Nicu Now Audio Support Series

Feeding your NICU baby can often be a challenge. April is Occupational Therapy month and pediatric OT Laurie Layne and I focus on how feeding therapy can be utilized and some of the challenges NICU parents may face.   In this episode, we chat about: For pediatrics, what exactly does an occupational therapist do and how does it differ from other pediatric therapies? When should a parent seek out occupational/feeding therapy? What are some things parents should look for in an occupational/feeding therapist? If you have a sensory seeker who has heavy oral input (puts everything in their mouth), what can you do? What's the most common feeding challenge with NICU babies/premature infants? How does a g-tube affect feeding therapy? Food texture and food aversion sometimes feels overwhelming, how can a parent combat the fear of feeling like it's never getting better?   Laurie Layne, OTR, received her B.S. in community health from Texas A&M University and her master of occupational therapy degree f