LEAP Speech & Lactation

05/25/2026

A welcoming, supportive space designed by moms, for moms. 💜

We had such a great time chatting with KWQC Morgan Ottier last Friday about Nurturing Notes. Thank you again to Quad Cities Live for hosting us!

During the segment, we shared more about our class lineup and our passion behind it - creating a welcoming, supportive space designed by moms, for moms. Our goal is to help families feel connected, encouraged, and supported during the newborn stage.

From feeding, soothing to sleep, tummy time, communication, and development, each week focuses on practical topics that naturally come up during life with a new baby. We also incorporate music, interaction, and simple everyday strategies that support bonding and early development.

Nurturing Notes is held weekly at Quad Cities Music Therapy in Moline:
🎶 Wednesdays at 9:30 AM
🎶 June 10th – July 29th

Whether you’re a first-time mom or just looking for connection and support during this season, we would love to have you!

If you know an expecting or new mom who might enjoy this kind of community, please share this post or tag them below 💜

05/18/2026

✨ We officially launched the Nurturing Notes Facebook community! ✨

This group was created as a supportive space for Quad Cities moms/caregivers of babies (0–6 months) to:
💜 connect with other local moms
💬 continue conversations from class
🍼 ask questions about feeding & development
🎶 access weekly resources and PDFs
✨ help shape this new pilot community together

Nurturing Notes is a FREE weekly support group focused on music, feeding, communication, and connection.
Each week includes:
gentle music experiences for babies
conversations around feeding, soothing, routines & development
practical support and education
space to connect with other local moms

Whether you plan to attend class or are simply looking for community, you’re welcome to join us 💜

https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Dyu74bPLr/

05/13/2026

Sometimes babies are growing well… and feeding still doesn’t feel easy.

Maybe feeds are painful.
Maybe your baby clicks, leaks milk, struggles to stay latched, gets frustrated during feeds, spits up frequently, seems uncomfortable after eating, or works hard just to feed.
Maybe your baby seems tense, uncomfortable when laid down, hates the car seat, arches frequently, or never fully seems relaxed during feeding or rest.
Maybe you’ve been told it’s “just reflux” or that things look “fine,” but something still feels off.

Feeding challenges can sometimes be connected to oral function and tethered oral tissues (tongue/lip ties).

At LEAP Speech & Lactation, I provide compassionate lactation and oral function support for families in the Quad Cities — including support before and after releases when appropriate, along with feeding guidance tailored to your baby and your goals.

Services may include:
• Breastfeeding & bottle feeding support
• Oral function evaluation
• Pre/post-release support
• Parent education & developmental guidance
• In-home and virtual visits available

You don’t have to wait until feeding feels impossible to ask questions. Sometimes reassurance is enough, and sometimes families finally get answers that make feeding feel easier.

📍 Serving families across the Quad Cities
📩 Free consultation calls available

Compassionate in-home and virtual speech therapy and lactation support for infants, toddlers, and families in the Quad Cities. Schedule a free consultation.

05/11/2026

✨ Introducing Nurturing Notes ✨

We’re excited to share a new summer collaboration between Quad Cities Music Therapy and LEAP Speech & Lactation!

Nurturing Notes is an 8-week music, language, and infant feeding support group for moms and their babies (0–6 months).

This group is designed to be a welcoming space for moms to connect, ask questions, and support early feeding and communication development through music and play. The newborn stage can feel isolating at times, and we hope this becomes a space where moms feel encouraged, supported, and connected with one another.

Together, we’ll explore:
🎵 Simple songs, rhythms, and musical routines to use at home
🍼 Infant feeding guidance and support
🗣️ Early communication, connection, and language development through everyday interactions
🤍 Community and connection with other local moms

📍 Quad Cities Music Therapy – Moline, IL
📅 Wednesdays (June 10th-July 29th)
⏰ 9:30–10:30 AM
💲 Free to attend
No registration required

Bring a blanket, your baby, and come as you are — we’d love to have you there.

04/23/2026

Excited to share that I recently completed TOTS Training (Tethered Oral Tissues Specialty) through Chrysalis Orofacial!

This specialty training focuses on how oral restrictions (like tongue or lip ties) can impact feeding, early communication, and overall oral function - and how to thoughtfully evaluate and support families through each step of care.

At LEAP Speech & Lactation, I’m especially passionate about supporting infants and their families while looking at the whole picture. Continuing education like this helps me better support concerns such as:
• Breastfeeding and bottle feeding challenges
• Oral function and coordination
• Early communication development

Always learning, always growing - so I can better support you and your baby 🤍

03/26/2026

“They point to everything… but don’t say much yet.”

I hear this from parents all the time.

Pointing and gestures are great early skills — but by age 2, we expect those skills to start turning into short phrases (like “more milk” or “go car”), not just gestures or single words.

If your child is mostly pointing, leading you, or relying on gestures to communicate, it may be worth taking a closer look.

The good news? These are often some of the most responsive kids when we start early.

If you’ve been wondering about your child’s speech, it’s always okay to take a closer look.

———————————————
LEAP Speech & Lactation
Quad Cities
www.LEAPSpeechLactation.com

In-home speech therapy for Quad Cities infants, toddlers, and young children. Personalized support from a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist.

03/21/2026

03/18/2026

Hi Quad City moms! I’m Emily, a local speech-language pathologist and the owner of LEAP Speech & Lactation.

These are some of the most common questions and concerns parents share when they start wondering about their child’s speech or language development.

Sometimes everything is right on track, and sometimes a quick evaluation can provide helpful answers and support.

I offer private speech and language evaluations and therapy for children in the Quad Cities, provided in the comfort of your home. Feel free to message me if you ever have questions.

02/25/2026

Speech & Language questions don’t always come with clear answers.

Homeschool families often wonder things like:
• Why does writing feel harder than reading?
• A few sound errors still linger — when does that resolve?
• They have big ideas, but organizing them feels hard — why?
• They read well, but struggle to retell — is that typical?
• When do I monitor vs. seek support?

These are common and very answerable questions.

As a pediatric speech-language pathologist serving the Quad Cities, I support students from preschool through high school with speech clarity, language development, academic language, and literacy skills.

In-home services available.

Message me directly or visit LEAPSpeechLactation.com to learn more.

02/20/2026

Breastfeeding should not hurt.

Not in the hospital.
Not at 2 weeks.
Not at 2 months.

Some tenderness in the early days? Yes.
Toe-curling pain, cracked ni***es, bleeding, or dread before every feed? No.

If you’re experiencing:
• Sharp pain with latch
• Infant having difficulty staying awake during feeds
• Clicking or smacking sounds while nursing
• Baby constantly feeding but still unsatisfied
• Slow weight gain or reflux

Those are signs something needs support, not something you just “push through.”

Pain is not a rite of passage.
It’s information.

Most breastfeeding challenges are very treatable with the right support.

If you're in the Quad Cities and feeling unsure about feeding, support is available.

Learn more:
https://www.leapspeechlactation.com/lactation-support

— Emily O’Kane, M.S., CCC-SLP, CBS
LEAP Speech & Lactation

In-home lactation support for Quad Cities families. Get help with latch, pain, supply, and feeding concerns from a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist.

02/16/2026

Excited to now offer onsite speech-language screenings for daycare and preschool centers throughout the Quad Cities!

These brief, play-based screenings provide families with early insight into their child’s communication development, all conducted during the school day with minimal disruption.

✔ Private pay ($20 per child)
✔ No cost to the center
✔ Written screening summaries for families
✔ Optional hearing screenings available

Directors or preschool owners interested in hosting a screening day are welcome to reach out via email or message for more information.

Serving Davenport, Bettendorf, Moline, Rock Island, Geneseo & surrounding communities.

https://www.leapspeechlactation.com/daycare-screenings-quad-cities