Infant Feeding Therapy
Feeding Therapy for Infants: Nurturing Healthy Development
Feeding therapy for infants supports optimal growth and development during the earliest stages of life. This specialized therapy is usually conducted by skilled professionals, such as Speech Language Pathologists or International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs). Through their expertise, these professionals play a vital role in guiding infants, moms, and their support systems towards a healthy feeding journey.
The fundamental goal of feeding therapy for infants is to address challenges that may impede successful feeding on the breast or bottle. These areas include, oral motor skills, self regulation, oral aversion, positioning and latch, swallowing coordination, and nipple or bottle acceptance.
Oral Motor Skills
Oral Motor Skills aim to enhance the strength and coordination of oral muscles required for efficient feeding. By providing specialized exercises and techniques, therapists can encourage the development of a functional feeding pattern.
Self Regulation
Self-regulation is another critical area addressed in feeding therapy. It involves teaching infants to recognize and communicate their hunger and fullness cues, allowing them to establish a balanced feeding routine. Through gentle guidance and empowering techniques, therapists nurture infants' ability to regulate their own feeding experience while teaching their caregivers how to recognize and support their cues.
Oral Aversion
For infants struggling with oral aversion, a condition where they demonstrate an aversion to oral stimulation from the breast or bottle, feeding therapy plays a pivotal role in desensitization. Therapists provide a safe and supportive environment in which infants can gradually overcome their aversions, ultimately fostering a positive association with feeding.
Positioning and latch
Eliciting a correct position and latch is extremely important for infants while breastfeed or bottle-feed. Skilled therapists, such as SLPs and IBCLCs, provide expert guidance to both infants and caregivers, ensuring optimal positioning and latch while feeding. They address any difficulties or challenges faced by infants, making the feeding process more comfortable and efficient.
Swallowing Coordination
Our trained feeding therapists evaluate and provide appropriate interventions to facilitate the safe and efficient coordination of swallowing during feeding. This intervention helps infants meet their nutritional needs while reducing the risk of aspiration or choking.
Nipple or bottle acceptance
Finally, nipple or bottle acceptance addresses any issues infants may have in transitioning from breastfeeding to bottle-feeding, or vice versa. Skilled professionals assess the individual needs of the infant and parent and offer strategies to establish a smooth transition, enabling infants to adapt to different feeding methods as required.
In summary, feeding therapy for infants is a multi-faceted intervention that encompasses seven key areas critical to an infant's healthy feeding development. The expertise of speech language pathologists and IBCLCs contributes significantly to the successful implementation of therapy. Together, they guide infants and their caregivers towards a positive feeding journey, paving the way for optimal growth and development during the critical early stages of life.
