Guiding Movement, Rhythms, and Synchronized Body Systems for Feeding Success

The ability to create appropriate oral movement patterns for optimal feeding is interconnected to the rhythmic patterns of the body systems. Recognizing important body rhythms, impact of oral phase feeding skills on these systems, and the importance of utilizing strategies that activate muscle movements that support optimal feeds will be discussed. Infant and toddler feeding skills can be facilitated by a gradual transition from passive input to activation and maintenance of expected muscle work that results in synchronization of breathing, heart rate, sucking, swallowing, and more.