In this episode, Meaghan Beames discusses the importance of understanding and managing the gag reflex in infants and children, its impact on feeding, breathing, and long-term oral health, and practical strategies for desensitization and treatment.

Key topics:

• Gag reflex development in infants
• Impact of palate shape on breathing and feeding
• Techniques for desensitizing gag reflex in babies
• The connection between palate, airway, and sleep
• Cranio sacral therapy and intraoral releases for children
• Role of microbiome and oral exploration in development
• Long-term effects of gag reflex on dental health and airway
• Importance of nasal breathing and nitric oxide in health

Time Stamps:
00:00 Podcast Intro
01:24 Why Gagging Matters
02:57 Parents Hesitations
06:02 Desensitizing Steps
08:54 Progress Timeline
10:01 Why Reflex Stays Forward
11:40 Palate Airway Connection
13:40 Treatment Options Referrals
15:18 Collaboration with Myofunctional Therapy
16:54 Addressing Parental Guilt and Concerns
18:27 Wrap Up Resources
18:58 Training Courses outro

If you've ever caught yourself moving to the next area before a release actually finished, this one's for you. I talk about the pattern I see so often when I'm mentoring newer practitioners: moving too fast, and leaving tissue half done. We go back to the idea of trading time for pressure, and why sustained contact (not more pressure) is what actually helps fascia let go.

I walk you through what a release looks and feels like while it's happening, the visual cues to watch for, what it feels like under your hands when tissue starts moving on its own, and how to use intuition to know when to stay put versus when to move on. I also get honest about how long it took me to actually trust this in my own practice, why I still don't offer twenty minute appointments, and how 1:1 mentorship can help you build this skill faster with someone in your corner.

In this episode:

• [6:00] Trade time for pressure, and why sustained contact matters more than force
• [10:00] Visual signs a release is happening: twitching, breathing changes, tummy gurgles
• [14:00] Using intuition to know when to stay versus move on
• [17:00] Why there's no set timeline, and what completion actually looks like
• [22:00] Why I don't offer twenty minute appointments
• [24:00] 1:1 mentorship, virtual and in-person, reach out directly if interested

For more training and resources, visit www.beamescst.com.

If you’ve ever finished a weekend course and wondered whether you’re really ready for the babies who walk through your door, this one’s for you. I talk about why a couple of days of training can teach you techniques, but can’t teach you when to use them, especially when a baby’s nervous system is severely dysregulated, their head is significantly misshapen, or their oral dysfunction is causing real feeding struggles.

I walk you through a real case of a five and a half month old who came to me through a dentist for a tongue tie release, and how it took three sessions and a layered set of skills before I could get to his cranial base. I also explain why our program runs over two to three years, through four levels and into certification, and why I’m still a student myself, with five more courses on my list over the next twelve months. If you’re a parent listening in, I hope this gives you a window into what goes into this work.

You can learn more about the program at www.beamescst.com.

Timestamps

• 2:00 Why a weekend course teaches techniques but not judgment
• 6:00 Why our four levels and certification take two to three years
• 9:00 A real case: a baby referred by a dentist
• 18:00 Why I’m still a student, and what I’m learning next
• 19:00 Key takeaways
• 20:00 A note for parents, and where to learn more