· Providing Specialized Care in NY · NJ · MA · FL · TX · CA ·
At Infant Feeding Specialists, we know how important it is to feel supported—especially when you’re navigating the uncertainty of caring for your baby with feeding difficulties. That’s why we offer more than just expert care, we partner with you to create care plans that are tailored specifically to your baby’s medical needs, feeding history, and your family’s values, never cookie-cutter, always compassionate.
Your baby is unique, and your journey deserves nothing less.
Our comprehensive evaluations uncover the root of your baby’s feeding challenges using a whole-child approach. We will equip you with practical strategies to make mealtimes safe, functional, and nurturing. Appropriate for bottle or breastfeeding infants.
Ask your pressing questions and get expert advice tailored to your baby’s unique needs. These sessions empower you to support your child’s happiness, growth, milestones, and daily routines with confidence. This session is also helpful if you want to discuss your infant with a specialist before you schedule a full evaluation.
At any point in your NICU journey rely on our NICU-Trained Specialists to offer added education, resources and support to optimize every day of your infants neuro-development.
Prepare for your baby’s arrival with evidence-based education on feeding, sleeping, early developmental milestones and Baby Registry Must-Haves. Our prenatal consults help expecting parents feel confident, informed, and ready to nurture their newborn.
Learn about our Services
Don’t see a therapist in your area? Our growing nationwide network means we’re continuously expanding to meet families where they are — reach out, and we’ll help connect you with the right support.
We are a dedicated team of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and occupational therapists (OTs) with years of experience working in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs), supporting some of the most fragile and medically complex infants — and their families.
All of our therapists have earned the advanced designation of Certified Neonatal Therapist (CNT), which means we go beyond traditional infant feeding and lactation support to address every aspect of neonatal care. Furthermore, many of our specialists hold additional certifications setting them apart from other therapists. We are uniquely trained to solve complex infant feeding challenges — from reflux and oral motor difficulties to transitioning off tube feeds and correcting oral aversions.
We believe parents are their infant’s best advocates. Our mission is to empower you with the knowledge, strategies, and confidence to support your baby’s growth and thriving well beyond the NICU.
Click on a State to see the specialists available:
Shawna Townsend, OTD, OTR/L, IBCLC, CNT, NTMTC, SWC
Virtual In-Home
Zaida Chavez,
OTR, CNT, IBCLC, SWC, NTMTC
Virtual In-Home
Rokki Garcia
SLP.D., CCC-SLP, CLC, CNT, NTMTC, BCS-S
Suzanne Schneider
MS, CCC-SLP, CNT
Caitlyn (Catie) Carey MA, CCC-SLP, CNT, NTMTC
Virtual In-Home
Virtual
Virtual In-Home
Brittany Bullock
MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, CNT
Virtual
Kayla Hernandez
MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, CNT, CLC
Virtual In-Home
Aleksandra Popkowska,
MS, CCC-SLP, CNT, LBCLC, NTMTC
Virtual In-Home
Teni Lopez-Cardenas, M.S., OTR/L, CNT, NTMTC, IBCLC, SWC
Virtual In-Home
Dr. Louisa
Ferrara-Gonzalez,
PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, CNT, CLC, NTMCT
Rachele Scala,
MS, CCC-SLP, CNT, NTMCT
Nicole Scafura,
MS, CCC-SLP, CNT
Aimee Liguori,
MS, CCC-SLP, IBCLC
Garden City Office
Virtual
Garden City Office
Virtual or In-Home
Virtual
Out on Maternity until 2026
Learn more about NY Services
Lindsay Lisch,
MA, CCC-SLP
Garden City Office
Virtual or In-Home
Aleksandra Popkowska,
MS, CCC-SLP, CNT, LBCLC, NTMTC
Virtual In-Home
Teni Lopez-Cardenas, M.S., OTR/L, CNT, NTMTC, IBCLC, SWC
Virtual In-Home
At Infant Feeding Specialists, we make the path to feeding success clear and manageable with a three-step process designed to support both your baby and your family.
Schedule an Appointment
Receive Expert Care
Feel Confident & Connected
Select your State and book a session—virtually or in-person—with a specialist in your area. Be sure to complete our brief intake forms prior to your session.
We use a Whole-Child approach to assess your baby’s unique needs with expert care, and create a personalized plan with recommend-ations, resources, and ongoing support.
With clear guidance and open-communication on our patient portal, your baby will make tremendous improvements towards their feeding goals. They will begin to thrive and enjoy their feedings!
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"My 2-month-old daughter was struggling with reflux and difficulty feeding. After a frightening near-choking incident, I reached out to Dr. Louisa Ferrara-Gonzalez at Infant Feeding Specialists. After just one session, my daughter’s feeding improved dramatically — she is more comfortable, happy, and mealtimes have become truly enjoyable. Dr. Louisa is compassionate, attentive, and immediately addressed all my concerns. I can’t recommend Infant Feeding Specialists enough — they have changed our family for the better!"
— Danielle L
The transition to home can be daunting. You were receiving 24/7 care from highly trained specialists in the NICU, and then you were discharged home and you lost all that support. This transition can leave parents feeling stressed, frustrated and inadequate. We are here to provide that gap in care. We all have extensive knowledge of the NICU environment and the numerous difficulties your infant may face.
We work to meet you where you are — whether virtually, in-home, or in-office — and accommodate your needs as much as possible. Our growing nationwide network of NICU-trained therapists improves your access to care, allowing us to provide expert guidance close to home and with short wait times for your appointment.
With our guidance, your baby can gain weight, feed comfortably, and progress through feeding milestones more smoothly. Our goal is to build a strong foundation for more skills to build upon so that we optimize short-term and long-term feeding success — helping your baby thrive while ensuring future mealtimes are moments of connection, comfort, and joy for the whole family.
Your child is more than a number on a scale or the volume of a bottle. We take a whole-child approach—connecting feeding, nutrition, sleep, self-regulation, bonding, and motor development—so we can uncover the root causes of feeding challenges and create care that truly supports lasting progress.
Bringing your baby home from the NICU can be both joyful and overwhelming. Families need more than just instructions—they deserve guidance, support, and reassurance as they navigate feeding challenges that may linger after discharge.
Did you know… 43% of NICU graduates are at risk for continued feeding difficulties until 4 years of age!!1 They also risk slow growth and neurodevelopmental delays, while parents may feel anxious, isolated, or unsure of their ability to care for their child.
Pediatric Feeding Disorders :
The Numbers Don’t Lie
of normally developing children*
of children with developmental disorders*
of children with chronic medical conditions*
25-45%
80-90%
40-70%
Let’s work together to prevent these difficulties!
The bottom line is that your family deserves better.
You need:
- A safe, individualized feeding plan that meets their baby’s unique medical and developmental needs
- Compassionate guidance that helps parents feel confident and supported
- Mealtimes that foster connection, comfort, and calm rather than stress and fear
At Infant Feeding Specialists, we provide expert, trauma-informed care to help babies thrive and parents feel empowered, turning uncertainty into progress and mealtimes into moments of connection.
Let’s get your baby — and you — the support you deserve.
* Pados, 2023; Sdravou et al., 2021 ; Lukens 2020
Whether you’re looking for a comprehensive feeding evaluation near you, or you have a question for our team, fill out the contact form below to tell us what you need. We’ll et right back to you to help you decide if our practice is right for your family.
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