First Ideas for Speech and Feeding

07/15/2025

Did you know that First Ideas can mentor new therapists or therapists looking to get into the world of pediatric feeding therapy?🍴
Training and coaching are some of Julie's passions and she loves to share her expertise with the next generation of SLP's! Julie will cater her training to your specific needs.🧡💜
Reach out today to get your career fast tracked!

First Ideas for Pediatric Speech and Feeding provides speech therapy and feeding therapy in Lake Norman area of NC, including Mooresville, Davidson, Cornelius, Huntersville, Troutman and Salisbury

06/12/2025

Felt safety isn't overly permissible either, which is important to remember. Parents want to have reasonable boundaries at mealtimes, as well as safe foods for their child who is struggling with eating. Both can exist, but there is nuance there! It sometimes takes a trained and objective professional to help parents navigate this. 🧡💜

Registered dietitian Anna Lutz discusses the importance of relationship in her On Demand course, Prioritizing Felt Safety and Connection in the Feeding Relationship: A Registered Dietitian's Perspective. The nervous system plays a significant role in how and what a child eats. Feeling safe is essential for ingestion and digestion. Feeding and nutrition advice often can lead to fear, worry, pressure and nervous system dysregulation. In this course, participants will be introduced to the Polyvagal Theory, the window of tolerance model, and the research applications for clinicians providing treatment for pediatric feeding difficulties. The feeding relationship will be highlighted, along with approaches to prioritizing nervous system regulation of the caregiver and child. Participants will explore "bottom up" approaches to treatment that integrate the treatment of trauma, attachment and sensory processing integration.

Check out more information here:
https://course.getpermissioninstitute.com/courses/prioritizing-safety-and-connection-in-the-feeding-relationship-a-registered-dietitian-s-perspective-br-

06/05/2025

What is Functional Frenuloplasty?
It’s not just a procedure — it’s a precise, multidisciplinary protocol designed to optimize healing and function.

At The Breathe Institute, our approach is rooted in clinical precision and collaboration. We integrate orofacial myofunctional therapy and in some cases additional treatment modalities to ensure a complete and effective release of tethered oral tissues.
Our goal? Releasing just the right amount for maximal functional relief.

The tongue plays a vital role in shaping orofacial structure and function. Our technique honors that, preparing the body for change and ensuring optimal healing through a carefully designed protocol.
ZaghiMD.com

We’re proud to be at the forefront of research and education in this field.
Join us in July — in person or via livestream — for our upcoming Breathe Course, where we’ll share our proven methods with providers and teams looking to elevate their outcomes.

Learn more or register now at BreatheCourses.com

06/05/2025

Where does your tongue rest when you’re not speaking or eating?
It might seem like a small detail, but tongue posture plays a major role in proper facial development, airway health, and long-term wellness.

A high tongue posture (resting gently on the roof of the mouth with light suction) supports ideal jaw growth, proper palate formation, and optimal breathing—especially through the nose.

A low tongue posture, on the other hand, can contribute to a narrow palate, airway issues, and dysfunctional breathing patterns over time.

This is foundational for:
• Facial growth & symmetry
• Proper nasal breathing
• Reducing risk of sleep-disordered breathing
• Oral function and speech

It all starts with rest.
Train the tongue. Support the airway. Guide the growth.

06/05/2025

Ask me how YOU can have this, too!🧡💜

When children feel safe and connected, learning naturally follows. Start with relationship!

04/05/2025

Finding the right Speech and Feeding Therapist for your child can make ALL the difference in achieving success and having happy, peaceful meals.
I pride myself on ALWAYS looking for more trainings and information to help my families, as you can see by clicking the link here.
If you are at your wits end, I encourage you to seek professional guidance from someone who can put together a plan for (and with) you!

First Ideas for Speech and Feeding has a highly experienced SLP specialized in early speech and language development and feeding therapy in Mooresville and Lake Norman NC. She provides therapy to kids ages birth to 5 in their homes.

02/10/2025

I just need to explain something...

My practice is built on helping parents figure out what strategies they need to use to create lasting change in their child's speech/language or feeding skills. The brochure says "0-3" but there is some flexibility there...
It's not basic.
It's not simple...but sometimes we figure out simple changes that can be made that make ALL the difference!

Changing how we talk or provide food is a challenge. But I take it slow and see what each parent needs to be successful.

I tailor each session and all my suggestions based on what YOU and YOUR CHILD need. You might not even know exactly what they need, but we FIGURE it out TOGETHER. We are partners in this. That means
** You have me to text with 24/7 (OK, maybe not 24 ;) )
**No questions are silly
**You are always a part of the session
**I make sure you always understand what we are working on, and what you can do during the week to reach your child's goals. Ask me how...

Feel free to reach out to start asking questions about how we can work together...no wait list right now!

First Ideas for Pediatric Speech and Feeding provides speech therapy and feeding therapy in Lake Norman area of NC, including Mooresville, Davidson, Cornelius, Huntersville, Troutman and Salisbury

01/20/2025

Another 13 hours of training completed for the assessment of tongue restriction!! 🪅🎊🪅🎊

If your doctor or dentist diagnoses your child with "can they stick out their tongue", they are missing mid tongue restrictions which can impact speech (think /r/, "sh", "ch", slushy speech), feeding ("picky", no meat or mashed potatos, using fingers to move food around), not to mention snoring, open mouth posture, drooling, just to name a few!

And, if your mama gut is telling you something is wrong...keep looking for another provider and ask the hard questions before going to see them!
Ask them what training they've had and when they had it...if it's older than 5 years...keep looking!
And, while you're looking reach out to your lactation consultant, SLP, or other feeding specialist to help you while you figure that out!!

I am here for you!!🧡💜

Www.firstideasspeechandfeeding.com.

01/07/2025

12/10/2024

It is always so humbling to hear such kind words...
If you know me, I can't be anything but my authentic self. I've been around long enough to have developed skills to reach kids...and their parents... in a way they can appreciate and respond to.
For many kids, working with the parents is the secret sauce to improvement of skills and desire to change and it's something I've worked hard to do, so it was really nice to see it mentioned by this parent.

09/23/2024

💥💥Hey Mamas! This is the LAST week to claim your 20% off opportunity for a speech or feeding assessment! Take charge of your child's speech and feeding skills, I have one opening left and consider this your sign to get in touch today!
www.firstideasspeechandfeeding.com

First Ideas for Pediatric Speech and Feeding provides speech therapy and feeding therapy in Lake Norman area of NC, including Mooresville, Statesville, Davidson, Troutman and Salisbury

09/10/2024

Hi Davidson Moms and Mamas...take a peek into what I'm offering in September. I've never done it before, so take advantage of it while you can!

Early intervention is the BEST intervention!

First Ideas for Pediatric Speech and Feeding provides speech therapy and feeding therapy in Lake Norman area of NC, including Mooresville, Statesville, Davidson, Troutman and Salisbury