The Infant OT: Feeding and Development

04/09/2026

If you’ve ever been told to aim for a “perfectly centered” latch—this is your reminder: breastfeeding isn’t 50/50. It’s asymmetrical on purpose.

An asymmetrical latch means baby takes in more of the ar**la below the ni**le than above. See the picture below for reference. Why does that matter?

✨ It helps baby get a deeper latch
✨ Reduces ni**le pain and damage
✨ Improves milk transfer (hello, more efficient feeds!)
✨ Supports better jaw, tongue, and airway function

When baby’s chin is buried into the breast and their nose is close to the breast, you’re likely right where you want to be.

Think: “chin in, nose out” — not centered, but strategic.

A good latch isn’t about looks—it’s about function. And asymmetry is where the ‘pain free’ magic happens

04/02/2026

The Plaza Crew 😀😀

04/02/2026

April is Occupational Therapy Month 💛
This year’s theme: Enriching Lives Through Meaningful Engagement

In infant occupational therapy, meaningful engagement starts from the very beginning. It’s in the way a baby feeds, connects, calms, and grows. It’s supporting a mom who’s struggling with latch, helping a baby coordinate suck-swallow-breathe, or guiding a family through those early developmental milestones with confidence.

These moments may seem small—but they shape everything.

I’m so grateful to support babies and their families in ways that truly matter—helping them engage, connect, and thrive right from the start.

Here’s to enriching lives, one tiny step (and snuggle) at a time 💫

04/02/2026

04/01/2026

Picture this moment:
Mom and baby are skin to skin…
Reclined in a cozy chair…co-regulating.
The lights are dimmed and soft relaxation music is playing lightly in the background.
Baby is working on his nervous system calming/organizing while I, the bodyworker/ OT am stretching and massaging his neck, and promoting non-nutritive sucking.
It was just what that family needed, and I’m still reminiscing about it.

Often times we jump to the task at hand, but the nervous system is not ready. If the nervous system isn’t prepared, no learning can happen. My plans for what I thought treatment progression would be went straight to the trash. All from listening to the subjectiveness of the baby and mom in the first 2-3 minutes entering my office.
Messages like these put me in the feels and make all the ’hard’ of owning your own business melt away. I love my job. I love helping families navigate challenges centered in feeding but end up being a whole body support ❤️

03/30/2026

Thank you to the Delphos Chamber for a fantastic event Saturday. Small businesses are what make our rural community thrive and I’m proud to call Delphos home ❤️

03/25/2026

Join us this year for Beyond Birth at Morman Family Chiropractic. Learn more about preconception care, birth choices, and postnatal care. I enjoy this event every year, as well as the ladies presenting!

If you're wanting to learn more about each of the providers presenting at Beyond Birth, look no further! Meet Nikki Rode!

"Nikki Rode is a pediatric Occupational Therapist and the founder of The Infant OT: Feeding and Development, a holistic practice dedicated to helping babies thrive from their earliest days.

With specialized training in infant feeding, she specializes in supporting families navigate lip and tongue ties, feeding challenges, delayed milestones, torticollis, and plagiocephaly.

Nikki combines evidence-based therapy with a whole-body, family-centered approach-empowering parents with the tools, confidence, and connection they need to support their baby's development.

Nikki is a 2006 graduate from Delphos St. John's High School. She continued her education at The University of Findlay where she achieved her master's in occupational therapy. Nikki is supported by her husband and four children."

The Beyond Birth Workshop is for anyone planning, growing, or supporting a family who wants to feel informed, confident, and prepared—every step of the way.
Because thriving families begin long before delivery day.
RSVP & Learn More: https://workshops.mormanfamilychiropractic.net/beyondbirth

03/23/2026

When you wonder “will the babies I work with get things on my WHITE shirt” but it’s your own dang fault.

03/18/2026

Why a Team Approach Matters

Tongue and lip ties are rarely just about a small piece of tissue.

They’re about feeding mechanics, muscle patterns, compensation, and coordination.

That’s why we strongly believe in a team approach.

When medically indicated, a release is just one part of the process.

Optimal outcomes often include:

• Lactation support to guide latch and milk transfer
• Feeding therapy for oral motor coordination
• Chiropractic or craniosacral therapy (CST) to address tension and compensation patterns
• Ongoing pediatric monitoring for growth and development

Releasing restricted tissue changes anatomy.

But improving feeding requires integration.

Babies don’t just need a procedure.

They need support.

That’s why collaboration matters. We don’t just release tissue- we support feeding.

Exclusively Pediatrics. Intentionally Different.

03/16/2026

Our most comprehensive women's wellness workshop is BACK!

Whether you’re a first time mom 👩‍🍼,expecting again🤰, or thinking ahead–this workshop is for you! We’re excited to announce a multi-disciplinary 👩‍⚕️women’s wellness workshop. Come join us for 🌟Beyond Birth: A Women’s Wellness Workshop to learn more about pre-conception, prenatal, pregnancy, and postpartum health🌟. Join our speakers as they take you through your pregnancy 🤰and motherhood journey 👩‍🍼🌟👩‍👧‍👦. Because women’s health doesn’t begin with pregnancy or birth–and it doesn’t end there either.

We will feature 10-minute presentations from providers such as:
➡️ Dr Nikki, a pediatric and prenatal chiropractor
➡️ Dr. Jessica Koch, a pelvic floor physical therapist
➡️ Ellise Koenn and Sara Rothgeb from the Fertility and Midwifery Care Center
➡️ Ali Alexander, a doula and LMT
➡️ Nikki Rode, The Infant OT to talk about breastfeeding and oral ties
➡️ Wendy Imm from Divine Grace Fertility Care
➡️ Erica Verhoff, to talk about Best Version Therapy to support you in your journey!

Following the presentations, we will open our office up to you as an open-house where you can discuss more with each provider one on one to learn from more providers and get more information.

This event will take place April 18 from 9am - 12pm at Morman Family Chiropractic in Ottawa, OH, with the presentations and talks taking place first and the open house following. It is FREE to attend and is the most comprehensive holistic women’s health workshop in Putnam County! Gather up your mom friends 👯‍♀️ and make a morning of learning more about how to better you and your family’s health!

RSVP and Learn More: https://workshops.mormanfamilychiropractic.net/beyondbirth

03/14/2026

Shout out to Sleep Wise with Kari for coming to talk to our group at Milk and Giggles on Thursday. You shared great tips for routines and gave suggestions for improved sleep in children. Her daughter even loved seeing all the ‘real life’ babies! Come back soon!