Meet Best Feedings and Speech!

Allison (Allie) Gray, MA CCC-SLP/L, IBCLC, is the Owner & Founder of Best Feedings and Speech, PLLC. She is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). We think she could be a great resource for our families in the Chicago Suburbs.

Learn more about her below!

What made you decide to open your business?

I have been working in a children's hospital for over 16 years, and while I love helping children and their families in the hospital setting, I wanted to also be able to offer support in the family's familiar and comfortable environment, the child's home. Treating in the home provides so many benefits, and I am excited to be able to offer this. Additionally, I provide a unique perspective as a speech-language pathologist (SLP) with a pediatric medical background and international board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC). There are few dual SLP/IBCLCs and I am proud to have a background in both of these areas to better serve my patients. 

When was your business established?

I have always thought about starting my own business, but credit my husband for getting it up and running. When my youngest started kindergarten last year, we officially launched Best Feedings and Speech, PLLC!

What services do you offer?

As a speech-language pathologist (SLP) in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), I work with babies and their parents on feeding skills. Typically if a baby needs support with bottle feeding or if there are concerns with swallow safety or anatomy, a SLP is consulted. If the baby/mother needs support with breastfeeding, they will consult someone from the lactation team. I always recognized the overlap for many of our infant's and wanted to be able to say, "How can I help you?" regardless of the way in which the baby is feeding. Therefore, I went on to pursue my education in lactation and became an international board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC). At Best Feedings and Speech, PLLC, I am proud to be able to ask my patients, "What is BEST for you and your baby?" and provide support in any area of feeding, without judgement. I provide services in breastfeeding support including positioning, pumping, latch, feeding cues, etc; bottle feeding support including pacing, transitioning between nipples, flow rates, positioning techniques, signs of stress etc. Additionally, thanks to my vast experience working in the hospital setting, I can assess your baby's oral anatomy, safety while feeding and educate you on signs/symptoms of aspiration, strategies to address this, and make appropriate referrals. If your baby is not orally fed, we can still work together to make feeding time positive and pleasurable, despite the way in which the baby is fed. 

What can people expect when they work with you?
My patients can expect me to listen, support and never judge!

What is the most important thing you want people to know about your business?

I started my business to be able to help families feel supported and encouraged, all in the comfort of their home. My unique background differentiates me from other feeding or lactation professionals. I truly care about my patients and promise personalized attention. The feedback I have received since opening my business has been overwhelmingly positive and I look forward to making more positive impacts on babies and parents in their feeding journeys. Reach out, I'd love to connect! bestfeedings.com