Lactation & Feeding Support serving Bergen County

Expert Feeding Support for Babies During the First Year of Life

Feeding your baby is supposed to feel natural, but for many families, it can quickly become stressful, overwhelming, and filled with questions. Whether you're struggling with breastfeeding, bottle feeding, pumping, poor weight gain, or introducing solids for the first time, our feeding specialists are here to help support both baby and caregiver every step of the way.

At BLS Child Development Center, we provide comprehensive lactation and infant feeding support for babies from birth through the first 15+ months using a holistic, family-centered approach. Our goal is to identify the root cause of feeding difficulties while empowering parents with practical strategies, education, and confidence to make feeding a more positive experience.

We understand that feeding is more than nutrition. Feeding impacts bonding, development, oral motor skills, growth, and overall wellbeing. Every baby is unique, and our individualized treatment plans are designed to meet your child exactly where they are.

Meet Jillian Lugo, M.S., CCC-SLP, CLC

Jillian Lugo is a Speech-Language Pathologist and Certified Lactation Counselor with extensive experience supporting infants and families through their feeding journeys. Her background includes working with babies in both NICU and outpatient settings, giving her experience supporting premature infants, NICU graduates, and babies experiencing a variety of feeding challenges.

Jillian specializes in lactation and breastfeeding support, bottle feeding, pumping education, latch difficulties, tongue and lip ties, feeding coordination, and the introduction of solids. She works with families from the newborn stage through approximately 15 months of age, providing individualized support as feeding needs evolve from first latch to first bites.

Jillian takes a holistic, family-centered approach to feeding, recognizing that successful feeding is about more than nutrition. She considers the needs of both baby and caregiver and prioritizes parent education, practical strategies, and individualized care. Her goal is to help families feel supported and confident while helping babies develop safe, efficient, and positive feeding experiences.

Lactation Support

Breastfeeding can be rewarding, but it does not always come easily. Our lactation support services help families navigate common breastfeeding challenges while supporting both mom and baby throughout their feeding journey.

We Can Help With:

  • Difficulty latching

  • Painful nursing

  • Shallow latch

  • Poor milk transfer

  • Oversupply concerns

  • Pumping support and education

  • Returning to work while breastfeeding

  • Bottle refusal

  • Breast-to-bottle transitions

  • Feeding schedules and routines

  • Weight gain concerns

  • Premature infants transitioning to breastfeeding

  • Feeding after NICU discharge

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A woman breastfeeding a baby on a bed with striped sheets, with part of her head and arm visible.

Infant Feeding Therapy

Some babies need additional support developing the oral motor skills, strength, coordination, and endurance required for successful feeding.

Feeding therapy may be beneficial for infants who:

  • Have difficulty breastfeeding or bottle feeding

  • Tire easily during feeds

  • Feed for excessively long periods

  • Demonstrate poor weight gain

  • Have tongue ties or lip ties

  • Experience choking, coughing, or gagging during feeds

  • Were born prematurely

  • Have a history of NICU stays

  • Have oral motor weakness

  • Demonstrate poor sucking patterns

  • Struggle with feeding coordination

  • Need support transitioning between breast and bottle

Our therapists evaluate the entire feeding process to determine the underlying factors contributing to feeding challenges and create individualized treatment plans to support safe, efficient, and successful feeding experiences.

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A woman in a white shirt feeding a baby with a bottle, close-up side view in a bright room.

Introduction to Solids Support

The transition to solids is an exciting milestone, but it can also feel overwhelming for many parents. We help families confidently navigate introducing purees, table foods, and age-appropriate textures during the first year of life.

We Help Support:

  • Introduction to purees

  • Baby-led weaning

  • Transitioning from purees to textured foods

  • Oral motor skill development

  • Self-feeding skills

  • Texture progression

  • Gagging concerns

  • Mealtime routines and strategies

Our feeding specialists help babies build the oral motor skills, confidence, and positive feeding experiences necessary for successful mealtimes.

A young girl with light brown hair in a ponytail being fed with a spoon by an adult woman, likely her mother, at a high chair in a home setting.

Why Families Choose BLS Child Development Center

At BLS Child Development Center, we believe in supporting the whole family. Our feeding specialists combine clinical expertise with compassionate care to help families feel confident, informed, and supported throughout their baby's feeding journey.

Whether you're welcoming a newborn, navigating breastfeeding challenges, supporting a premature infant after NICU discharge, or preparing your baby for their first bites of food, we are here to help every step of the way.

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Brittany Nardone, DPT kicking ball with school aged child at pediatric physical therapy in River Vale New Jersey

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything You Need to Know: FAQs

  • If your baby has difficulty breastfeeding or bottle feeding, feeds for long periods, tires easily, struggles to gain weight, coughs or gags during feeds, or has oral motor challenges, a feeding evaluation can help identify the underlying cause and create a personalized plan.

  • No. We support all feeding journeys, including breastfeeding, bottle feeding, pumping, combination feeding, transitioning between breast and bottle, and introducing solid foods.

  • Your first visit includes a comprehensive assessment of your baby’s feeding skills, oral motor function, medical history, growth, developmental milestones, and your family’s concerns. From there, we create an individualized treatment plan tailored to your baby’s needs.

  • Yes. Our therapists evaluate how tongue ties and lip ties may be impacting feeding, oral motor function, and weight gain. We provide treatment before and after releases while collaborating with your medical team when appropriate.

  • Absolutely. We have experience supporting premature infants and babies transitioning home after a NICU stay, helping them develop safe, efficient feeding skills while supporting healthy growth and development.

  • Yes! We guide families through every stage of introducing solids, including purees, baby-led weaning, texture progression, self-feeding skills, and creating positive mealtime experiences.

  • Yes. Poor weight gain can sometimes be related to feeding efficiency, oral motor skills, or coordination. We evaluate the entire feeding process to identify contributing factors and help support healthy growth.

  • Absolutely. Parent education is one of the most important parts of our program. You’ll receive hands-on coaching, practical strategies, and individualized recommendations that you can confidently implement between sessions.

  • Every baby is different. Some families benefit from just a few visits for education and support, while others may require ongoing therapy depending on their child’s feeding challenges and developmental needs.

  • The earlier, the better. If feeding feels stressful, your baby struggles during feeds, you’re worried about weight gain, breastfeeding, pumping, or introducing solids, early intervention can make a significant difference for both you and your baby.

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