Breastfeeding functions not only as a mode of infant nutrition but as a critical biopsychosocial process, influencing early relational development. This talk will examine how breastfeeding is linked to co-regulation through multisensory interaction, oxytocin release, and autonomic nervous system synchrony, thereby impacting stress levels and homeostasis in both mother and infant. Evidence from developmental neuroscience and attachment theory suggests that these regulatory processes are central to the formation of secure attachment, enhancing maternal sensitivity and infant socio-emotional development. Anna will address how interruptions to these regulatory dynamics can cause disruptions to breastfeeding as well as influence parental mental health and infant-parent bonding. Integrating perspectives from lactation science, psychology, and sociology, Anna’s session will focus on improving the biopsychosocial regulatory system through co-regulation techniques. Attendees will gain an enriched understanding of the links between attachment, co-regulation and breastfeeding as well as leave with practical skills that they can use with their clients, whatever setting they find themselves working in.

Breastfeeding is more than a means of nourishment - it plays a central role in shaping oral motor development and long-term health. This presentation will begin with an overview of the anatomical aspects of breastfeeding, highlighting the musculature, nervous system, and the integrated processes of swallowing and breathing. Building on this foundation, we will explore how breastfeeding stimulates the coordinated function of the lips, cheeks, tongue, jaw, and palate - and how they work together to support optimal oral development. We will also discuss the importance of coordination for suckling, swallowing, and breathing, as well as the possible impacts of oral ties, bottle feeding, and pacifiers. Finally, the session will connect early feeding experiences to long-term outcomes, including oral health, speech development, eating and drinking skills, airway health, and even body posture. By understanding these interconnected processes, healthcare providers can better support families in fostering healthy oral and overall development from infancy onward.

This presentation examines the impact of breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact on long-term neurodevelopment and child wellbeing. It elucidates the scientific foundations of these practices, detailing how breastfeeding facilitates neural development and fosters emotional resilience, while skin-to-skin interactions support neural pathway formation, soothe infants, and strengthen caregiver-infant bonds. Drawing on recent research, the session underscores the significance of nourishment and nurturing in influencing attachment, stress regulation, and developmental outcomes. Attendees will gain evidence-based insights to inform family support strategies and policy initiatives that advance healthy childhood development.