Infant Bodywork and Feeding Therapy
Our infant bodywork and feeding therapy services are designed to gently support your baby’s comfort, movement, and feeding success. Using a holistic, hands-on approach, our physical therapist helps release tension, improve body alignment, and promote smooth, coordinated feeding. Services integrate gentle manual therapy, developmental positioning, and therapeutic handling to address underlying musculoskeletal and neuromotor factors that influence feeding and overall function.
Intervention may include assessment and treatment of oral-motor coordination, tongue and jaw mobility, postural alignment, reflexes, and sensory regulation to promote efficient and comfortable feeding. The therapist collaborates closely with caregivers, offering education on body mechanics, positioning, and home strategies to enhance infant comfort, bonding, and developmental progression.
Each session is individualized to meet your baby’s unique needs, combining gentle bodywork, developmental movement, oral motor exercises and feeding support to help your little one feed, grow, and thrive.
Whether your baby is experiencing feeding challenges, body tension, torticollis, tongue tie, reflux, developmental asymmetries, or general discomfort, our goal is to create a calm, supportive experience that nurtures both healthy development and a positive feeding relationship.
Why Choose a Physical Therapist Who Specializes in Infant Feeding?
When movement and feeding are supported together, babies thrive. A physical therapist trained in both bodywork and feeding understands how your baby’s muscles, posture, and nervous system work together for calm, comfortable feeding and healthy development. When one therapist can provide all- inclusive services, that means more efficient and effective sessions with less appointments and hassle for coordinating care.
Whole-Body Support
Feeding isn’t just about the mouth — it’s a full-body experience. We address body tension, alignment, and movement patterns that impact how your baby latches, swallows, and breathes.
Easier, More Comfortable Feeding
By releasing tension and improving muscle coordination, feeding becomes smoother and less stressful. Babies feed more efficiently, stay calmer, and show fewer signs of frustration or fatigue. Both breast and bottle feeding are supported and can be part of the plan.
Improved Comfort & Digestion
Gentle bodywork can ease gas, reflux, and colic by supporting better body alignment and relaxation. A calm body leads to calmer feeding.
Parent Coaching & Confidence
We guide parents through simple, effective techniques to use at home — building confidence and creating a positive feeding experience for the whole family.
Supporting Early Development
As feeding and movement improve, so does overall development. Babies often show better head control, rolling, and motor milestones — building a strong foundation for growth.
Tongue Tie Support Services
We provide gentle, body-based support for babies before and after tongue tie release to promote comfort, mobility, and feeding success.
Services include:
Pre-release bodywork to reduce tension in the neck, jaw, and shoulders for easier oral movement
Oral motor and feeding therapy to support effective latch, suck, swallow, and breathing coordination
Parent education and positioning strategies for more comfortable and efficient feeding
Post-release rehabilitation to encourage full tongue mobility and prevent reattachment
Gentle stretching and functional exercises tailored to your baby’s needs and healing stage
Nervous system regulation techniques to promote relaxation and calm during feeding
Whole-body alignment and movement support to address compensations related to tongue restriction, head shape asymmetries, torticollis or other alignment issues
Collaborative care with your lactation consultant, pediatrician, and release provider for comprehensive support
Feeding Therapy Services (Non–Tongue Tie)
Our feeding therapy supports babies and families experiencing feeding challenges not related to tongue tie, or families not seeking to pursue a frenectomy procedure. Using a whole-body, developmental approach, we help babies feed more comfortably, efficiently, and joyfully.
Services include:
Bodywork for feeding comfort – gentle techniques to release tension and improve alignment in the neck, jaw, and shoulders.
Oral-motor skill development – supporting coordinated suck, swallow, and breathing patterns.
Feeding position and latch support – helping families find positions that promote comfort, connection, and effective feeding.
Reflux and gas management – addressing postural and muscular factors that contribute to digestive discomfort.
Nervous system regulation – using calming strategies to support relaxed, stress-free feeding experiences.
Developmental movement support – encouraging optimal posture, core strength, and head control to enhance feeding success.
Caregiver education and home strategies – empowering parents with tools and techniques for everyday routines.
Support for bottle or breast transitions – helping babies adjust smoothly between different feeding methods.
Support for bottle refusers – gentle strategies to help babies transition to or accept the bottle by addressing oral-motor coordination, body tension, and feeding comfort
About Dr. Stefanie Morici
Settling in the NOVA/DC area in 2012 I began my career in pediatrics. After having my son in 2016, I further specialized in newborns and infants. Since, I have been developing my expertise in areas including treatment of torticollis, plagiocephaly, hypotonia, atypical movement patterns, and developmental delay.
I combine various aspects of physical therapy, infant massage, bodywork, and pediatric kinesiotaping in order to ensure maximal outcomes in each of my patients. I believe there is no "one size fits all" approach and treat each baby and family as individuals.
In 2018 I became specialty trained in tethered oral tissues and most recently have finished a sleep certificate in order to offer further assistance to my families.
I work with a holistic approach, looking at every aspect of each baby and am dedicated to helping your baby succeed and meet your goals.
When not at work, I am busy being a mom to 2 boys!