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Get to Know Ms. Dawn

Dawn Winkelmann is a Speech-Language Pathologist and Pediatric Feeding Therapist specializing in infant swallowing. She has over 25 years of experience teaching parents, therapists, and caregivers how to feed children of all abilities. Through her private practice, Ms. Dawn provides in-home feeding therapy and online coaching, helping parents start solids safely with the baby-led weaning (BLW) approach. She also teaches techniques to help with picky eating, tube feeding, children with special needs (Autism, Down syndrome, etc.), as well as medically compromised kiddos who struggle to eat a variety of foods + liquids. 

Ms. Dawn is the inventor of several feeding products, including the award-winning ezpz Tiny Cup & Tiny Spoon (for infants) as well as the Mini Cup & Straw-Training System, Mini Utensils, and Mini Feeding Set (for toddlers), available for purchase at Nordstrom’s, Bed Bath & Beyond, Target, and Amazon. She is the co-author of the book Making Mealtime ezpz, which has been highlighted on The View and Shark Tank. Her blogging and product design skills are widely sought-after by pediatric brands seeking expert medical advice. 

Ms. Dawn's Expertise

Dawn’s areas of expertise are baby-led weaning (BLW), picky eating, and feeding children with medical or special needs. She has certificates in over a dozen feeding methods and has completed advanced training in the following areas of feeding and swallowing therapy:

  • “Get Permission Approach” by Marsha Dunn Klein, OTR/L MED FAOTA
  • “Feeding the Whole Child Mealtime Approach” by Suzanne Evans Morris, Ph.D.
  • “SOS Approach to Feeding” by Dr. Kay Toomey
  • “CAN-EAT Approach” by Krisi Brackett, M.S, CCC-SLP
  • “Sensory-Motor Approach” by Lori Overland, M.S, CCC-SLP
  • “Food Chaining Approach” by Cheri Fraker, M.S, CCC-SLP
  • “NICU Swallowing and Feeding Approach” by Catherine Shaker, M.S, CCC-SLP

Ms. Dawn has spoken about pediatric feeding, swallowing, and baby-led weaning (BLW) across the United States, China, and Europe.  Through her lively and playful presentations, audiences get a sense of her passion and walk-away knowing more about all things feeding. When she is not speaking, inventing, treating, or teaching, she enjoys gaming and hiking in Colorado with her husband and blue heelers.