LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE

Many babies on tube feedings can learn to become independent eaters. In this episode feeding therapists Jennifer Berry, MS, OT/L and Heidi Liefer Moreland, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, CLC explain the challenges facing families of babies that rely on tube feeds for nutrition. They often face the realities of no exit strategy from the tube, lack of communication among the healthcare team and a misunderstanding of the developmental abilities and feeding needs of the individual babies.

Heidi and Jenny share how their intensive feeding tube weaning programs work. They talk about the important foundations of responsive feeding that can benefit all parents and caregivers, as well as the need to build trust in the feeding relationship and implement Satter’s Division of Responsibility in all stages of feeding. As feeding therapists Jenny and Heidi advocate for helping babies achieve feeding milestones, albeit with variability and starting where each child is at. They believe that the majority of feeding interventions should address the child’s skill, their need to overcome aversion and their ability to self-feed.

SHOW NOTES

Jennifer Berry, MS, OT/L and Heidi Liefer Moreland, MS, CCC-SLP, BC-S, CLC

SUMMARY of episode

In this episode I’m interviewing feeding therapists and specialists in feeding tube weaning Jennifer Berry and heidi Liefer Moreland. They’re sharing HOW babies on tube feedings can learn to become independent eaters, including:

• WHY trust in the feeding relationship is so important regardless of whether baby is weaning from breast, bottle or feeding tube, and HOW parents and caregivers can help establish that trust with baby.

• HOW families with babies on feeding tubes can be advocates for independent feeding and weaning off of the tube...even when the healthcare team may not be convinced weaning is possible

TRANSCRIPT of episode

LINKS from episode

• Learn more about Jenny and Heidi’s feeding practice Thrive by Spectrum Pediatrics and their tube weaning program

• Follow Thrive by Spectrum Pediatrics on Instagram @thrivewithspectrum

• Listen to Jenny and Heidi and Thrive by Spectrum Pediatric’s podcast TUBE TO TABLE and subscribe to the podcast

• Jenny and Heidi are also feeding therapists who work with children and families both in-person and remotely. You can contact them via their Thrive by Spectrum Pediatrics business

• Guests Jenny and Heidi shared the image below “Overcoming Feeding Aversion and Feeding Tube Dependency” below:

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• FOLLOW my baby-led weaning Instagram page @babyledweanteam for daily video trainings - lots of great info on starting solid foods, whether your baby is weaning from the breast, bottle or a feeding tube.

• SIGN UP for my online workshop called BABY-LED WEANING FOR BEGINNERS here. Inside this free online workshop you’ll learn everything you need to know to get your baby to eat 100 foods before turning 1 without you having to spoon-feed purees or buy pouches. Everyone on the workshop gets a copy of my 100 First Foods list...so you AND your baby can start knocking out these new foods!