Adira Occupational Therapy

05/30/2025

Let’s talk about something we rarely question:
What if the nervous system remembers more than we think? Primitive reflexes aren’t just “baby movements.” They are the body’s first language for survival, connection, and adaptation. But when the early environment is shaped by chronic stress, disconnection, trauma, or unresolved oral dysfunction (like tongue ties), the nervous system can get stuck. These reflexes — meant to fade as we grow — can linger… or even reawaken later in life.

As an airway-focused OT, I see it often in bebes with unresolved tongue ties whose Moro reflexes are still active, impacting their latch, breathing, and sleep; toddlers who struggle to settle or with postural and sensory challenges; school-aged kids with poor motor coordination; and even adults who were once sleep-trained babies, whose nervous systems never fully learned to downshift into safety.

What if regulation doesn’t come from separation, but from connection? What if primitive reflexes don’t just fade with time, but need the right movement, relational safety, and therapeutic support to integrate? What if the body is always trying to complete what it couldn’t finish — waiting for someone to help it come home?

Supporting bebes and children is about creating a relational field where their nervous system can unfold, progress, and heal.

I’m here for the parents who wonder if there’s another way. For families who want to understand what’s behind the behavior, feeding challenges, sleep struggles, or emotional outbursts.

Stay tuned for: How OT Can Support Primitive Reflexes Across Childhood (and Beyond!)

Thanks for being here! 🫶🏽

05/28/2025

Infant sleep is such a tender, sensitive topic—one that deserves compassion for both the child and the family.

As a mama and airway-focused infant & pediatric OT, I will always honor the mental health of caregivers. I know firsthand how sleep deprivation can feel unbearable. However, sleep training—particularly extinction-based methods like “cry it out”—often markets itself as a mental health solution for parents... but at the cost of the infant’s developing nervous system and sense of safety.

This post offers an airway and feeding-focused lens into why I don’t recommend sleep training, especially for babies with feeding challenges, cranial asymmetries, or oral motor difficulties.

Because truly—it’s all connected. The airway, the gut, the brain, the heart... all of it. ♥️

I often see in my practice how sleep training impacts the 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝, and I see this especially show up in my older toddlers, school-aged kids, and even adults—those once sleep-trained babies—whose primitive reflexes remain unintegrated or even reappear under stress. And I stress this point, I’m giving 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐨𝐧 (because reflexes are THAT important for lifelong regulation, posture, attention, and yes—even feeding and breathing). Trauma keeps reflexes stuck in survival mode.

I often educate families on how sleep training may negatively impact feeding and airway function, especially my little ones, working through oral motor, oral restrictions, swallow-breathe coordination, and cranial development. Because sleep, breathing, feeding, regulation—these systems do not exist in silos. They are always speaking to each other.
And there is always a gentler way.

I am so grateful for the resources provided by , , , and , who offer families respectful, attachment-centered approaches to sleep.

Thanks for being here. 🫶🏽

05/16/2025

The other day, as I waited for one of my tiny patients and their family to settle into my office, I found myself sitting on the floor—belly out, heart full—and realized…I’ve never actually shared my new office space (new as of Feb 2025, but you know how it goes 🫠).

In that quiet moment, I soaked in the gratitude. Grateful for this growing bebe, for the privilege of being pregnant again, and for the work I’ve done (body, mind, and soul) to support this pregnancy and reduce my risk of preeclampsia.

Grateful, too, for this little office—my humble space that holds so many families, stories, and tender moments. I get to support mamas, hold space for healing, and soon…I get to bring my own bebe here with me.

There’s no such thing as work-life balance here, friends. It’s all life. All woven together in this little room that will soon be filled with even more love, and a whole lot of bebe energy when we return.

Many reflections today…but really, it’s just a picture of a very happy, very pregnant mama at almost 32 weeks. 🫶🏽

03/04/2025

🗣️Hand dominance in babies? 🚩 NOT a milestone!

Hola, Dr. Monica here! Finally back in the jive of things and with the energy to drop some educational content (supported by evidence) 🙌🏽 So here we go…

Hand preference shouldn’t be obvious in infancy. True dominance typically emerges around age 2-4, sometimes even later! If un bebé is always favoring one hand before 12 months, it’s not just a cute little quirk—it’s a clue. And if you’ve been told to just “wait and see”? Nope. Not here for that. Never have been, never will be. 🫠

Fun fact: Bebés start using their hands asymmetrically around 7-9 months, but this should shift back and forth! If one side is always the MVP, it’s time for an evaluation.

Because here’s the thing: Early intervention matters. Babies learn through movement, not by sitting around hoping things sort themselves out. If we catch asymmetries early, we can guide the brain and body toward more balanced, functional development—not just stretch it and call it a day. 🧠

I will forever be on my soapbox about this: waiting it out is not best practice. If you see early hand preference, don’t panic—but don’t wait either! 🧼

Thanks for being here! 🫶🏽



Have you been told to wait and see in regards to your babe’s development❓

02/17/2025

In November 2022, I started Adira Occupational Therapy—what began as a small idea, a quiet dream, has since blossomed into something more beautiful than I ever imagined. I am in awe of how we’ve grown, not just in size, but in impact, in connection, in the families we’ve had the honor of supporting.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think Adira OT would become what it is today—that I would walk alongside so many families in their earliest days of parenthood, navigating the beautiful, messy chaos together. I am forever changed by the stories shared, the trust placed in me, and the resilience I witness every single day.

For the last two years, I primarily saw families in their homes, traveling throughout Ventura and the Santa Ynez Valley, and welcoming families who journeyed from Camarillo, Simi Valley, Los Angeles, Lompoc, and beyond to meet in a temporary space in Santa Barbara. It has been an honor to be trusted with your little ones, and I am deeply grateful for the referrals from providers who recognize and support the work I do.

As 2024 came to a close, I knew it was time for Adira OT to put down roots. I made the decision to open a permanent little home in Santa Barbara—a space designed with intention, warmth, and love. As a mobile practice, I was limited in how many families I could serve, especially with travel time, and this new space allows me to expand, to welcome more families, and to offer care in a setting that feels both grounded and nurturing. Of course, home visits will always be available for our tiniest and most delicate babes.

And yet—this is only the beginning. 2025 holds even more magic, and this brick-and-mortar space isn’t even the most exciting change ahead. Stay tuned—there’s so much more to come.

As always, thanks for being here. 🫶🏽

01/17/2025

Hola, it’s been a while. 👋🏽

I’m bringing you a new educational post on a population of kiddos I work with. I often say, “digestion starts in the mouth,” and many times, the challenges here can impact how excrement leaves our digestive tract. This post dives into the connection between oral-motor skills, sensory processing, and issues like constipation and f***l withholding.

I’ll be coming back soon with more promised posts and information, including:
👅How a tongue tie may impact the transition to solids or solid food consumption.
👅The importance of the optimal timing of release
👅My own tongue-tie story

And as always, thanks for being here 🫶🏽

11/19/2024

Hypotonia, commonly known as low muscle tone, can affect many areas of an infant’s development. It can impact their ability to feed effectively, airway health may be affected due to tone in respiratory and postural support muscles. Additionally, low muscle tone can interfere with an infant’s ability to reach important motor milestones.

Also, bebes with hypotonia might experience difficulties with sensory processing, as their bodies may not respond to stimuli in the typical manner. This can manifest in challenges with touch, balance, and coordination.

Understanding and addressing hypotonia is crucial to fostering the growth and development of our babes. Occupational therapy plays a pivotal role in this process, focusing on individualized strategies to help them build the necessary strength and coordination.

Is there anything you’d like to know about Hypotonia? And as always, thanks for being here. 🫶🏽

10/21/2024

Hola, Dra. Monica here, happy Monday. 👋🏽 We’re continuing with our primitive reflexes, again educating on—their role, significance, and how retained reflexes can impact feeding and development. Today, I’m sharing about the Rooting Reflex and how it assists in early infant feeding.

But did you know that when the Rooting Reflex is retained, it can show up in unexpected ways? From difficulty latching and feeding struggles to challenges with turning the head while eating or tracking visually, an unintegrated Rooting Reflex can create problems far beyond its typical developmental stage. Babies may struggle with coordinated head movements during feeding, leading to asymmetrical head positioning, messy eating, and even discomfort when feeding from different angles. Understanding how these early reflexes influence your child’s feeding and overall development can empower you to notice signs and seek the right support if needed. 🤱🏽🧑🏿‍🍼

Have any questions about the Rooting Reflex? Drop them below, or let me know what other reflexes you’re curious about! As always, I’m grateful you’re here learning alongside me. 🫶🏽

10/02/2024

“Hola, buen día! Dra. Monica here with some feeding education, on today’s agenda—meats//carne. 🥩🍗

A very common occurrence in my feeding evaluation or a common reason for families reaching out is because their kiddos don’t eat any meat or are avoiding whole food groups. Have you ever wondered why some toddler or school-aged littles seem to struggle with eating meats like steak or chicken breast, but happily munch on chicken nuggets, deli meats, or hamburgers? Meats are one of the toughest foods for little ones to manage, requiring strong jaw muscles, efficient tongue movement, and complex chewing skills.

Many assume kiddos are avoiding meats out of behavior or being “picky eaters”—but it can actually indicate underlying oral-motor delays or structural issues, making it hard to chew and swallow safely.

If your kiddo consistently avoids meats or entire food groups, it may be time for a feeding therapy evaluation to identify and support their needs.

Check out my post for more details on why meat aversion matters and what to look for! 👉🏽 Save this post for future reference and share it with a friend or family member who may be dealing with similar mealtime struggles. Or leave a question.

Thanks for being here. 🫶🏽

Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider(s) for concerns about your child’s health, feeding, or digestion. If your child is experiencing symptoms that worry you, please seek medical attention promptly.

09/29/2024

Did you know that our oral motor skills can impact our gut health?
Did you know dysfunctional chewing and swallowing can lead to GI symptoms and discomfort?

If your kiddo is experiencing reflux, gas, constipation or pain during or after eating, it could be due to their orofacial structures or feeding skills. 👅 Consider consulting with a feeding therapist to empower yourself and ensure your kiddo feels good in their body, especially when it relates to eating and feeding. 🧆

Your engagement helps spread awareness about the importance of optimal feeding skills in our kiddos’ growth and development. As always, thanks for being here. 🫶🏽

Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider(s) for concerns about your child’s health, feeding, or digestion. If your child is experiencing symptoms that worry you, please seek medical attention promptly.

09/05/2024