Welcome. I’m Christina Sainato, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, Registered Dietitian, and mother of two children.
Feeding kids isn’t easy! I know, because I’ve struggled myself with breastfeeding complications, and we’ve certainly had our own mealtime challenges. My personal experiences have given me a deep compassion and understanding for my clients. I have worked with hundreds of families over the years to help mothers breastfeed successfully, solve nutritional challenges, navigate food allergies, and make family mealtime pleasant and stress-free. I will take the time to listen to your concerns, needs and goals. My approach is gentle, and I will never pressure you to feed your child in a way that doesn’t feel right to you. I apply evidence-based information and current research to help find real-life solutions tailored to your needs.
A bit about my background: I earned a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics in 2002, certified as a Registered Dietitian in 2005, earned a Master of Public Health from UCLA in 2008, and finally achieved the credential of International Board Certified Lactation Consultant in 2011. Outside of my full-time private practice, I accumulated over 18 years of full-time experience in maternal/child nutrition and lactation. I was a clinical dietitian in pediatrics, PICU, NICU, and outpatient nutrition counseling. Working at the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program for over 15 years, I also served as a Lactation Consultant, Nutritionist, and agency Breastfeeding Coordinator. As an RD/IBCLC, I have been able to offer families support where nutrition and lactation concerns intersect, such as navigating food allergy and reactivity in infants, and I have completed a yearlong certification program through FARE (Food Allergy Research and Education) in pediatric food allergies.
Opening this practice was a long-time dream of mine. In 2012, I opened my own part-time lactation business while still working full-time at WIC. I love how private practice has allowed me to meet families where they are (literally!), to devote my full attention to their needs, to become part of their journey. In 2018, I took the leap into full-time self-employment when I created Nourishing Start LLC, expanding beyond lactation to include maternal and infant nutrition services as well.
In my free time, I enjoy gardening, running, reading contemporary fiction, making baked goods and homemade pizza- a tradition passed down from my Italian grandma and dad, and hanging out with my husband and our kids, who are in middle and high school. I love being out in nature, and am often out on the nearby Rock Creek trail.
I am a proud member of the following organizations:
