Infant Feeding Therapy

Infant feeding therapy is a specialized aspect of speech-language therapy that focuses on helping babies and young children develop proper feeding skills, including swallowing, sucking, and coordination during eating. It’s often provided by speech-language pathologists (SLPs) or occupational therapists trained in this area. Infants with feeding difficulties might have issues with sucking, swallowing, or coordination, which can affect their nutrition and overall development.

Why Infant Feeding Therapy Is Needed

Infant feeding therapy is necessary when an infant has trouble eating, which can be due to several factors:

Prematurity: Preterm infants may not have developed the full ability to suck, swallow, and breathe properly.
Medical conditions: Conditions like cleft lip or palate, tethered oral tissues (tongue tie, lip tie etc.), neurological disorders, or muscle weakness can affect feeding.
Oral motor difficulties: Some babies may not develop proper oral motor skills for efficient sucking, chewing, or swallowing.
Reflux or aspiration: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or aspiration (food or liquid entering the airway) can cause feeding challenges.
Developmental delays: Babies with developmental delays might have difficulty transitioning from breast or bottle feeding to solid foods.

Signs That Infant Feeding Therapy

May be Needed

Parents or caregivers might notice certain signs that indicate a child needs feeding therapy:

Trouble latching or sucking during breastfeeding or bottle-feeding
Sliding off bottle or breast
Refusal to take bottle and/or breast
Clicking with latch
Dripping from corners of the mouth
Colic or GI upset/gas
Falling asleep during feeding sessions
Pain for mom when nursing
Poor weight gain or difficulty finishing bottles
Difficulty transitioning to solid foods
Choking, coughing, or gagging during feedings
Difficulty swallowing or excessive drooling
Frequent vomiting or reflux
Resistance to eating or refusal of certain textures

What Happens in Infant

Feeding Therapy?

An SLP will assess the infant’s feeding and swallowing patterns, as well as their oral-motor skills. The therapist may observe feedings and assess the infant's ability to manage different textures, the strength and coordination of oral muscles, and how well the child swallows.

Assessment: The therapist will look at the infant’s mouth and oral structures, feeding habits, and overall health to understand the root cause of feeding issues.
Therapeutic Exercises: These are designed to help improve sucking, swallowing, and breathing coordination. For example, gentle stimulation of oral areas can encourage sucking or swallowing reflexes.
Swallowing Techniques: If there are issues with swallowing, the therapist will teach parents specific techniques, such as pacing the bottle to reduce choking risk or modifying feeding positions.
Texture Progression: For babies transitioning to solids, the therapist may guide caregivers on appropriate textures and when to introduce new foods based on the baby’s development.
Parent Education: Therapists often train parents in safe feeding techniques and how to handle feeding challenges, as well as how to encourage proper oral motor development.

When to Seek Out Therapy

Infant feeding therapy can be sought if feeding problems persist after the newborn stage, especially if there is an indication of difficulty with gaining weight or if the baby experiences consistent choking, gagging, or regurgitation. The earlier therapy begins, the better the chances of improving feeding skills.

Multi-disciplinary Support

The best outcomes for infant feeding are achieved when the family has access to a team of professionals. SLPs, lactation consultants, pediatricians, occupational therapists, chirppractors, and other specialists can all work together to ensure the infant receives optimal care. The collaboration between these professionals ensures that all aspects of the infant’s feeding— from the mechanics of sucking and swallowing to emotional bonding during breastfeeding—are supported.