Support for feeding during infancy.

When feeding becomes difficult, it can be a source of anxiety and frustration for the whole family. Approaches that work for other babies may not always work for yours, especially when there are underlying factors contributing to the difficulty.

Over time, feeding difficulties, a distressed baby and worried parents can reinforce one another, making feeds increasingly stressful for everyone.

Feeding can feel more comfortable and positive. At Thrive, we help you understand what may be contributing to your baby’s difficulties and find a way forward that works for both of you.

Lady bottlefeeding an infant


Lady bottlefeeding an infant


Lady bottlefeeding an infant


Lady bottlefeeding an infant


What might feeding difficulty during infancy look like?

What might feeding difficulty during infancy look like?

These are some of the concerns families bring to Thrive.

These are some of the concerns families bring to Thrive.

"My baby is uncomfortable after drinking milk and spits up frequently."

"My baby is uncomfortable after drinking milk and spits up frequently."

“My baby clicks, dribbles or sounds noisy during feeds.”

“My baby clicks, dribbles or sounds noisy during feeds.”

“My baby seems upset all the time.”

“My baby seems upset all the time.”

“We don't know when the baby is hungry or full.”

“We don't know when the baby is hungry or full.”

“I’ve been told to ‘wait and see’, but something doesn’t feel right.”

“I’ve been told to ‘wait and see’, but something doesn’t feel right.”

“My baby takes a very long time to feed.”

“My baby takes a very long time to feed.”

"My baby is uncomfortable after drinking milk and spits up frequently."

“We don't know when the baby is hungry or full.”

“My baby clicks, dribbles or sounds noisy during feeds.”

“I’ve been told to ‘wait and see’, but something doesn’t feel right.”

“My baby seems upset all the time.”

“My baby takes a very long time to feed.”

We help you figure out how to approach feeding.

We help you figure out how to approach feeding.

Feeding difficulties can have many contributing factors, including oral-motor skills, sensory experiences, developmental needs, medical considerations and the relationship between a baby and their caregiver.

Because every baby is different, understanding the factors contributing to their feeding difficulties is an important first step. Our individualised approach considers not only how your baby feeds, but also when and where feeds take place, and how feeding can be adapted to support greater comfort, coordination and efficiency.


At Thrive, we work alongside you to make feeding more comfortable and positive for both you and your baby, while supporting your baby’s feeding development.

Feeding difficulties can have many contributing factors, including oral-motor skills, sensory experiences, developmental needs, medical considerations and the relationship between a baby and their caregiver.

Because every baby is different, understanding the factors contributing to their feeding difficulties is an important first step. Our individualised approach considers not only how your baby feeds, but also when and where feeds take place, and how feeding can be adapted to support greater comfort, coordination and efficiency.


At Thrive, we work alongside you to make feeding more comfortable and positive for both you and your baby, while supporting your baby’s feeding development.

Feeding difficulties can have many contributing factors, including oral-motor skills, sensory experiences, developmental needs, medical considerations and the relationship between a baby and their caregiver.

Because every baby is different, understanding the factors contributing to their feeding difficulties is an important first step. Our individualised approach considers not only how your baby feeds, but also when and where feeds take place, and how feeding can be adapted to support greater comfort, coordination and efficiency.


At Thrive, we work alongside you to make feeding more comfortable and positive for both you and your baby, while supporting your baby’s feeding development.

Feeding difficulties can have many contributing factors, including oral-motor skills, sensory experiences, developmental needs, medical considerations and the relationship between a baby and their caregiver.

Because every baby is different, understanding the factors contributing to their feeding difficulties is an important first step. Our individualised approach considers not only how your baby feeds, but also when and where feeds take place, and how feeding can be adapted to support greater comfort, coordination and efficiency.


At Thrive, we work alongside you to make feeding more comfortable and positive for both you and your baby, while supporting your baby’s feeding development.

Underlying contributors may include:

  • Breastfeeding difficulties: a poor latch, clicking or noisy feeds, coughing, gagging, dribbling, or feeds that feel prolonged and tiring;

  • Bottle-feeding difficulties: difficulty coordinating sucking, swallowing and breathing, or feeds that become stressful for both baby and parent;

  • Moving from tube to oral feeding: support when a child is transitioning from tube feeding, including readiness, safety and building confidence with oral experiences;

  • Bottle or food aversion: strong distress, refusal or avoidance around bottles, breastfeeds or food;

  • Difficulty progressing textures: difficulty moving from smooth to lumpy, chewy or more varied foods, or a pattern of staying with a very narrow range; and/or

  • Stressful or unhappy mealtimes: when meals are tiring, tense, upsetting or hard to predict, for the child, the parents or the whole family.

  • Breastfeeding difficulties: a poor latch, clicking or noisy feeds, coughing, gagging, dribbling, or feeds that feel prolonged and tiring;

  • Bottle-feeding difficulties: difficulty coordinating sucking, swallowing and breathing, or feeds that become stressful for both baby and parent;

  • Moving from tube to oral feeding: support when a child is transitioning from tube feeding, including readiness, safety and building confidence with oral experiences;

  • Bottle or food aversion: strong distress, refusal or avoidance around bottles, breastfeeds or food;

  • Difficulty progressing textures: difficulty moving from smooth to lumpy, chewy or more varied foods, or a pattern of staying with a very narrow range; and/or

  • Stressful or unhappy mealtimes: when meals are tiring, tense, upsetting or hard to predict, for the child, the parents or the whole family.

Support for early communication during infancy.

Although infants cannot yet communicate through words, they are constantly communicating with the world around them. Through everyday interactions, they begin to organise their responses to sensory experiences, relationships and their environment. Their facial expressions, movements and sounds show us how they are experiencing the world around them.

The way we respond to an infant’s cues and shape their environment can support their ability to regulate, engage and learn — laying important foundations for their growth and development.

Lady bottlefeeding an infant


Lady bottlefeeding an infant


Lady bottlefeeding an infant


Let us help you lay the foundation for your baby's communication skills.

Understanding develops very rapidly during the first year of life. Isn't it empowering knowing that you can impact this through everyday activities?

We believe in enabling parents and caregivers with the knowledge and skills to help nurture feeding and communication skills to the best of the child's ability.


Thrive helps you best lay the foundations for understanding and communicating with your child.

Understanding develops very rapidly during the first year of life. Isn't it empowering knowing that you can impact this through everyday activities?

We believe in enabling parents and caregivers with the knowledge and skills to help nurture feeding and communication skills to the best of the child's ability.


Thrive helps you best lay the foundations for understanding and communicating with your child.

Understanding develops very rapidly during the first year of life. Isn't it empowering knowing that you can impact this through everyday activities?

We believe in enabling parents and caregivers with the knowledge and skills to help nurture feeding and communication skills to the best of the child's ability.


Thrive helps you best lay the foundations for understanding and communicating with your child.

Understanding develops very rapidly during the first year of life. Isn't it empowering knowing that you can impact this through everyday activities?

We believe in enabling parents and caregivers with the knowledge and skills to help nurture feeding and communication skills to the best of the child's ability.


Thrive helps you best lay the foundations for understanding and communicating with your child.

Communication begins long before a child's first words.

Important early building blocks for communication include:

Communication begins long before a child's first words. Important early building blocks for communication include:

  • Shared attention

  • Gestures

  • Sounds

  • Turn-taking

  • Intentional communication


Supporting these foundations can help children progress towards understanding and using language at their own pace.

Feeding & communicating should feel easy —
we're here to help.

Feeding & communicating should feel easy —
we’re here to help.

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