Dr. Anita Sebastian
Pediatrician & IBCLC in Grand Rapids
MEET YOUR PEDIATRICIAN
I'm a pediatrician and lactation specialist practicing in Grand Rapids. I started Mitten Pediatrics & Lactation because I wanted to practice medicine the way I always believed it should feel — personal, unhurried, and built around your child.
A path shaped by medicine, motherhood, and Michigan
My road to Mitten Pediatrics & Lactation wasn't a straight line, but looking back, every turn pointed me here.
The Early Years
From Massachusetts to Michigan
I grew up in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, earned my DO at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, and went on to complete a pathology residency at Drexel University and a fellowship at Emory — where my husband and I also welcomed twin boys. Those years gave me a strong diagnostic foundation, an appreciation for how much medicine can demand of new parents, and a firsthand understanding of what it feels like to need support and not have enough of it.
Our Growing Family
Learning from Experience
We moved to Grand Rapids in 2009, and I took time away from medicine to be present for my boys. It was during those years — sitting in waiting rooms, watching them grow, experiencing what families actually need from a pediatrician — that I knew where I was meant to be. I applied for pediatric residency and completed my training at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in 2021.
Grand Rapids, 2026
Mitten Pediatrics & Lactation
After several years in traditional practice, I realized I wanted more time with families, deeper relationships, and the ability to fully integrate lactation care into pediatric care. The traditional insurance model didn't allow me to practice that way. Direct Primary Care did.
Mitten Pediatrics & Lactation is the practice I always envisioned: an intentionally small practice where families have direct access to their pediatrician, visits are never rushed, and relationships come first.
"I want every family who walks through my door to feel like they have time to ask their questions, time to be heard, and time to leave with answers."
— Dr. Anita Sebastian
HOW DR. ANITA SEBASTIAN PRACTICES
My goal is to truly listen
When a family comes to me with a concern, my first job is to listen, not just to the words, but to what's underneath them. Parents know their children. When something feels off, it usually is, and I take that to heart.
My background in pathology gave me a deep appreciation for the diagnostic process, following a thread until it makes sense, not stopping at the first plausible answer. I bring that same curiosity to every visit.
And I genuinely love this work. Kids are funny, surprising, and wonderfully honest. Every day in the office reminds me why I chose pediatrics.
It started personal. It became clinical.
WHY LACTATION
When my boys were born, I wanted to breastfeed, but between the demands of a fellowship and the absence of the right support, it didn't work out the way I'd hoped. I carried that with me for a long time.
When I returned to pediatrics, I knew lactation support had to be part of what I offered, and I wanted to offer it at the highest level I could. I pursued my IBCLC certification, and then went further, working toward board certification in Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine through NABBLM.
NABBLM-C (boards pending)
A physician-only board certification in Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine — a credential that goes beyond IBCLC by requiring a medical license and clinical training in lactation medicine.
Medical + Lactation in one visit
I can evaluate and treat the medical causes of feeding difficulties — tongue-tie, reflux, low supply — without sending you somewhere else first.
IBCLC Certified
The gold standard credential for lactation support — held by nurses, midwives, and dedicated lactation specialists across many disciplines.
The whole team, for now
This is Yogi. He's an English Bulldog, and he takes his two primary responsibilities — eating and sleeping — very seriously. He won't be in the office, but he's a big part of the family behind this practice.
I mention him because I think it says something about the kind of practice this is. We're not a corporation. We're a small, personal, deeply local operation — just me, my family, and a bulldog who thinks he runs the house.
Yogi does not accept appointments. He does accept treats.
Grand Rapids
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Cascade Township
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Ada
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Forest Hills
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East Grand Rapids
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Kentwood
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West Michigan
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Grand Rapids ∙ Cascade Township ∙ Ada ∙ Forest Hills ∙ East Grand Rapids ∙ Kentwood ∙ West Michigan ∙
OUTSIDE THE OFFICE
A pediatrician for Grand Rapids families and the communities around it
I grew up running cross country and still love staying active — I've completed a half marathon and several 10Ks, and most mornings start with yoga or meditation. Cooking is a big part of our family life; I love making meals from scratch and exploring different cuisines. My husband and I have twin teenage boys who keep life full. Travel is something we make time for whenever we can. And I'm a bit of a perpetual student — there's always something new to learn, whether it's a clinical skill or a recipe I've never tried.
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Wife and mom to twin teenage boys
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Half marathon & 10K runner
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Loves Yoga & meditation
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Passionate traveler
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Loves exploring new cuisines
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Always learning, always adding to my skills
READY TO MEET?
Schedule a free meet & greet
A 20-minute conversation — no commitment, no pressure. Just a chance to see if Mitten Pediatrics feels like the right fit for your family.