What are some of the unique feeding challenges seen in infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS)?
Answer
Infants with NAS exhibit poor oral motor coordination and hyperphagia initially. This combined with increased calorie needs can lead to excessive eating or “hyperphagia”. One problematic feeding pattern is "frantic feeding" which involves hyperarousal, irritability, and poor coordination. Another pattern is "sleepy feeding" where an infant struggles to stay awake, taking just a few sucks before falling into a deep sleep. Strategies to help with these difficulties include decreasing stimulation, using slower nipples to control the pace, rhythmic rocking to time the suck-swallow-breathe pattern, feeding in a calm alert state, and providing education on reading infant hunger vs comfort cues.
Tina Davis is a board-certified pediatric occupational therapist with over 30 years of experience. She is committed to lifelong learning and passionate about the ultimate goal of OT - Achieving health, well-being, and participation in life through engagement in occupation.
Related Courses
1https://www.occupationaltherapy.com/ot-ceus/course/developmental-care-and-feeding-infants-5957Developmental Care And Feeding Of Infants With Neonatal Abstinence SyndromeThis course will describe the OT role in early assessment and treatment of the infant born with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. We will discuss unique challenges of feeding, developmental, sensory and behavioral difficulties. Case studies will be used to review evidenced based and practical strategies that can be used to foster a strengths-based and family-centered approach to care.auditory, textual, visual
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This course will describe the OT role in early assessment and treatment of the infant born with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. We will discuss unique challenges of feeding, developmental, sensory and behavioral difficulties. Case studies will be used to review evidenced based and practical strategies that can be used to foster a strengths-based and family-centered approach to care.
2https://www.occupationaltherapy.com/ot-ceus/course/ot-services-for-our-littlest-5761OT Services For Our Littlest Clients: Evidenced-based Practice For The First YearThe OT role in post- NICU treatment, OT assessments, formulation of goals, and evidenced-based treatment techniques will be discussed in this course. Practical strategies that can be immediately implemented into practice and ideas for supporting the families of our smallest clients will be discussed. This is Day 2 of the Early Intervention Virtual Conference.auditory, textual, visual
'Good insight into developmentally appropriate assessment tools, along with good resources for goal writing'Read Reviews
AOTA/0.1 Intermediate, OT Service Delivery, 05605; CE Broker/1.0 General (FL), Patient Related (AL), General Continuing Education (GA), Direct Client/patient Services In Occupational Therapy (SC), Related To OT (AZ), Related To OT (LA), Directly Related To OT (MS), Directly Related To OT (TN), CE Broker #20-967588; IACET/0.1; IL EITP/1.0; NBCOT PDUs/1.25 Intermediate, Pediatrics
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3https://www.occupationaltherapy.com/ot-ceus/course/sensory-skills-helping-parents-to-4973Sensory Skills: Helping Parents to Support Sensory Development in their Children for Pediatric Feeding SuccessMany children who experience feeding difficulties struggle to develop the sensory comfort necessary to eat and enjoy a variety of different foods. This course will explore how to help parents help their children develop sensory comfort and prepare them to participate in everyday eating opportunities. The workshop, based on the principles of responsive feeding, will provide a brief overview of a child’s sensory system as it relates to feeding. The instructors will explore how practitioners can help parents to 1.Read their child’s cues, 2. Identify permission, and 3. Engage a child in daily activities to build a child’s sensory comfort and participation. There will be an emphasis on helping therapists use parent coaching techniques so that parents are the ones to support their child’s development in the context of everyday eating routines.auditory, textual, visual
'Loved the advice about using a bumpy / textured spoon'Read Reviews
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Many children who experience feeding difficulties struggle to develop the sensory comfort necessary to eat and enjoy a variety of different foods. This course will explore how to help parents help their children develop sensory comfort and prepare them to participate in everyday eating opportunities. The workshop, based on the principles of responsive feeding, will provide a brief overview of a child’s sensory system as it relates to feeding. The instructors will explore how practitioners can help parents to 1.Read their child’s cues, 2. Identify permission, and 3. Engage a child in daily activities to build a child’s sensory comfort and participation. There will be an emphasis on helping therapists use parent coaching techniques so that parents are the ones to support their child’s development in the context of everyday eating routines.
4https://www.occupationaltherapy.com/ot-ceus/course/mouth-moves-helping-parents-to-4974Mouth Moves: Helping Parents to Support Oral Motor Development in their Children for Pediatric Feeding SuccessMany children who experience feeding difficulties struggle to develop the oral motor skills necessary to eat and enjoy a variety of different foods. This course will explore how feeding therapists can coach parents to help children develop oral motor skills in the context of everyday eating opportunities. The workshop, based on the principles of responsive feeding, will provide a brief overview of the developmental acquisition of oral motor skills and explore how practitioners can help parents to 1. Read their child’s cues 2. Identify permission and 3. Sensitively engage their child in activities that support oral motor skill development. There will be an emphasis on helping therapists use parent coaching techniques so that parents can be the ones to support their child’s development in the context of everyday eating routines.auditory, textual, visual
'Very organized material with great information and examples/videos'Read Reviews
AOTA/0.1 Intermediate, OT Service Delivery, 01435; CE Broker/1.0 Home Study, General (FL), Patient Related (AL), General Continuing Education (GA), Direct Client/patient Services In Occupational Therapy (SC), Related To OT (AZ), Related To OT (LA), Directly Related To OT (MS), Directly Related To OT (TN), CE Broker #20-809548; IACET/0.1; NBCOT PDUs/1.25 Intermediate, Pediatrics
Many children who experience feeding difficulties struggle to develop the oral motor skills necessary to eat and enjoy a variety of different foods. This course will explore how feeding therapists can coach parents to help children develop oral motor skills in the context of everyday eating opportunities. The workshop, based on the principles of responsive feeding, will provide a brief overview of the developmental acquisition of oral motor skills and explore how practitioners can help parents to 1. Read their child’s cues 2. Identify permission and 3. Sensitively engage their child in activities that support oral motor skill development. There will be an emphasis on helping therapists use parent coaching techniques so that parents can be the ones to support their child’s development in the context of everyday eating routines.
5https://www.occupationaltherapy.com/ot-ceus/course/feeding-and-nutrition-interventions-for-5027Feeding and Nutrition Interventions for Children on the Autism SpectrumThis course reviews the feeding behaviors and habits of children with autism, as well as the brain/gut relationship and nutritional implications for feeding. Participants will be instructed on how to create appropriate plans of care and intervention for feeding specifically for the ASD population, with an emphasis on nutrition.auditory, textual, visual
'Expert presenter! Very knowledgeable'Read Reviews
AOTA/0.1 Intermediate, OT Service Delivery, 01649; CE Broker/1.0 Home Study, General (FL), Patient Related (AL), General Continuing Education (GA), Direct Client/patient Services In Occupational Therapy (SC), Related To OT (AZ), Related To OT (LA), Directly Related To OT (MS), Directly Related To OT (TN), CE Broker #20-770627; IACET/0.1; IBCCES/1.0; NBCOT PDUs/1.25 Intermediate, Pediatrics
This course reviews the feeding behaviors and habits of children with autism, as well as the brain/gut relationship and nutritional implications for feeding. Participants will be instructed on how to create appropriate plans of care and intervention for feeding specifically for the ASD population, with an emphasis on nutrition.
