Welcome to The New Years

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.

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

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.

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