Parent Resource Library

1. What Does a Lactation Consultant Do?

A lactation consultant is a healthcare professional trained to support breastfeeding and infant feeding. They assess feeding from both the parent’s and baby’s perspective, including latch, milk transfer, oral motor skills, positioning, and feeding comfort.

Lactation support can help with pain during feeding, low milk supply, slow weight gain, reflux-like symptoms, pumping challenges, and transitioning between breast and bottle. Advanced lactation consultants may also screen for oral restrictions, infant tension, and developmental concerns that affect feeding.

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2. When Should I Seek Infant Feeding Support?

Infant feeding support may be helpful if feeding feels stressful, painful, or confusing. Signs include clicking or leaking during feeds, prolonged feeding sessions, poor weight gain, reflux symptoms, choking or coughing, or frequent unlatching.

Early support can prevent feeding challenges from impacting growth, sleep, and bonding. Infant feeding specialists look beyond volume and schedules to understand how a baby feeds, moves, and regulates.

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3. What Is Oral Motor Therapy for Infants?

Oral motor therapy supports the strength, coordination, and function of the muscles of the mouth, jaw, tongue, and face. These muscles play a critical role in breastfeeding, bottle feeding, swallowing, and later speech development.

Oral motor therapy may be recommended for babies with feeding fatigue, poor latch, reflux symptoms, oral tension, or difficulty coordinating suck-swallow-breathe patterns. Therapy is gentle, developmentally appropriate, and often integrated into feeding sessions.

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4. What Is a Tongue Tie and How Does It Affect Feeding?

A tongue tie (ankyloglossia) occurs when the tissue under the tongue restricts movement. This can affect a baby’s ability to latch deeply, transfer milk efficiently, and feed comfortably.

Symptoms may include nipple pain, shallow latch, clicking sounds, reflux-like behaviors, prolonged feeds, or poor weight gain. A comprehensive tongue tie evaluation includes oral function, feeding observation, and whole-body movement—not just visual appearance.

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5. Do All Tongue Ties Need Treatment?

Not all tongue ties require intervention. The decision depends on function, feeding effectiveness, and family goals. Some babies compensate well, while others benefit from supportive therapies.

A collaborative approach may include lactation support, oral motor therapy, bodywork, and when appropriate, referral for further evaluation. Individualized care helps families make informed, confident decisions.

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6. What Is Craniosacral Therapy for Infants?

Craniosacral therapy is a gentle, hands-on approach that supports the nervous system and releases tension in the body. For infants, it may help with feeding difficulties, reflux symptoms, head preference, oral tension, and regulation challenges.

Craniosacral therapy works well alongside lactation and feeding support, especially when birth experiences, positioning, or tension impact feeding and comfort.

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7. How Can Craniosacral Therapy Support Breastfeeding?

Feeding is a full-body activity. Tension in the neck, jaw, diaphragm, or pelvis can affect latch, endurance, and coordination. Craniosacral therapy may help improve comfort, range of motion, and feeding efficiency.

Parents often notice improved latch, calmer feeds, better sleep, and increased regulation when craniosacral therapy is part of a feeding support plan.

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8. What Is Occupational Therapy for Infants?

Occupational therapy (OT) for infants focuses on functional skills such as feeding, sensory regulation, motor development, and parent-infant interaction. OT supports how babies move, feed, soothe, and engage with their environment.

Infant OT may help with feeding challenges, sensory sensitivities, developmental delays, and regulation difficulties.

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9. When Is Physical Therapy Helpful for Infants and Toddlers?

Physical therapy (PT) supports gross motor development, posture, strength, and coordination. PT may help babies with torticollis, head flattening, delayed milestones, or asymmetrical movement patterns.

Early physical therapy can support feeding by improving alignment, head control, and overall body organization.

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10. How Infant Development Impacts Feeding and Sleep

Infant development and feeding are closely connected. Motor skills, reflex integration, sensory processing, and nervous system regulation all influence how a baby feeds and rests.

Supporting development through feeding therapy, bodywork, and movement-based care can improve feeding efficiency, comfort, and overall family well-being.

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