist, lactation consultant, and co-author of Your Baby Can Self-Feed, Too. Known for her pioneering work in Adapted Baby-Led Weaning (ABLW), Jill specializes in responsive feeding for infants with Down syndrome, prematurity, oral motor challenges, feeding aversion, and medical complexity.Together, they explore how ABLW bridges the gap between traditional baby-led weaning and therapeutic feeding support—giving all babies, including those with motor delays or complex medical needs, a safe and developmentally aligned path to solids. Jill breaks down the misconceptions about gagging vs. choking, readiness cues beyond age, and why starting solids is about skill first, nutrition second. She also shares practical guidance for IBCLCs supporting families in the transition to solids while staying within scope—and how to identify when a referral to a feeding specialist is needed.They discuss:What Adapted Baby-Led Weaning is and how it differs from traditional baby-led weaningUnderstanding gagging, choking risk, and oral motor developmentHow chewing skills develop and why strip-shaped foods build safe feeding foundationsSigns of developmental readiness for solids in breastfed babiesSupporting preterm and medically complex infants during feeding transitionsHow to introduce allergenic foods safelyResponsive feeding and avoiding pressure-based feeding practicesWhen IBCLCs should refer to SLPs or feeding therapistsCultural and socioeconomic accessibility of responsive feeding approachesHow ABLW promotes feeding confidence and reduces aversion👩‍⚕️ Guest InfoJill Rabin, MA, CCC-SLP/L, IBCLC🌐 Website: https://jillrabin.com📸 Instagram: @jillrabin_ablw📘 Book: Your Baby Can Self-Feed, Too🎓 Transition to SolidsAdapted Baby Led Weaning📝 Connect with Margaret📬 Email: [email protected]📸 Instagram: @margaretsalty📘 Facebook: Margaret Salty🎙️ Podcast: Behind the LatchHosted by: Margaret SaltyGuest: Jill Rabin, MA, CCC-SLP/L, IBCLCMusic by: The Magnifiers – My Time Traveling Machine#BehindTheLatch #AdaptedBabyLedWeaning #ABLW #FeedingTherapy #IBCLC #BreastfeedingSupport #OralMotorDevelopment #ResponsiveFeeding #SLP #DownSyndromeFeeding #PediatricFeeding #LactationConsultant #FeedingAversion #EarlyIntervention🎧 Listen now on your favorite podcast app — and don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review!

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