When Baby Can't Suck: An Advanced Course for Therapists

Newborns and young infants who present with bottle and/or breastfeeding challenges require skilled care for proper differential diagnosis and supportive treatment that works, and caregivers deserve to meet their feeding goals.   In this advanced course for therapists, learn how to problem solve sucking issues in infants. What factors are limiting the development of safe efficient feeding, and how should you navigate the many tools available on the market?  Identify underlying structural problems and oral-motor/functional disorders and implement treatment strategies for latch, coordination, and feeding endurance, not just compensatory skills for weight gain! Recognize associated patterns of cranial/facial tension, head/neck/body tension and asymmetry, and how to differentially treat these issues through co-treatment and collaborative care with your team.  

4-hour course with 15 minute break

Presented Live Online (recording not available)

Course Agenda:

• Development of Sucking and Swallowing Skills: Breast and Bottlefeeding, Meeting Parent Goals for Feeding  Their Infant (30 minutes)
• Factors that Limit the Development of Safe Efficient Sucking: Case Studies and Video Examples (90 minutes)
• Break (15 minutes)
• Tools: From Confusion to Clarity in the Nipple Aisle: Product Characteristics and Function (60 minutes)
• More Therapy Strategies to Help Infants Feed Well and Thrive (45 minutes)
• Clinical Problem Solving, Question and Answer (15 min)

Course Objectives:

1. Identify factors that limit the development of safe, efficient sucking skills in infants.

2. Discuss strategies for improving sucking skills in infants.

3. Explain priorities in selecting nipples, bottles, and pacifiers for infants with sucking problems.

Instructor Disclosures:

Financial:

Nina  Ayd Johanson has no relevant financial relationships in the products or  services described, reviewed, evaluated or compared in this  presentation.  She receives a speaking fee for presenting this course.

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Non-Financial:

Nina  Ayd Johanson has no relevant nonfinancial relationships in the products  or services described, reviewed, evaluated or compared in this  presentation.

Continuing Education:

4 hours

Target Audience:

SLP, OT

Instructional Level:

Advanced

Course Delivery/Instructional Methods:

Instructor lecture with powerpoint/multimedia presentation, videos, case studies,

participant question and answer/discussion