Building Strong Foundations for Your Child's Future with Jordyn Koveleski Gorman

Welcome back to another episode of The Amberly Lago Show! This conversation is for every parent who has ever found themselves Googling a parenting question at 2 a.m. and somehow ended up feeling even more overwhelmed than when they started.

In this episode, I sit down with Jordyn Koveleski Gorman, licensed speech-language pathologist, feeding specialist, mom, and founder of Eat Play Say, an online resource helping more than 700,000 parents navigate speech, feeding, and childhood development with clear, expert-backed information.

Jordyn shares the personal story that first led her into speech-language pathology. At just 16 years old, her mom became critically ill with bacterial meningitis and spent eight days in a coma. Watching a speech-language pathologist help her mom with swallowing and cognitive recovery introduced Jordyn to a career that would eventually become her purpose.

Years later, becoming a mom herself completely changed her perspective. When her first son developed torticollis and a flat spot on his head, Jordyn experienced firsthand how frustrating it can be to know something isn't right with your child but struggle to find the right answers. That experience helped inspire Eat Play Say and her mission to give parents the reliable guidance she wished she'd had herself.

We talk about the pressure parents face today, from sleep expectations and co-sleeping to purees versus baby-led weaning, picky eating, developmental milestones, speech delays, and tongue and lip ties. Jordyn reminds us that research matters, but so does recognizing that every child is different and sometimes the best approach requires parents to pivot.

One of my favorite parts of this conversation is Jordyn's reminder to trust your intuition. Parenting doesn't have to be about doing everything perfectly. It's about paying attention to your child, asking questions when something doesn't feel right, and getting support when you need it.

We also dive into early speech development and why communication begins long before a baby's first word. Jordyn explains the importance of imitation, why pausing gives toddlers the time they need to process language, and what parents can do if they're concerned about their child's development.

If you're a parent, grandparent, caregiver, or simply someone who wants to better understand early childhood development, this episode is packed with practical information, reassurance, and expert guidance to help you feel a little less overwhelmed and a lot more confident.

We Discuss

• How Jordyn's mother's illness inspired her career in speech-language pathology

• Becoming a mom and realizing that even experts don't have every parenting answer

• Her son's experience with torticollis and what inspired Eat Play Say

• Why today's abundance of parenting information can actually make parents more anxious

• Learning to trust your intuition while still using evidence-based guidance

• Safe sleep, co-sleeping, and why every family and child is different

• Creating a positive relationship with food from a baby's very first meals

• Purees versus baby-led weaning and why it doesn't have to be one or the other

• The difference between normal food preferences and picky eating that may need intervention

• Early signs to watch for in speech and language development

• Why imitation between 6 and 12 months is important for communication

• The "power of the pause" and giving toddlers enough time to process language

• Why parents should never blame themselves for a developmental delay

• Early intervention resources available for children ages 0 to 3

• Understanding tongue and lip ties and when they may need professional attention

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Jordyn Koveleski Gorman and Eat Play Say

03:00 How her mother's bacterial meningitis inspired Jordyn's career

07:00 Becoming a mom and experiencing developmental challenges firsthand

11:00 Her son's torticollis diagnosis and the inspiration behind Eat Play Say

15:00 Parenting information overload and learning to trust your intuition

19:00 Sleep expectations, co-sleeping, and finding what works for your family

24:00 Starting solids and building a positive relationship with food

28:00 Purees versus baby-led weaning and why parents don't have to choose one approach

32:00 Picky eating versus normal food preferences

36:00 Early signs of speech and language development

40:00 Why imitation is important before a baby's first words

43:00 The power of pausing when communicating with toddlers

46:00 What parents should know if they're worried about a speech or developmental delay

49:00 Early intervention and when to seek professional support

52:00 Tongue and lip ties, feeding challenges, and functional symptoms to watch for

To Connect with Jordyn Koveleski Gorman

Instagram @eatplaysay

Website Eat Play Say

Free Resources & Downloads Eat Play Say Freebies

To Connect with Me

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