Carolina Speech and Language Center-Summerville

02/27/2026

Yes!

02/21/2026

❤️

Behind every clinical success story in Pediatric Feeding Disorders is an extraordinary caregiver. 🤝✨

As professionals, we provide the tools, but the caregivers provide the consistency.

On National Caregivers Day, the IAPFS community celebrates the parents and guardians who are the most vital members of the multidisciplinary team.

Caregivers of children with PFD face unique stressors:

Hyper-vigilance regarding growth and safety. 📈
Decision fatigue from navigating complex medical paths. 🧠
Emotional exhaustion from mealtimes that feel like battles. ❤️🩹

Today, we remind our colleagues... Part of providing evidence-based care for the child is providing empathy and support for the caregiver. When we support the family, we stabilize the child.

02/18/2026

❤️

💙 Random Acts of Kindness Day 💙

Today, the International Association of Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing (IAPFS) celebrates the power of kindness, especially within the pediatric feeding and swallowing community.

For infants and children with feeding and swallowing disorders, every small act of patience, encouragement, and understanding can make a big difference. Mealtimes are not always easy, and progress often comes in small, hard-earned steps.

For caregivers, kindness looks like:
• Being seen and heard during long feeding journeys
• Receiving compassion instead of judgment
• Knowing that their efforts, even on the hardest days, matter

For healthcare providers, kindness shows up in:
• Collaborative, family-centered care
• Thoughtful education and reassurance
• Taking the time to listen to both the child and the caregiver

In pediatric feeding and swallowing care, kindness isn’t extra, it’s essential. It builds trust, supports regulation, strengthens relationships, and helps create safe, supportive environments where children can grow and thrive.

Today, and every day, let’s practice kindness through our words, our actions, and our advocacy. 💙

02/16/2026

My ppl, I’ll be there!

IAPFS is here to remind you that September 24-26 is the 2026 IAPFS Conference in beautiful Aurora, CO!

Explore “Reaching New Heights in Evidence-Based Collaborative Care” and connect with a multidisciplinary team dedicated to advancing patient outcomes.

Elevate your practice this September with the latest evidence and expertise.

Registration Info coming soon...

https://iapfs.org/convention-program/

02/10/2026

🚨 CALL FOR ABSTRACTS! 🚨

We’re heading to Aurora, CO for the 2026 IAPFS Conference — September 24–26, 2026!

Theme: Reaching New Heights in Evidence-Based Collaborative Care 💡
Submit your work in one of these categories:
🗣️ Presentations | 🤝 Symposia | 🧠 Workshops | 📝 Case Studies | 🔬 Research | 🌱 Pilot Projects | 🖼️ Posters

📅 Poster Presentation Deadline: Feb 24, 2026

Share your ideas, your data, your passion!
🔗 Submit today: https://iapfs.org/member-center/ #/call-for-papers

02/10/2026

It’s Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) Awareness Week. ❤️🩹

For feeding professionals, caring for a "Heart Warrior" means understanding that the heart and the mouth are inextricably linked. Studies show that between 30% and 50% of infants with CHD experience significant feeding difficulties, often persisting well beyond their initial surgical recovery.

Infants with CHD are often in a chronic state of high energy expenditure versus low endurance. This creates a perfect storm for the development of a Pediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD).

Professional Considerations for the CHD Population:

🫁 Respect the Respiratory Rate: Tachypnea is a major barrier to safe feeding. An infant breathing above 60-70 bpm cannot effectively coordinate the suck-swallow-breathe triad. Prioritize respiratory stability over oral volume.

📉 The Endurance Gap: These infants often fatigue before they become full. Short, frequent, high-quality feeds are often more successful than long, exhausting battles at the bottle.

🗣️ Post-Surgical Vigilance: Be on high alert for vocal cord paralysis (RLN damage) following cardiac surgeries, which significantly increases aspiration risk, often silently. Silent aspiration requires instrumental evaluation (VFSS/FEES).

👶 Early Oral Intervention: Even if the infant is NPO or tube-dependent pre-surgery, safe oral stimulation and non-nutritive sucking are vital to prevent sensory aversion later.

At IAPFS, we advocate for a proactive, not reactive, approach to feeding in the cardiac ICU and beyond.

02/03/2026

We are 25! 🎉🥳🎈💫💃🏼 Thank you!! 🙏🏻

01/11/2026

11/19/2025

Yes!! My people!

Join us next September in Colorado for the 2026 IAPFS Conference. The theme, "Reaching New Heights in Evidence Based Collaborative Care," highlights the multidisciplinary care that is necessary to support children with pediatric feeding disorders.

Network and connect with fellow passionate care providers! We can't wait to see you!

For more details, visit: https://iapfs.org/convention-program/

10/07/2025

Shek it out!

10/06/2025

SAVE THE DATE! 🏔️✨ The 2026 IAPFS Conference is officially heading to Denver, Colorado!

Join us from September 24-26, 2026, for three days of groundbreaking research, collaborative learning, and professional networking.

Our theme, "Reaching New Heights in Evidence Based Collaborative Care," speaks to our collective mission to elevate the standard of care for children with pediatric feeding disorders. We'll be exploring the latest in research and innovative approaches to teamwork.

Get ready to connect with colleagues and climb to new heights in your practice! We can't wait to see you there. 💙

Call for abstracts are open. More details can be found at:
www.iapfs.org/convention-program/

10/03/2025