ASHA – Melanie Potock

ASHA

Articles published on ASHA Blog

Parenting a Picky Eater

The Stress of Having a Picky Eater: 3 Tips to Help Parents

Children who resist trying new foods range from the garden-variety, hesitant “picky eater” to extremely selective. Deciphering the intricacies of where a child lies on the eating spectrum takes our professional...

Feeding Therapy

Pediatrician and SLP Team Up for a Healthy Food Adventure

Like any modern techno-friendship, I met Nimali Fernando on Facebook. Fernando is a pediatrician who took childhood obesity into her own hands by creating a nonprofit, the Doctor Yum Project,...

Feeding Therapy

Top 10 Leader Blog Speech-Language Pathology Posts for 2015

The ASHA Leader Blog Once again, feeding issues top the charts in 2015. Of the 10 most-read blog posts last year, articles on feeding disorders account for three of them....

Challenges at School, Feeding Toddlers to School Age

Picky Eaters in the Preschool Classroom: 7 Tips for Teachers

As a pediatric feeding therapist, part of working in the child’s natural environment is making regular preschool visits to offer teachers and staff guidance when a child is not eagerly...

Feeding Therapy

Pediatric Feeding Tops the Charts in 2014

ASHA Leader Pediatric Feeding Tops the Charts in 2014 From stuttering to aphasia, hearing loss to hearing aids, early intervention to telepractice and more, ASHA’s blog posts are written by...

mymunchbug_melaniepotock

Jan 2

🤔Wondering about the rice in those baby teethers? And do babies really need those anyway?

🙋🏼‍♀️I’ve got some thoughts on the matter. 👋🏼HI! I’m Melanie, a pediatric feeding specialist and author of 6 books on feeding littles & big kids too! Be sure you’re following me for daily tips!

😬Many parents are concerned about the arsenic and heavy metals in rice. While this is a reasonable concern, keep in mind that like any food, we just don’t want to consume MOSTLY rice products. For me, a little bit here and there, especially in the form of a convenient food that babies can benefit from in other ways…that’s where I find the balance.

😘Rice teethers have oral motor benefits, especially for babies who are more hesitant about larger pieces of food in their mouth. They melt easily, feel secure in their little grasp, and aren’t that messy. I can use them as a “carrier food” to introduce other flavors by dipping too! That makes it convenient for on the go and for practicing a little tongue lateralization (moving tongue back and forth), beginner chewing and early tastes. So, I offer them in rotation with hard munchables or meltables like home-made yogurt melts.

🌤️I also like to offer them OCCASIONALLY as a “warm-up” at mealtime, while caregivers are getting the main meal ready. I usually break one in half and that’s plenty! But I don`t avoid them, and I pick a brand that I trust.

✨Hey, did you see the recent @consumerreports article on heavy metals in puffs? One brand that stood out as safer (and rice-free) was @onceuponafarm because they are the recipient of both the Clean Label Project Purity Award and the Clean Label Project Pesticide-Free Certification.

🥰And yes, I am one of their feeding experts. And NO, they did not pay me to say this. In fact, they don’t even know I’m posting this tonight.

❤️My joy is bringing YOU safe and trusted information and I just wanted to share how I feel about that brand…I hope you find it helpful!

😘Hey, thanks for following me…carry on.

💕Melanie
#melaniepotock #onceuponafarm #riceforbabies #feedingtherapy #slpfeeding ...

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mymunchbug_melaniepotock

Jan 1

❤️Let’s show Holly that she is not alone in her fight against MS. Together, we can help her and Dutch complete the Mission Working Dogs training program and support Holly in living the independent life she is fighting so hard to sustain. ✨COMMENT HOLLY to HELP.✨

🤍Holly’s MS has caused extreme fatigue and excruciating nerve pain throughout her body, and the infusions she receives to slow its progression have significantly compromised her immune system. Holly's work as a speech pathologist and swallowing specialist is her passion and her inability to work with her clients has also been a significant setback for her.

💕✨A Life-Changing Opportunity with Dutch✨💕
Holly and her beloved puppy, Dutch, have been accepted into the Mission Working Dogs training program in Portland, Maine. This inspiring organization, a woman-owned organization led by U.S. military veterans, trains service dogs to assist individuals with physical challenges. Holly and Dutch underwent a rigorous application process, including temperament tests, medical reviews, and interviews, to be accepted into the program.The training program involves a minimum of 250 hours, during which

💕🐾💕Dutch will be trained to assist Holly with essential tasks, such as carrying laundry, opening doors, turning on lights, and retrieving dropped items. This support will be transformative for Holly, helping her maintain her independence and improve her quality of life.

✨Supporting Holly Beyond Training✨
Her compromised immune system has led to multiple hospitalizations, and she is temporarily unable to grocery shop, cook, or clean on her own. In addition, her home will need to be made more accessible for her (such as changing her current bathtub to a walk-in shower). Any funds raised beyond today’s goal will help Holly manage these essential tasks over the next 6–12 months as she works toward regaining her strength with the help of immunotherapy.

🐾✨COMMENT HOLLY & I’ll send you the GoFundMe link. The more comments, the more this post gets visibility, so thank you!

🥰Melanie

Special thanks to Alyson for permission to share this today.
#gofundme #sendDutchtoschool #melaniepotock

❤️Let’s show Holly that she is not alone in her fight against MS. Together, we can help her and Dutch complete the Mission Working Dogs training program and support Holly in living the independent life she is fighting so hard to sustain. ✨COMMENT HOLLY to HELP.✨

🤍Holly’s MS has caused extreme fatigue and excruciating nerve pain throughout her body, and the infusions she receives to slow its progression have significantly compromised her immune system. Holly`s work as a speech pathologist and swallowing specialist is her passion and her inability to work with her clients has also been a significant setback for her.

💕✨A Life-Changing Opportunity with Dutch✨💕
Holly and her beloved puppy, Dutch, have been accepted into the Mission Working Dogs training program in Portland, Maine. This inspiring organization, a woman-owned organization led by U.S. military veterans, trains service dogs to assist individuals with physical challenges. Holly and Dutch underwent a rigorous application process, including temperament tests, medical reviews, and interviews, to be accepted into the program.The training program involves a minimum of 250 hours, during which

💕🐾💕Dutch will be trained to assist Holly with essential tasks, such as carrying laundry, opening doors, turning on lights, and retrieving dropped items. This support will be transformative for Holly, helping her maintain her independence and improve her quality of life.

✨Supporting Holly Beyond Training✨
Her compromised immune system has led to multiple hospitalizations, and she is temporarily unable to grocery shop, cook, or clean on her own. In addition, her home will need to be made more accessible for her (such as changing her current bathtub to a walk-in shower). Any funds raised beyond today’s goal will help Holly manage these essential tasks over the next 6–12 months as she works toward regaining her strength with the help of immunotherapy.

🐾✨COMMENT HOLLY & I’ll send you the GoFundMe link. The more comments, the more this post gets visibility, so thank you!

🥰Melanie

Special thanks to Alyson for permission to share this today.
#gofundme #sendDutchtoschool #melaniepotock ...

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mymunchbug_melaniepotock

Dec 31

🤍In one word, what will you be doing more of in 2025?

🥰Happy New Year!
🥂Melanie
#melaniepotock #slpfeeding #feedingtherapy #pickyeaters #feedinglittles #responsivefeeding

🤍In one word, what will you be doing more of in 2025?

🥰Happy New Year!
🥂Melanie
#melaniepotock #slpfeeding #feedingtherapy #pickyeaters #feedinglittles #responsivefeeding ...

72 17

Follow Melanie on Instagram