Feeding Therapy
0-6 Month-Old
Why OT for Feeding Therapy?
Occupational therapists take a holistic approach to feeding and consider all aspects of the mealtime that may be impeding success: environmental, physical, and/or sensory. For some little ones, environmental factors may be hindering success. This could include parental/cultural expectations and/or a lack of mealtime routine. Others may demonstrate delayed motor skills resulting in insufficient milk transfer and fatigue. While other babies may be over responsive to sensory input resulting in gagging and/or discomfort or under responsive to sensory input resulting in poor awareness and/or poor oral motor control.
Parents will be taught exercises to prepare their baby for feeds, how to select optimal bottles (if choosing to bottle feed), positioning during feeds, and activities to strengthen baby's motor skills.
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-Leakage of milk during breast or bottle feeding
-Gulping during breast or bottle feeding
-Gagging during breast or bottle feeding
-Pulling away during breast or bottle feeding
-Reflux/ Arching during feedings
-Poor bottle acceptance
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-Child’s oral-motor skills (functional feeding assessment)
-Child’s responses and tolerance for multi sensory input
-Child’s Postural stability and development
-Consideration of environmental factors
-Consideration of medical factors
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-Development of oral motor coordination and strength for successful feeding
-Oral exploration of developmentally appropriate teething toys
-Positioning to maximize bolus control
-Strengthening postural control muscles to better support oral motor structures, digestive, and respiratory functions.