Sometimes babies need some help “waking up” all their sucking muscles prior to nursing or taking a bottle. Other babies simply seem to latch or eat solids (purees or textures) better several days after starting these exercises.

Oral Motor Muscle Stimulation massage techniques as follows:

Remember to do each movement several times, with gentle pressure, slowly and deliberately. The entire “routine” should take less than 30 seconds.

1. Cheek circles (gently move cheeks in circular motion, and inward to make “fishy lips”. Repeat x5
2. Over the ears and under the jaw. (With both hands, stroke from each cheek to the temples, then around the ears and under the jaw. Repeat x5 )
3. Trace top lips and bottom lips with finger (“applying chapstick”) x5.
4. Trace down from nose to lip to chin. Use finger or knuckle to (slowly) gently stroke from bridge of nose down to top lip, bottom lip and chin, gently rolling bottom lip out (only if baby allows) and gently press chin down as if opening mouth (only if baby allows).

Notes:
1. If you are working on tongue extension, remember to stick your tongue way out several times while massaging and praise baby for mimicking the motion.