Introducing Our Infant Feeding Program: Support for Your Baby’s Feeding Journey
Feeding your baby is one of the first ways you connect, comfort, and care for your little one. Some babies and families need some additional support to help make feeding a positive time for connection.
At Way to Grow, we’re excited to introduce our infant feeding program, designed to support babies and their families during the early months of their feeding journey.
Every Baby’s Feeding Journey Is Different
Babies learn and develop new skills every day, and feeding is no exception! Feeding requires coordination, strength, endurance, and the ability to work through several movements together. While some babies seem to figure it out right away, others may need a little extra support as they develop these skills.
You may have questions like:
Is my baby feeding efficiently?
Why does my baby click, fuss, or pull away during feedings?
Why does my baby seem tired before finishing a bottle?
How do I know if my baby is having difficulty coordinating sucking, swallowing, and breathing?
How do I know when to change flow rates?
When should I ask for help with feeding?
These are all reasonable questions, and you don’t have to figure everything out on your own.
How Can a Speech-Language Pathologist Help With Infant Feeding?
You might be surprised to learn that speech-language pathologists (SLPs) can play an important role in supporting infant feeding!
SLPs with appropriate training and experience in infant feeding assess the skills babies use to feed safely and effectively. This may include looking at oral structures and movement, feeding coordination, and what a typical feeding looks like for your baby.
An infant feeding evaluation may be helpful when a baby experiences challenges such as:
Difficulty latching onto or maintaining a seal on a bottle
Clicking sounds or frequently losing suction during feeding
Coughing, choking, or other concerning symptoms during feeds
Difficulty coordinating sucking, swallowing, and breathing
Feeding sessions that are consistently prolonged or exhausting
Difficulty staying engaged or organized during feeding
Feeding-related stress or concerns about feeding progress
These signs can have different causes, and one symptom alone does not necessarily mean a baby has a feeding disorder. An evaluation helps us better understand your baby’s individual needs and determine what support may be appropriate.
What Happens During an Infant Feeding Evaluation?
We know that bringing your baby to a new appointment can come with questions of its own. Our goal is to make the experience supportive, collaborative, and focused on your family’s needs.
During an infant feeding evaluation, we will:
Learn about your baby’s feeding journey. We’ll talk about your concerns, your baby’s medical and feeding history, and what feeding looks like at home.
Observe feeding skills. When appropriate, we’ll observe a typical feeding to better understand your baby’s coordination, oral movements, and feeding patterns.
Identify areas of strength and support. Every baby is different. We’ll consider your baby’s individual skills and any challenges that may be affecting feeding.
Develop recommendations for next steps. Based on the evaluation, we’ll discuss individualized recommendations, strategies within our scope of practice, and whether additional medical or specialist support may be needed.
Our approach is family-centered because you know your baby best! We want you to feel heard, supported, and included as we work together to understand your baby’s feeding needs.
Supporting Parents Along the Way
Feeding challenges can bring up a lot of emotions. You may feel worried, frustrated, or unsure about what to try next. If feeding hasn’t gone the way you expected, please know that you haven’t done anything wrong.
Our goal is to help you better understand your baby’s feeding skills, answer your questions, and identify appropriate next steps. We believe families deserve compassionate support and practical guidance that respects their experiences and their baby’s individual needs.
We also recognize that infant feeding often involves a team. When appropriate, we can collaborate with your pediatrician, lactation consultant, and other members of your baby’s care team to help coordinate support.
We’re Here to Support Your Baby’s Feeding Journey!
At Way to Grow, we’re excited to help families navigate the early stages of infant feeding with greater understanding and confidence. Whether you have questions about your baby’s feeding skills or are looking for support with ongoing challenges, we’re here to help you explore the next steps.
Interested in learning more about our infant feeding program? Contact Way to Grow Pediatric Therapy to learn about our services and whether an infant feeding evaluation may be right for your baby.
We look forward to supporting you and your little one along the way!
Here every step of the way,
Shannon Frey MBA, M.S., CCC-SLP, CNT
The Way to Grow Pediatric Therapy Team 🌟
about our featured writer:
Meet Shannon, our newest Speech-Language Pathologist + Feeding Therapist with Way to Grow! Shannon received her Master’s of Science at University of WI Whitewater. Shannon is coming to Way to Grow from Children’s Nebraska in Omaha, where she served as supervisor of the speech and audiology team! She brings with her 15 years of experience in the areas of infant feeding and early childhood communication. Shannon is passionate about helping little ones learn to eat efficiently, and can be a major support for those families detailing with the ups and downs of supporting their medically complex infants. Fun fact: She also has an MBA (when does she find the time?!)! Shannon is a kind and caring addition to our team, and we couldn’t be more grateful to have her!
