GrowWellSTL

Pediatric OT committed to providing feeding and developmental care that empowers you that you are doing everything right for your baby.

03/18/2026

Starting solids doesn’t always look like what you expect… and that’s okay.

If your baby is pushing food out with their tongue, it’s not that they hate it. They are learning.

The tongue protrusion reflex integrates typically between 4-6 months, so especially if you start purées before 6 months…it’s a reflex.

They’re learning.
They’re exploring.
They’re figuring it out.

Give them time, stay consistent, and keep it low pressure. If you continue to have concerns beyond 6-7 months, seek out feeding support or speak with your pediatrician.

A little deep pressure on the gums (with your clean/gloved finger or teether) can help them become more aware of what’s happening in their mouth and support that transition.

If you continue to have concerns, feel free to reach out for support.

03/17/2026

Avoiding concerns doesn’t make them disappear, but sometimes understanding them can bring relief.

When questions about feeding or development come up, clarity often brings peace.

If you need support, don’t wait to reach out to someone you trust.

03/16/2026

Pregnant or navigating life with a new baby?

I’ll be at Babies & Bumps next Sunday, March 22nd and presenting on sleep development in the first year at 11:45 and doing a live feeding demo at 1:00.

I’m so excited to be involved with Babies & Bumps St. Louis 2026, and I have a special gift for my followers! As a perk of being a part of this awesome event, I’m gifting two complimentary admission codes to the event!

I have one VIP Admission code (an $88 value!) which includes a fabulous gift bag filled with full-sized products worth over $100, and one General Admission code ($42 value) which gives you access to all event elements and a chance to win grand prizes!

To enter:
Follow me if you don’t already.
Like this post.
Tag a friend who is expecting or has a little one at home.
Tell me which ticket you’d love to win!

I’ll choose two winners on Tuesday!

Come learn about:
• feeding
• bottle transitions
• starting solids
• early development
• so much more

And connect with many great resources for new parents.

Comment BABY and I’ll send you the ticket link.

03/15/2026

Advice new moms still hear…

Some things may be common…but that doesn’t mean they’re normal or that you have to just wait it out. And some ideas are just misguided or out of date.

Feeding challenges usually have a reason…oral motor skills, latch mechanics, positioning, flow preference, or sensory differences.

A little guidance can make things so much easier for both you and your baby.

03/14/2026

If you’re new here, Feel Good Friday is a little mix of everything that makes parenting babies feel a bit easier.

Around here you’ll find:
✨ Motivation for the days when parenting feels overwhelming
🍼 Practical tips (like Tip Tuesday!) to make feeding and development smoother
🧠 Myth busting because there’s a lot of outdated or confusing baby advice out there
💛 And a little joy from the week because it’s important to focus to focus on the positive!

My goal with Grow Well is simple:
To help parents feel confident, informed, and supported as their baby grows through the first year.

Because most of the time, parents don’t need more pressure. They just need the right information and a little guidance.

Happy Feel Good Friday!

03/13/2026

Babies will just “figure out” bottle feeding…I wish it were that simple.

Bottle feeding isn’t just about hunger. Babies are navigating a lot of variables at once:

• oral motor skills
• ni**le flow preference
• breast vs bottle mechanics
• timing
• positioning
• sensory preferences

For some babies, switching between breast and bottle is easy. For others, it’s a whole new motor and sensory task their little system has to learn. And there are so many options for bottles, it can be super overwhelming (and expensive) for parents.

If your baby is refusing or having trouble with a bottle, you’re not doing anything wrong and your baby isn’t being stubborn. They might just need a little support figuring it out.

This is exactly the kind of thing pediatric feeding therapy can help with to support you.

03/12/2026

Meanwhile parents are just trying to feed their baby and do the right thing.

If feeding feels confusing, overwhelming, or stressful…
that doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong.

Feeding advice is everywhere.

But if something feels hard with feeding, there’s usually a reason behind it. Sometimes you need more than advice based on other’s experiences. You need to have a feeding therapist evaluate your child’s skills.

You don’t have to sort through the internet’s opinions alone.

03/11/2026

If someone told you that you need to give your baby the same purée or foods for 3–5 days before introducing another food…that’s a bit of outdated feeding advice.

Years ago, parents were told to wait several days between new foods to watch for allergies. But what we know now is that most babies can try a variety of foods without waiting days in between.

In fact, offering different foods can help babies:
• experience new flavors
• get a wider variety of nutrients
• build positive feeding skills

The only foods you may want to introduce more intentionally are the nine most common allergens (including peanut, egg, dairy, etc.) so that you can monitor for allergic reaction.

So if your baby had sweet potatoes yesterday…you don’t have to serve sweet potatoes again today and tomorrow. You can move right along to avocado, oatmeal, banana, or another food.

More variety = more learning for your baby.

03/10/2026

Parents grow as much as babies do. We all do!

You’re learning, adjusting, and figuring things out in real time.

Give yourself the same grace you give your child.

You are doing great!

03/09/2026

Every strong woman started as someone’s tiny baby.

Today we celebrate women, and the babies and girls growing into them.

Happy International Women’s Day!

03/08/2026

Everyone has feeding advice.

But if feeding is taking too long, it’s painful, or it’s just not going well…sometimes you need more than advice.

You need someone who can actually look at how your baby is feeding and help figure out what is making it more difficult than it needs to be.

Where did you get the MOST feeding advice when your baby was little?

03/07/2026

A little joy from the week, some motivation for the week, a myth busted, and support that meets you where you are.

This is shared as a reel so it’s easy to find and share. If there’s a specific page from this week’s Feel-Good Friday that you’d like to share or save, DM me and I’ll send you the individual slide.

If this resonates, save it for later or pass it along to a parent who could use a little encouragement today.

📍 Supporting families in St. Peters & St. Charles County

Address

154 St. Peters Centre Boulevard
Saint Peters, MO
63376

Telephone

+16367484060

Website

http://GrowWellSTL.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when GrowWellSTL posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Want your practice to be the top-listed Clinic in Saint Peters?