What if one of the greatest gifts we can give a baby in the NICU isn’t something we give to the baby at all—but something we give to their parents?
In this episode of the Empowering NICU Parents Podcast, host Nicole Nyberg, MSN, APRN, NNP-BC, is joined by Lisa Kleinz, MA, CCC-SLP, Director of Education at Dr. Brown’s Medical, and former NICU parent Liz Barker for an inspiring conversation about the Infant-Driven Feeding® (IDF) Program and how it transforms the NICU experience for babies, families, and care teams.
While feeding is at the center of the discussion, this episode is about so much more than breastfeeding or bottles. Lisa explains how the Infant-Driven Feeding® Program is an evidence-based, family-centered developmental care approach that teaches parents and clinicians to recognize and respond to each baby’s unique cues, creating positive feeding experiences while promoting safer feeding practices, stronger parent-infant relationships, and improved outcomes.
Liz shares the remarkable story of her daughter, Lucy, who was born at just 28 weeks’ gestation. She candidly discusses the fear, guilt, and uncertainty she experienced as a NICU parent, and how one nurse’s intentional teaching—supported by a family-centered unit culture—helped her move from feeling like an observer to becoming an active, confident caregiver. By learning Lucy’s cues, participating in her care from the very beginning, and focusing on positive feeding experiences rather than volume alone, Liz not only gained confidence as a parent but also went on to exclusively breastfeed Lucy after her discharge from the NICU until she was two years old.
Together, Nicole, Lisa, and Liz explore why intentionally educating and including parents from day one is one of the most powerful interventions in neonatal care—and why empowering parents ultimately benefits babies for a lifetime.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
• Why the Infant-Driven Feeding® Program is about much more than feeding
• How cue-based, developmental care creates safer feeding experiences
• The importance of intentionally educating and empowering NICU parents
• Why a shared Infant-Driven Feeding® Program language creates consistency, trust, and parent confidence
• Why positive feeding experiences matter more than volume alone
• The evidence behind family-centered, cue-based feeding—including improved breastfeeding outcomes, greater parent confidence, and positive developmental outcomes
• One family’s inspiring journey from uncertainty to confidence
This episode is sponsored by Dr. Brown’s Medical, whose Infant-Driven Feeding® Program is helping NICUs create positive feeding experiences by partnering with families, following each baby’s cues, and supporting evidence-based, family-centered developmental care from hospital to home.
Dr. Brown’s Medical: https://www.drbrownsmedical.com
The Infant-Driven Feeding™ (IDF) Program: https://www.infantdrivenfeeding.com/
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