Infant Feeding Therapy
When feeding your baby is harder than it should be.
Feeding should be a time of bonding and nourishment, but when your baby struggles to latch, chokes during feedings, or isn't gaining weight, it becomes a source of stress and worry. At BSPS, we help infants and their families overcome feeding challenges so both baby and parents can thrive.
Who This Helps
Infant feeding therapy at BSPS helps babies (birth to 3 years) with:
- Breastfeeding difficulties - poor latch, painful nursing, insufficient milk transfer
- Bottle feeding challenges - difficulty coordinating suck-swallow-breathe
- Tongue-tie or lip-tie - tethered oral tissues affecting feeding
- Slow weight gain or failure to thrive
- Transition to solid foods - difficulty accepting textures or spoon feeding
- Feeding-related medical conditions - reflux, prematurity, cardiac or respiratory issues
- Aspiration risk - signs of swallowing difficulty or penetration
Signs Your Baby May Need Feeding Therapy
- Difficulty latching or staying latched during breastfeeding
- Clicking sounds while feeding
- Falls asleep quickly at the breast or bottle before finishing
- Coughing, choking, or gagging during feedings
- Milk leaking from the mouth during feeding
- Long feeding sessions (over 30-45 minutes) that exhaust baby
- Refusing the breast or bottle
- Not gaining weight appropriately
- Frequent spitting up or signs of discomfort after feeding
- Difficulty transitioning to solid foods at appropriate ages
Why Early Intervention Matters
Feeding challenges in infancy can affect:
- Nutrition and growth - adequate intake is critical during rapid development
- Oral motor development - early skills lay the foundation for speech and eating
- Parent-child bonding - stressful feedings can impact attachment
- Long-term feeding habits - early experiences shape the relationship with food
The good news: Many infant feeding challenges respond quickly to the right intervention.
What to Expect
Comprehensive evaluation
We assess your baby's oral motor skills, feeding patterns, and overall development. For breastfeeding concerns, we observe a feeding session together.
Collaborative care
We work closely with pediatricians, lactation consultants, ENTs, and other specialists. If tongue-tie is suspected, we coordinate with providers who perform releases and provide pre/post support.
Practical, hands-on therapy
Sessions focus on improving feeding function through positioning strategies, oral motor exercises, and techniques you can use at every feeding.
Support for parents
We know how exhausting and emotional feeding struggles can be. You'll leave each session with clear strategies and confidence in your ability to help your baby.
Our Approach
- Oral motor assessment and therapy for suck, swallow, and coordination
- Breastfeeding support in collaboration with lactation professionals
- Bottle feeding optimization including flow rate and positioning
- Tongue-tie pre/post therapy to maximize release outcomes
- Solid food introduction support for babies with feeding delays
Ready to Make Feeding Easier?
If feeding your baby feels harder than it should, help is available. An evaluation can identify what's happening and give you a clear path forward.