In this interprofessional education episode for “May is PFD and ARFID Awareness Month,” Michelle Dawson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, BCS-S, FNAP, welcomes industry leader Michelle Emanuel, OTR/L, IBCLC, NBCR, CST, for a thoughtful and engaging conversation on infant reflexes and their role in early feeding development.
Together, the two Michelles explore the reflexes and sensory systems that support feeding in the earliest months of life. They walk through key reflexes involved in infant feeding, how they contribute to early suck–swallow coordination, and how these patterns evolve as infants grow during those critical early stages.
Their conversation also highlights the role of interoception, the body’s internal sense that helps infants recognize hunger and fullness cues, and how it shapes early feeding behaviors. They discuss torticollis and how neck muscle imbalance can impact positioning, latch, and overall comfort during feeding, and close with a candid look at tethered oral tissues and their potential influence on feeding outcomes.
Together, the two Michelles explore the reflexes and sensory systems that support feeding in the earliest months of life. They walk through key reflexes involved in infant feeding, how they contribute to early suck–swallow coordination, and how these patterns evolve as infants grow during those critical early stages.
Their conversation also highlights the role of interoception, the body’s internal sense that helps infants recognize hunger and fullness cues, and how it shapes early feeding behaviors. They discuss torticollis and how neck muscle imbalance can impact positioning, latch, and overall comfort during feeding, and close with a candid look at tethered oral tissues and their potential influence on feeding outcomes.
