Infant Feeding Therapy at Sensory Kids
Put an end to frustrated feedings.
Is your infant having difficulties feeding or latching? Are you concerned about a tongue tie or weight gain? Bottle refusals becoming a challenge? Feeding your child isn’t meant to be this frustrating.
Feeding therapy for babies could be the key to happier, healthier feedings for you and your little one. Our specialized speech therapist can help you navigate feeding issues with more confidence and give your child the functional feeding skills they need to grow and thrive.
COMMON PROBLEMS:
Poor latch with breast or bottle
Trouble coordinating sucking, swallowing and breathing
Coughing, gagging or throwing up with feeds
Lacking alertness during feedings
Looking uncomfortable
Prolonged feedings
Feeding aversions
Poor weight gain or growth
Crying and pulling away from breast or bottle
Refusing bottle for child care
Excessive drooling
Spitting up frequently
Tongue clicking or spillage during feedings
Transitioning to solids
Noisy breathing
Nipple damage/bouts of clogged ducts
Continued pain during nursing
Decreased milk supply
Discouragement with feedings
INFANT FEEDING THERAPY WORKS ON:
Positioning
Latching to breast or bottle
Assessing and treating infant oral motor skills
Decreasing the sensitivity of the mouth or face
Decreasing reflux
Diagnosis of tongue/lip tie
Weighted feedings
The coordination for swallowing
Increasing milk transfer
Responsive/Cue based feeding
Selecting a bottle/nipple
Sensory regulation in feeding
Bodywork
Transition between breast and bottle
Caregiver education
Help Starts Here.
80% of mothers who stop breastfeeding by six weeks didn’t want to stop. Maybe you’ve seen lactation consultants for assistance with positioning, technique, etc. but are still having difficulties feeding your baby. If you’ve worked on latch with either breast or bottle and are still having feeding issues it may mean your child has an oral motor problem. Maybe you’ve been told your child has a tongue, lip or cheek tie that is playing a role in feeding difficulties or you’ve recently had a tie revised but are still having problems. Is bottle feeding a challenge? Refusing bottles, increased reflux or spillage, troubles identifying the right bottle and nipple combination to fit your infants oral motor abilities? Perhaps you’ve started trialing solid foods and are having a hard time with the transition. We are here to help. Our highly trained and experienced speech therapist can help you navigate feeding difficulties.
We take into account everything that contributes to successful feedings.
Including:
Interdisciplinary approach to collaborate with lactation consultants, dietitians, pediatric dentist, ENT, GI and more
Understanding digestion and health concerns
Your child’s stage of development/anatomy
Reflux and allergies
Optimizing the environment for successful eating
Impact of sensory system and sensations of eating
Coordination and muscle strength feedings
Therapist specialized in Beckman Oral Motor Approach and SOS Approach to Feeding
Additional trainings on bottle feeding, oral motor skills in infants, reflux and allergies in breastfed infants and tongue ties and breastfeeding
While building new feeding skills and routines may take time, you’ll feel the weight of the unknown lift when you meet a therapist who understands your challenges and joins your circle of support. We’re ready to join you in celebrating the joy of each small success on your child’s journey.
What to Expect in Feeding Therapy
Initial Evaluation
The initial evaluation is very thorough as we dive in to understand your goals and figure out the root causes of your baby’s feeding challenges. If your baby is bottle fed the therapist will feed your baby with the tools you provide to assess what a typical feeding may look like. A new tool may also be trialed during the evaluation based on your baby’s performance. If your baby is breastfed you will be observed during a feeding to assess latch and oral motor function. Feedback about positioning or latch techniques may be provided along with information regarding milk transfer. If your child is having difficulties transitioning to solids different you will be observed feeding your child like you do at home in our specialized feeding highchair. Sensory tools may be used to identify any sensory responses to feeding. An oral motor examination utilizing the Beckman Oral Motor Approach will be completed to look for any oral motor deficits that may be playing a role in difficult feedings. If deficits are identified you may be taught some oral motor exercises to complete at home prior to the next session.
It’s helpful if you come to the initial evaluation ready to discuss:
Birth/medical history
Concerns with breast/bottle feeding
Other professionals involved in journey
Strategies you’ve tried at home
Goals for feeding your baby
Therapy Sessions
Therapy sessions are typically 30-60 minutes depending on the time needed to feed your infant. You’ll be working with our specialized speech therapist in a private sensory friendly treatment room. Sessions will likely consist of oral motor therapy and demonstration of exercises to complete work at home, breast or bottle feedings, trialing tools for increased function and troubleshooting additional difficulties that may arise. Duration of therapy varies from child to child. If your child is being seen following a tongue or lip tie revision it may only be necessary to complete 3-4 sessions but it may take weeks or months to address more complex feeding difficulties.
Integrating to Home Environment
You can do this! We are here with all the support and guidance you need to take information received during treatment sessions and recreate successful feedings at home and assist with transitions to daycare. Education will be provided for you and other caretakers to ensure positive experiences with feeding for everyone that helps feed your child. You are not alone. Feeding infants is challenging and we will be here for you every step of the way.
