Developmental therapy

Premature babies or those born with health conditions need extra special care and ongoing support. It may be harder for these babies to adjust to life outside the womb. At Aurora BayCare Medical Center, our developmental therapy program helps newborns develop the physical, emotional and social skills they need to grow and thrive.

NICU occupational therapy: Why choose Aurora BayCare Medical Center?

Highlights of our neonatal developmental therapy program include:

• Skilled therapists: Our occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists have extensive training in the unique needs of critically ill or premature babies as they develop. Therapists collaborate with your infant’s entire NICU care team to build the most effective treatment plan.
• Family-centered approach: We know how important it is to involve the entire family in a newborn’s growth and development. Therapists teach parents and caregivers techniques for bonding with and comforting their new arrival.
• Coordinated care: Therapists work with neonatologists, newborn care nurses, nutritionists, respiratory therapists and other providers to ensure that your baby gets complete care. We also have access to Aurora BayCare’s network of skilled pediatric specialists in digestive, heart, lung and brain and spinal cord care.
• Ongoing therapy: When your baby leaves the NICU, we continue to provide attentive follow-up care. Aurora BayCare offers a robust outpatient children’s therapy program that helps your little one meet developmental milestones.

Our developmental therapy services

Our newborn therapy program focuses on your child’s physical, sensory, feeding and social development. We offer:

• Bonding therapy: Occupational therapists help you bond with and comfort your infant. We may recommend special bonding strategies, such as kangaroo care (skin-to-skin contact) or infant massage, to enhance your baby’s sense of safety and calm.
• Comprehensive evaluations: Therapists carefully assess your infant’s weight, muscle tone and reflexes. We may use imaging exams or other tests to check the development of a baby’s brain or digestive tract.
• Swallowing and feeding therapy: Infants in the NICU may not be ready to eat right away. Speech-language pathologists and certified lactation consultants help mother and baby develop strategies for regular, comfortable and productive feedings. We also assist with the transition from tube feedings to oral feedings.
• Swaddled bathing: Swaddling your baby during a bath can decrease stress, promote a feeling of security and stabilize your baby’s temperature. This bathing technique also helps parents bond with their infant.
• Therapeutic positioning: By gently positioning your baby in different ways, we can improve growth, enhance sleep and promote muscular development. Certain positions can also help your baby eat more easily.

Conditions we treat

Development therapy can help newborns with:

• Congenital heart defects (heart conditions that develop before birth)
• Failure to thrive (inability to gain weight)
• Feeding and swallowing disorders
• Gastrointestinal (digestive) disorders
• Infections
• Low birth weight
• Prematurity (born before the 37th week of pregnancy)