Dedicated and Specialized Feeding Support
Supporting Pediatric Development
Little Stories was born from the frustration parents experience when looking for help with their feeding concerns. Little Stories specializes in the functions of the mouth (breathing, feeding, swallowing and speech development) and the problems that can crop up from picky eating, poor weight gain, tube feeding, dysphagia and more. Little stories is skilled with birth to four year old children (with experience up to age 18), and also provides for those parents who find they might also have some difficulties with their own mouth skills. Often parents tell us that they understand the list of developmental milestones they have from the pediatrician, but they are frustrated in how to go about making sure their child thrives and meets those milestones and where to take their concerns. Little Stories seeks to be a resource for all families regardless of the level of their needs, no story is to little to share.
A Personal Approach
Although feeding is natural and can seem intuitive, feeding is a developmental skill, just like riding a bike. It can be complex, demanding and a huge headache for parents, especially with a lack of support when something goes awry. Too many parents lack support and resources for finding the answers outside of online parenting groups that often offer "hope" by quelling a parents concern with well intentioned comments such as "I wouldn't worry, my kid didn't talk until he was 5 and he's just fine!". Or feeling unsupported by medical providers who may offer pat answers like "don’t worry, he'll grow out of it" or “she won’t starve herself”, or “babies snore, it’s no big deal”. We love what pediatricians can do for us, but realizing that most are not trained in specialized areas of care, some are better than others with their referrals. The failures of our health care systems make us normalize dysfunction thinking “common equals normal”. Parents lack support until the concern blows up into a bigger problem or there is a notable delay that reaches a certain threshold to qualify for a specialist. Little Stories doesn’t think that parents should have to wait to get specialized support. Recently the CDC updated expectations with developmental milestones which leave more and more children out of specialized services. It’s only a matter of time until insurance carriers catch up and deny services, closing another avenue for several families left in the gap and in need of help. Where is the help, the validation and the plan? Knowing that tummy time is important doesn’t help you if your baby screams every time you try it, who needs more stress? Parenting doesn’t come with a handbook and yet we expect all parents to know things without being supported or taught. There is a better and direct way to get the support you need. With over 15 years of experience working in early intervention with birth to four year olds (and up), Little Stories is the support you might be looking for.
Our Services
Infant Feeding
Full Lactation support Coming soon-December 2024
We support Breast feeding, working closely with IBCLC’s to support oral development skills assessment and tethered oral tissues (TOT’s) for infants who are breastfeeding but we are not currently offering lactation consultations for the dyad. We also support bottle feeding and tube feeding/weaning and a combination of all the ways to feed a baby. Need help with introducing solids? Not sure where to start? We can help. Are you looking for community? Check out our feeding group that meets 2 x month.
Feeding Therapy
Feeding therapy service supports those with Pediatric Feeding Disorders, swallowing disorders, and families with concerns related to picky eating, messy eating, poor weight gain, limited food choices, poor or delayed oral motor skills, feeding and oral aversions, coughing or choking during meals, poor chewing skills, tube feeding, sensory issues and general feeding support. Looking to connect with other parents struggling with feeding? Check out our community feeding group that meets twice a month.
Parent Coaching
Online or in-person, we focus on supporting and educating parents in developmental milestones. Have a list of developmental milestones and no idea what to do with your child in order to meet them? Have a concern that something isn’t going well? Does your baby scream every time you try tummy time? Do you need help with communication or getting your child to talk or follow directions? Are you just concerned and want to know if you are on the right track? We can tailor our plans to meet your specific needs.
If you are part of a parenting class or meet-up and have questions, we are available for group presentations (both formal and informal), as well as curriculum development for preschoolers or homeschoolers. Reach out with your ideas and we would be happy to set it up!
Oral Facial Myology and TOT’s
Speech and Language Therapy
Online or In-person, we focus on developing oral motor skills needed for breathing, swallowing, feeding and speech. Tethered oral tissues (TOT’s) and oral dysfunction can affect all ages and have long term affects to our health and well being. Often parents find out that they have oral dysfunction once their children are diagnosed but delay their own treatment. We can address the whole family or each individual. Mostly these services target ages 4+ including adults; however, infants and toddlers can already present with these issues which we address within our treatment of feeding disorders. Little Stories has additional education in oral facial myology as it falls within the Speech-Language Pathologists role of working with TOT’s and OMD’s for all ages.
Online or in person we focus on improving speech sound development, articulation disorders, phonological disorders, child apraxia of speech, receptive and expressive language delays, vocabulary development, literacy and print awareness. We teach you the strategies to use within your daily routines and support your communication style to recognize how to increase opportunities for development with the activities and routines of your daily life. And the best part is, it looks like playing!
Send us a message.
Have a question about our services? Wondering if we might be a good fit for you and your needs? Want to book an appointment? Give us a call, text or send us a message! We would be happy to connect with you and answer your questions.