Do You Need a Lactation Consultant or a Feeding Therapist? Or Both?

If feeding isn't going the way you expected, you've probably started searching the internet for answers. And somewhere between Instagram and TikTok, you may have come across two different types of professionals — lactation consultants and feeding therapists — and thought, what's the difference? And which one do I actually need?

You're not alone. This is one of the most common questions I hear from families. And getting the right support early can make a real difference in your feeding journey.

So let's break it down.

What does a lactation consultant (IBCLC) do?

An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) is a specialist in breastfeeding and human lactation. They hold the highest credential when it comes to supporting breastfeeding parents.

An IBCLC can help with:

• Low milk supply or oversupply

• Painful or difficult latching

• Breast health concerns like clogged ducts, mastitis, or nipple damage

• Pumping — including pump fit, flange sizing, and building a pumping plan

• Navigating supplementation, combo feeding, or transitioning between breast and bottle

• Nutrition and wellness support for the birthing parent

• With advanced training, an IBCLC can assess oral motor skills and teach general oral exercises to help babies feed better.

• Identify infants with complex oral dysfunction, and make appropriate referrals to feeding therapy

Think of the IBCLC as the provider who focuses on the feeding system from the parent's side — making sure your body is supported and your baby is getting what they need to grow. They may also be the quarterback who helps build your feeding team when referrals are necessary.

What does a feeding therapist do?

A feeding therapist is a licensed Speech-Language pathologist (SLP) or Occupational Therapist (OT) with an advanced specialty in infant feeding. Feeding therapists are the highest level of care for infants with complex feeding challenges. They focus on the baby's side of the equation — specifically, what's happening in your baby's body and mouth that may be making feeding difficult.

A feeding therapist can help with:

• Oral dysfunction — such as a weak or disorganized sucking

• Poor strength or endurance during feeds (baby tires out quickly, falls asleep, isn't gaining well)

• Tongue tie, lip tie, or cheek ties — providing pre/post release therapy and bodywork

• Tension patterns in the body that affect the latch

• Underlying nervous system or sensory factors that impact feeding

• Difficulty transitioning to solids or advancing textures

• Also support closed mouth posture for oral development, such as speech, feeding, and breathing

Think of the feeding therapist as the provider who looks at the whole baby — their mouth, their body, their reflexes, their movement — to figure out why feeding is hard and help you solve the problem.

So which one do you need?

Start with a lactation consultant. Whether you have concerns for milk supply or a bad latch, an IBCLC lactation consultant should be your first stop. They can help protect supply, ensure baby is gaining, and assess oral skills.

You may need a feeding therapist if your baby has latch challenges that go beyond positioning technique, or they are struggling to transfer at the breast despite adequate supply. If baby struggles to latch or stay latched, feeds are taking a long time and baby seems to fatigue quickly, your baby is showing signs of tension or restricted movement in their body, you have concerns for tummy time or early milestones, you've been told your baby has a tongue tie - these are all red flags that indicate feeding therapy would be helpful.

You might need an IBCLC and feeding therapist if there are challenges on both sides of the equation — your body and your baby's body both need support in order for breastfeeding to work.

Here's what makes Nourish Therapy different

I'm a Lactation Consultant and a Feeding Therapist, which means that when families come to Nourish Therapy, you don't have to choose between the two — and you don't have to coordinate care between separate providers.

In a single visit, I assess maternal factors and evaluate your baby's oral function and whole body development. I can adjust your feeding plan and implement hands-on therapy. I look at the whole picture — parent and baby, together — and build a plan that addresses everything at once.

While most families end up bouncing between two or three providers to meet their goals, I built my practice so that families have comprehensive support in one place.

Not sure where to start?

I'd love to help. That's exactly what my Discovery Call is for. Let's figure out the right next step — whether that's a visit with me or a referral to someone else. You don't have to navigate this alone.

BOOK A CALL

At Nourish Feeding Therapy, I specialize in infant feeding and oral development, offering advanced, hands-on therapy that goes beyond lactation support. As a Speech-Language Pathologist and IBCLC Lactation Consultant, I focus on the underlying oral-motor, neuromuscular, and developmental factors that shape how babies feed, grow, and thrive. I serve families across Kitsap County at my Poulsbo, Washington feeding practice, providing comprehensive evaluations and individualized therapy for challenges such as tongue tie, feeding difficulties, and early oral dysfunction—supporting babies and parents with evidence-based care during the most important stages of development. Schedule a discovery call to get started.