The Infant-Driven Feeding® Program in Action: Research Results, Sustainable Practice, and the Parent Voice

PRESENTED BY: Renee Bloom, MSN, RNC-NIC, RNC-LRN; Elizabeth Barker, MA, Mom of Lucy

Date: January 22nd, 2026

CEs Provided: Nursing and OT

All other disciplines receive a "Certificate of Participation."

This one-hour, intermediate-level webinar presents key findings from a recent research study examining the implementation and long-term sustainability of the Infant-Driven Feeding™ Program in the NICU. Designed for OT, SLP, PT, RN, MD, and all professionals involved in infant feeding, this course equips teams with research-backed tools to improve outcomes for infants and families.

Homeward Bound: Supporting Infants and Families from the NICU to Home

PRESENTED BY: Chessa Jones, MS, CCC-SLP; Megan Espy, MS, CCC-SLP

Date: October 28th, 2025

CEs Provided: Nursing and OT

All other disciplines receive a "Certificate of Participation."

Supporting infants and families as they transition from the NICU to home requires a specialized, evidence-informed team approach. This one-hour intermediate level webinar will explore the evolving role of the home-based therapist during this critical window, with a focus on developmentally supportive care, caregiver empowerment, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Grounded in the latest research, this course will equip clinicians and the hospital team with practical tools and updated knowledge to enhance outcomes for medically complex infants and their caregivers. Target audience includes OT, SLP, PT, RN, MD, and other healthcare professionals involved in infant feeding.

Neurodevelopmental Perspectives on Nipple Flow Rates: Optimizing Safe Feeding Strategies

PRESENTED BY: Louisa Ferrara-Gonzalez, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, CNT, CLC, NTMCT

Date: July 28th, 2025

CEs Provided: Nursing and OT

All other disciplines receive a "Certificate of Participation."

This one-hour webinar will provide information on how to select the appropriate nipple flow rate for infants in the NICU, with a focus on long-term outcomes. This webinar explains why choosing a slow flow nipple is beneficial from a neurodevelopmental perspective and provides you with a new way to engage in education with staff and the families you treat regarding "the why." The webinar will incorporate evidence-based foundational knowledge with higher-level talking points to encourage unit-wide consensus on the safest ways to support infants as they learn the complex task of eating by mouth. Target audience includes OT, SLP, PT, RN, MD and other healthcare professionals involved in infant feeding.

Practical Approaches for Liquid Thickening in Pediatric Populations

PRESENTED BY: Memorie Gosa, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-S

Date: April 30th, 2025

CEs Provided: Nursing and OT

All other disciplines receive a "Certificate of Participation."

This one-hour intermediate webinar provided practical tips for the successful modification of expressed human milk and formula for management of pediatric dysphagia. The presenter provided real life examples of thickening challenges to illustrate clinically useful practices to be implemented across settings. The target audience includes OT, SLP, PT, RN, MD, and other healthcare professionals involved in infant feeding.

Ankyloglossia and Other Ties

PRESENTED BY: Dr. Peggy Kelley, MD, FACS, FAAP; Shanna Harris, CPNP

Date: January 21st, 2025

CEs Provided: Nursing and OT

All other disciplines receive a "Certificate of Participation."

This one-hour intermediate webinar provided current information regarding ankyloglossia, also known as tongue tie. It included a discussion of oral anatomy, related management terminology, current areas of debate, and frenotomy techniques. Speakers highlighted the mother/baby dyad and collaboration with lactation specialists as key in maintaining optimal milk transfer from mother to child. The target audience includes OT, SLP, PT, RN, MD, and other healthcare professionals involved in infant feeding.

Thickening Practices for Infant Populations

PRESENTED BY: Memorie Gosa, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-S

Date: October 24th, 2024

CEs Provided: Nursing/OT

All other disciplines receive a "Certificate of Participation."

This intermediate webinar discussed current thickening practices for managing dysphagia in infant populations. A thorough review of the current state of evidence in support of using thickened liquids was presented. The presentation was followed by a question-and-answer period.

Ask the Experts: Improve Safety and Quality of Neonatal Oral Feeding

PRESENTED BY: April Blandford-Cushing, PT, DPT, CCS; Brianna Bommarito, MSOT, OTR/L; Kelly Gardner, DNP, RN, NE-BC; Jennifer Hofherr, MS, OTR/L, CNT, NTMTC; Casey Lewis, MS, CCC-SLP, CNT, NTMTC

Date: June 25th, 2024

CEs Provided: N/A

All other disciplines receive a "Certificate of Participation."

During this one-hour presentation, experts in the field of neonatal feeding discussed how their units improved the safety and quality of oral feeding with the use of Dr. Brown’s Products. Topics included transitioning to the Dr. Brown’s® Zero-Resistance® Bottle System with quality-controlled nipple flow rates, therefore eliminating “nipple wars, ” and successful implementation of the Infant-Driven Feeding® Program to transform the feeding culture in their units. The parent perspective was included as well. The presentation included an extensive question-and-answer panel responding to viewer’s questions.

Breathing & Eating – Understanding Neonatal Respiratory Comorbidity and Supporting Smooth Transitions to Oral Feeding

PRESENTED BY: Anjanette Lee, MS, CCC/SLP, NTMTC

Date: February 29th, 2024

CEs Provided: Nursing/OT

All other disciplines receive a "Certificate of Participation."

This one-hour webinar discussed neonatal respiratory comorbidity, how it might impact oral feeding, and how the neonatal practitioner can support a smooth transition to oral feeding for infants at risk. The webinar reviewed the anatomy and physiology of the respiratory system as it pertains to preterm comorbidity and the transition to oral feeding. The presentation provided strategies for neonatal practitioners to use from day of life 1 to support functional feeding outcomes.

Just Ok is NOT Ok when the Safety and Quality of Oral Feedings are Compromised

PRESENTED BY: Lisa Kleinz, M.A., SLP/L, Director of Education, Dr. Brown’s Medical; Kelly Gardner, DNP, RN, NE-BC, Nurse Manager, Neonatal ICU, Baptist Health Louisville

Date: December 12th, 2023

CEs Provided: N/A

All other disciplines receive a "Certificate of Participation."

This intermediate webinar described the current state of the science of neonatal oral feeding related to supporting safety and quality. Attendees learned information and strategies for improving current feeding practices, including a supportive feeding culture, evidence-based products and practices, and sustainability. This webinar also included one hospital’s story of how changing feeding practices led to improvement in safety and quality of oral feeding and how your hospital can make the transition as well. Target audience: OT, SLP, PT, RN, MD, and other neonatal professionals.

Pulling Out All the Stops for Interdisciplinary Continuous Improvement

PRESENTED BY: Lindsey Green, DNP, MN, APRN-CNS, CCNS, RNC-NIC

Date: September 21st, 2023

CEs Provided: Nursing/OT

All other disciplines receive a "Certificate of Participation."

Implementation of evidence-based practice requires effective leadership and enthusiastic buy-in from those responsible for making change happen. This presentation covered topics and strategies for continuous improvement. The presenter described how agile methodology, implementation science, relational coordination, change leadership and translational research can all work together to make implementation of evidence-based practice successful for patients and interdisciplinary teams.

Breastfeeding Essentials for Infants with Orofacial Clefting

PRESENTED BY: Raquel Garcia, SLP-D, CCC-SLP, CLC, CNT, BCS-S; Kristen Deluca, MS, CCC-SLP

Date: July 27th, 2023

CEs Provided: Nursing/OT

All other disciplines receive a "Certificate of Participation."

This intermediate webinar provided attendees with an overview on orofacial clefts and the importance of prenatal counseling for families to optimized postnatal feeding success for these infants. The role of breastfeeding was discussed. Strategies to support mother and baby for optimal feeding and growth in the presence of cleft palate with or without cleft lip were reviewed, with video and case examples.

The ‘Late’ Preterm Infant: Do a Few Weeks Really Matter?

PRESENTED BY: Ramya Kumar, M.S., CCC-SLP/L, BCS-S, CNT, IBCLC, NTMTC

Date: April 6th, 2023

CEs Provided: Nursing/OT

All other disciplines receive a "Certificate of Participation."

This intermediate webinar discussed the etiology and prevalence of late preterm deliveries, and morbidities that impact this population. Information was provided for collaboration between the neonatal therapy team and staff in post-partum units in an effort to provide preventative and proactive family-centered care.

The Infant-Driven Feeding™ Program: The Evidence That Will Change your Feeding Practice

PRESENTED BY: Renee Bloom, MSN, RN, RNC-NIC, RNC-LRN; Shelly Frisco, DNP, ACCNS-N, CCRN, C-ELBW ; Amanda Geringer, BSN-RN; Lisa Kleinz, MA, SLP/L, CNT

Date: December 14th, 2022

CEs Provided: N/A

Traditional feeding practices for infants are inconsistent and can result in poor feeding outcomes. The Infant-Driven Feeding™ Program is an online learning program for unit-wide education to support the transition from a volume driven culture to Infant-Driven. Join us in this webinar to learn from Nurse Clinicians who have implemented IDF™ in their hospitals and have completed QI/Research projects to show the many benefits of IDF™. This webinar will not only provide the learner with the positive outcomes of IDF™ but will also demonstrate the evidence to share with teams to support the process of acquiring IDF™. The presentation will be followed by a Question and Answer period. Whether you are trying to acquire IDF™ for your unit, or already have IDF™ and want to learn more about measuring changes, this is a webinar not to be missed.

From Feeding to Eating: Assessment and Oral Feeding Interventions for Infants with Tracheostomy Tubes

PRESENTED BY: Holly Schifsky, OTR/L, CNT, NTMTC, CBIS

Date: November 29th, 2022

CEs Provided: Nursing/OT

All other disciplines receive a "Certificate of Participation."

This advanced webinar provided clinicians with information regarding the medical rationale for infants that are candidates for tracheostomy tube placement, implications of tracheostomy tubes on the development of infant oral feeding, and interventions to support safe oral feeding for these medically complex infants. This lecture utilized evidence-based practice to provide clinicians with assessment, treatment, and goal writing strategies for this growing population. Discussion of pre-feeding oral motor, secretion management, ventilator settings and tracheostomy cuff considerations was provided, as well as advancing infants to oral feeding with consideration for selection of bottle, nipple, flow rate, positioning, and monitoring swallow coordination.

Grit and Grace and the Goal to Breastfeed

PRESENTED BY: Elisa Doherty, OTR/L, IBCLC

Date: October 28th, 2022

CEs Provided: Nursing/OT

All other disciplines receive a "Certificate of Participation."

This one-hour webinar focused on infant feeding development in relation to both bottle and breastfeeding, as well as the attributes of the mother’s role in her medical history, maternal anatomy, milk supply, and how that impacts the breastfeeding journey. The learner was provided with information for evaluation and intervention to provide the infant AND the mother, as a dyad, with developmentally appropriate goals, modifiers for improved bottle to breast transitioning, and latch strategies for improved milk transfer and reduced stress in an individualized feeding approach.

Achieving the Goal: An Integrated Multidisciplinary NICU

PRESENTED BY: Casey Lewis, MS, CCC-SLP, CNT, CLC, NTMTC

Date: May 24th, 2022

CEs Provided: Nursing/OT

All other disciplines receive a "Certificate of Participation."

This one-hour webinar discussed the roles and responsibilities of disciplines in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and ways in which to foster improved multidisciplinary collaboration. The process of nipple selection to facilitate safe and enjoyable oral feeding experiences was addressed. In addition, the importance of continuity of care both within and outside the NICU was explained.

Infant Feeding Journey for a NICU Patient: Part 2 – Steps to Feeding Success and Parent Education

PRESENTED BY: Liz Drake, MN, NNP, RBC-NIC, CNS, C-ELBW; Elizabeth Jeanson, DPT, CNT, NTMTC, DCA; Kristina Russo, Mom to Olivia and Chloe, AU.D. Doctor of Audiology; Matt Russo, Dad to Olivia and Chloe

Date: February 23rd, 2022

CEs Provided: N/A

All other disciplines receive a "Certificate of Participation."

Part 2 in this series focused on practical examples to support infants and families in feeding success. Speakers included Nursing, therapy, and parents, with discussion on the roles each team member plays in parent understanding and needs, infant performance, and progress towards coordination of feeding.

Infant Feeding Journey for a NICU Patient: Part 1 – Supporting Neurologic Development for Eventual Feeding Success

PRESENTED BY: Mindy Morris, DNP, NNP-BC, CNS, C-ELBW; Megan Carlson, MS, OTR-L, CNT, NTMTC; Ginny & Justin Shaffer, Graduate NICU Parents

Date: December 9th, 2021

CEs Provided: N/A

All other disciplines receive a "Certificate of Participation."

The journey to successful oral feedings for the preterm and sick infants and their families in the NICU can be arduous. There are many strategies the entire NICU interprofessional team can integrate into practice throughout the journey to increase feeding success. In this two-part webinar series presented by neonatal professionals and parents, activities and interventions were discussed that can prepare the infant and parents in helping to build the foundational skills for positive, successful, and enjoyable oral feeding.

Breastfeeding the Fragile Feeders: Cutting Edge Research to Elevate Your Practice

PRESENTED BY: Kelly Andrasik McLeod MOT, OTR/L, BCP, IBCLC, CNT

Date: September 9th, 2021

CEs Provided: N/A

This one-hour webinar discussed the evidence-based practice recommendations while highlighting research studies within the last 3 years. Hot topics in breastfeeding covered were breastfeeding infants with medical comorbidities and those born prematurely, tongue tie, and cultural/social attributes. Attendees were given treatment strategies and ideas to apply to improve breastfeeding outcomes.

Treatment of Feeding Disorders After the NICU

PRESENTED BY: Cathy Wood, MA, CCC/SLP

Date: June 16th, 2021

CEs Provided: N/A

All other disciplines receive a "Certificate of Participation."

This one-hour webinar discussed the emotional impact that a prolonged and/or complicated NICU stay can have on parents well after discharge. The importance of looking at the whole child with consideration for the impact of neurological maturation, reflex integration, and growth on feeding and swallowing development was discussed.

The Heart of the Matter: Feeding Challenges in Infants with Congenital Heart Defects

PRESENTED BY: Jennifer Fogel, M.S.CCC-SLP/L

Date: March 22nd, 2021

CEs Provided: N/A

This one-hour webinar provided information on physiological differences in infants born with congenital heart defect and how this can impact their ability to eat orally following surgical intervention. Challenges and interventions to help meet assessment and treatment strategies were discussed to help safe oral feeding with the least restrictive diet. Parental support strategies were also provided.

Assessing Oral Feeding Readiness Through Neonatal Salivary Analysis

PRESENTED BY: Jill L. Maron M.D., M.P.H. Professor of Pediatrics

Date: March 1st, 2021

CEs Provided: N/A

This one-hour webinar provided information on emerging assessment tools for oral feeding readiness in the newborn. Dr. Maron reviewed current assessment tools and the diagnostic potential of saliva to better inform feeding readiness. The importance of understanding sex-specific differences in attainment of oral feeding maturation was also discussed.

A Truly Golden Hour: Strategies for the Interdisciplinary Team for the First 60 Minutes of a Premature Infant’s Life

PRESENTED BY: Mindy Morris DNP, NNP-BC, CNS, C-ELBW; Liz Drake MN, NNP, CNS, RNC-NIC, C-ELBW

Date: December 15th, 2020

CEs Provided: N/A

All other disciplines receive a "Certificate of Participation."

Neonatal brain growth and development is preprogrammed during the first two trimesters. During the 3rd trimester, brain development is largely shaped by the fetal experience within a protected and predictable environment. For premature neonates, brain development occurs in the stressful environment of the NICU. This webinar discussed how the team can help make the first 60 minutes truly Golden.

A Field of Grey: Exploring the Evidence to Guide Infant Dysphagia Clinicians Through the Most Common Clinical Conundrums

PRESENTED BY: Katlyn Elizabeth McGrattan, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Date: September 23rd, 2020

CEs Provided: N/A

All other disciplines receive a "Certificate of Participation."

This presentation addressed the questions raised regarding the best treatment approach to instrumental swallow evaluations. The webinar outlined the evidence underlying the clinical conundrums, providing case examples and instrumental images to aid in the translation of these research findings into clinical application.

The Infant‐Driven Feeding™ Program From Idea to Reality: The Sanford Experience

PRESENTED BY: Elizabeth Jeanson PT DPT DCS NTMTC CNT

Date: August 15th, 2020

CEs Provided: N/A

This presentation addressed the questions raised regarding the best treatment approach to instrumental swallow evaluations and outlined the evidence underlying the clinical conundrums.

The Parenting Path to Oral Feeding in the NICU

PRESENTED BY: Lisa Kleinz, MA, SLP/L, CNT, CLC

Date: April 3rd, 2020

CEs Provided: N/A

All other disciplines receive a "Certificate of Participation."

This webinar was presented jointly with Hand to Hold, and addressed feeding topics for both families in the NICU and those at home. Lisa covered feeding cues and other behaviors, how to create positive experiences through feeding, getting to know your equipment (breast and bottle) and the benefits of infant-driven feeding.

From Task-Oriented to Infant-Led Feedings: State of the Science, Part 2

PRESENTED BY: Erin Sundseth Ross, PhD, MS, CCC-SLP, Feeding Fundamentals, LLC

Date: August 17th, 2016

CEs Provided: N/A

This three part one -hour webinar series provides foundational education for neonatal practice professionals and feeding specialists regarding the theory and practical application of the Supporting Oral Feeding in Fragile Infants (SOFFI) Program and other Infant Led and Task Oriented Feeding Practice Strategies used to establish positive oral feeding experiences for infants in the NICU.

From Task-Oriented to Infant-Led Feedings: State of the Science, Part 3 plus Q & A session

PRESENTED BY: Erin Sundseth Ross, PhD, MS, CCC-SLP, Feeding Fundamentals, LLC

Date: August 17th, 2016

CEs Provided: N/A

This three part one -hour webinar series provides foundational education for neonatal practice professionals and feeding specialists regarding the theory and practical application of the Supporting Oral Feeding in Fragile Infants (SOFFI) Program and other Infant Led and Task Oriented Feeding Practice Strategies used to establish positive oral feeding experiences for infants in the NICU.

Supporting Parents Feeding Preemies: It’s Not Just About Intake

PRESENTED BY: Catherine S. Shaker MS/CCC-SLP, BCS-S

Date: August 17th, 2016

CEs Provided: N/A

For parents, learning to feed their preterm infant can be both frightening and stressful due to the infants’ fragile nature but also due to the overwhelming well-intended pressure to “get it in” the infant. The importance of the feeding relationship and the infant’s positive learning experiences may get lost “in the numbers” when the parents’ focus is primarily on “emptying the bottle” to get the infant home. Providing parents with the awareness and skills to let their preemie’s communication guide them during feeding creates a meaningful relationship, reduces stress and leads to improved intake.