Preparing For Your Visit

First time here?

Welcome to
The New Years

Our goal is to make you and your child feel safe, playful, and supported as we navigate their development together. We believe you should feel prepared and comfortable from the start.

What to bring & what to expect

Feeding Foundations (Feeding Therapy) Evaluation

WHAT TO BRING:

    • A few foods your child always eats, and a few they sometimes eat.
    • A sample of the utensils your child uses at mealtime.
    • Their drinking container bottle
      • sippy cup
      • straw cup
      • open cup, etc.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Your therapist may:

    • Observe your child interacting with/eating the foods that you bring.
    • Observe how your child moves and how they navigate their environment.
    • Utilize some tools/toys in order to observe your child’s oralmotor function.
    • Ask you questions about mealtime routines and setup.
    • Ask you questions about feeding history and early milestones.
Lactation Evaluation

WHAT TO BRING:

  • Any feeding supports you are currently using.
  • If bottle-feeding:any bottles you are currently using or are trying to use.
  • If supplementing: bring a small amount of milk (pumped, expressed, or formula) to have on hand to feed your baby.
  • If looking for pumping support: your pumps and any flanges or inserts that came with your pump

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Your lactation consultant may:

  • Observe a feeding session (nursing and/or bottle-feeding).
  • With your permission, place hands on the baby or in the baby’s mouth in order to assess feeding skills
  • With your permission, provide hands-on assistance with pump fit and flange sizing
Strong Starts (Developmental Milestones) Evaluation

WHAT TO BRING:

  • For infants: a swaddle blanket to lay under your baby during the evaluation.
  • For babies, toddlers, and children: have them wear comfortable clothing they can freely move around in. If they have grip socks, please bring them wear them in the clinic. 

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Your therapist may:

  • For infants: ask for your permission if it’s okay to have your baby in just a diaper to observe movement, muscle tone, skin, and breathing.
  • Use play, movement and play activities to assess cognitive, motor, emotional, behavioural, and sensory functions.
  • Invite you to participate or observe, depending on what skill or function is being evaluated.
Oral Restrictions Journey

For a Collaborative Functional Evaluation:

WHAT TO BRING:

    • Any bottles you are using or trying to use.
    • A swaddle blanket to lay under your baby during the evaluation.
    • If supplementing: bring a small amount of milk (pumped, expressed, or formula) to have on hand to feed your baby.

WHAT TO EXPECT:
Your therapist may:

    • Ask for your permission to have your baby in just a diaper to observe movement, muscle tone, skin, and breathing as it relates to feeding and oral function
    • Observe a feeding session (nursing and/or bottle-feeding)
    • With your permission, place hands on the baby or in the baby’s mouth in order to assess feeding skills and oral function.

For the day of release:

WHAT TO BRING:

    • Bring a small amount of milk (pumped, expressed, or formula) to have on hand for post-release healing. Your lactation consultant will guide you on its use when you arrive.
    • If supplementing: bring a small amount of milk (pumped, expressed, or formula) to have on hand to feed your baby.

WHAT TO EXPECT:
Your release team will:

    • Review the release procedure and walk through the steps of your appointment
    • Review pain management strategies and any post-procedure protocol
    • Remain with you during the procedure
    • Support you with the first feed after release
    • Walk you through what to expect with the healing process
    • Guide you through post-release rehabilitation