In this episode, Hallie talks to Diane Bahr, MS, CCC-SLP, CIMI. Diane is a certified speech language pathologist and infant massage instructor. They discuss the differences between breast and bottle feeding, the sucking reflex, tongue ties, and postural development.
Key Topics & Takeaways
- Breastfeeding vs. Bottle Feeding Mechanics: Breastfeeding involves active jaw movement and an anterior tongue response drawing the breast into the mouth, whereas bottle feeding relies heavily on cheek and lip movement.
- The Sucking Reflex vs. True Suck: Research shows infants are born with the suck they will have for life, requiring proper intraoral pressure and up-and-down jaw movement to draw the breast in effectively.
- Sucking Pads & Lateral Stability: Sucking pads (fat pads in the cheeks) provide necessary lateral stability; infants lacking these pads often struggle to latch.
- Pre-Op Care & Compensatory Patterns: Releasing a tongue tie without pre-operative therapy forces the infant to transition motor plans without proper training. Preparing the parent and infant beforehand ensures significantly better post-release results.
Quotes & Soundbites
“Feeding is a full-body experience—if you do not get the quality of movement in the body, you are not going to get it in the mouth.”
“We have to make our own teams—pulling together people in our community where we all know each other’s work so we know how to refer and work with one another.”
“It’s unfair to expect parents to know how to do this without support; pre-op preparation prevents traumatizing both the parents and the babies.”
Topics Discussed & Timestamps
- 00:00 – Episode Introduction & Diane Bahr’s Background
- 01:18 – Disclaimer & Podcast Intro
- 02:13 – Breastfeeding vs. Bottle Feeding: Physiological Differences & Research
- 05:18 – Free E-Course Overview & Breastfeeding Challenges in Term Infants
- 06:14 – Identifying Sucking Pads & Lateral Jaw Stability
- 07:44 – The Science of the Infant Suck & Intraoral Pressure
- 09:05 – The “Dancer Hand” Position for Cheek & Jaw Support
- 10:05 – Pace Bottle Feeding, Nipple Types, and Pacifier Guidelines
- 11:08 – Historical Perspective: Feeding Patterns in Hunting & Gathering Societies
- 12:20 – Feeding Development in Children with Special Needs & Down Syndrome
- 18:13 – Tongue Cupping, Lateralization, and Research-Based Assessment Guidelines
- 20:23 – The Importance of Postural Development & Tummy Time Quality
- 26:15 – Red Flags for Swallowing & Feeding Disorders Across Ages
- 28:35 – Oral Discrimination Sequence & Developmental Mouth Toys
- 30:11 – Speech Delays, Hyoid Bone Compensation, and Tongue Ties
- 32:20 – Managing Older Children with Tongue Ties, Sutures, and Apraxia
- 35:05 – Why Release Isn’t Always the First Step (Palatal Expansion & Airway Work)
- 36:12 – Closing Remarks & Part 2 Teaser
Links & Resources
- Diane Bahr’s Website: agesandstages.net (Free age & topic guides available)
- Free E-Course: Email Diane directly at dibahr@cox.net to request her free course on newborn/infant mouth development.
- Books by Diane Bahr:
- Feed Your Baby and Toddler Right
- Nobody Ever Told Me (or My Mother) That!
- Oral Motor Assessment and Treatment: Ages and Stages
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