Aired June 29, 2026

Most babies are capable of so much more than we give them credit for, and the window to build those skills is shorter than parents realize. This week, Toni-Ann sits down with Jill Rabin, a pediatric speech-language pathologist and international board-certified lactation consultant with 39 years of experience, to talk about why self-feeding isn’t just about food, it’s about building the oral motor foundation that shapes development for years to come.

In episode 32 of Talk The Talk, Toni-Ann and Jill cover:

• What Adapted Baby-Led Weaning actually is (and why it’s not anti-spoon or anti-puree)
• Why babies with Down syndrome should start solids at six months — with the right support
• How chewing develops the jaw and airway, and what happens when kids miss that window
• The difference between gagging and choking, and why gagging is actually a good sign
• Why G-tube dependent kids can transition to family foods — and what that journey looks like

If you’ve ever watched a baby struggle with texture and wondered what you could have done earlier, this episode is for you.