National Association of Neonatal Therapists (NANT)

06/04/2026

🌟 NANT Core Value Spotlight: Excellence

Excellence means showing up with the highest intention for the greatest good— every moment, every time.

We embrace lifelong learning, continual skill refinement, and true collaboration to bring the best care possible to the bedside.

In the NICU, all roads lead to one purpose: serving babies and families with compassion, precision, and heart.

💛 Excellence isn’t just what we do — it’s who we are.

06/03/2026

Calling all neonatal therapists! 👶💪

Join NANT President Sue Ludwig and VP Chrysty Sturdivant for a second cohort and discover how the Launch Leadership Program can help you.

But, what is Launch?
✨ A program for healthcare professionals ready to boost their leadership skills
✨ Ideal for those looking to lead collaboratively and become positive change agents
✨ A chance to invest in your personal and professional development

Launch is an opportunity for you to live and work at a whole different level through our 6-month leadership program.

Ready to elevate your leadership skills? Join the NANT Launch Program today!
https://launchleadershipprogram.com/

06/02/2026

Your work deserves a wider audience.

NANT 17 will connect neonatal therapists and neonatal professionals from around the world — in 2026 we welcomed 750 attendees from 11 countries. Submitting an abstract for an oral or poster presentation is one of the most meaningful ways to contribute to the specialty and improve developmental outcomes for babies in the NICU and their families.

All professions and NICU parents are welcome to submit.

https://neonataltherapists.org/nant17cfa

The NANT 17 theme, Connection Heals, reflects a truth we witness every day in neonatal care: babies require human connection to heal, grow, and develop. Connection is foundational to development. It’s the connection between babies and parents. It’s the connection with caregivers ...

06/01/2026

The NANT 17 Call for Abstracts is officially OPEN! 📝

Have a research study, clinical insight, quality improvement project, interdisciplinary collaboration, creative program idea, or case experience you’ve been wanting to share with the neonatal therapy community? We’d love to hear from you.

NANT 17 brings together neonatal OTs, PTs, and SLPs from around the world for conversations that stay with you long after the conference ends. (And sometimes the hallway conversations become the ones you remember most.)

We can’t wait to see the ideas, experiences, and perspectives this community will bring forward in 2027.

📍 Orlando, FL
Pre conference: April 8, 2027
Main Conference: April 9 to 10, 2027

📅 Call for Abstracts open now through August 3, 2026.

Submit your abstract today: https://nantconference.com/call-for-abstracts/

05/29/2026

In neonatal therapy, we focus on the smallest details—movement, regulation, sensory responses. But one of the most powerful influences on an infant’s development is a parent’s presence and love.

Parental connection is not an "add-on" to care—it is a biologically meaningful intervention. Through touch, voice, and co-regulation, parents directly support stability, organization, and early relational health.

Our role at the bedside extends beyond the infant— We are responsible for scaffolding families—creating psychological safety, sharing knowledge in accessible ways, and empowering parents to understand and respond to their baby's cues and daily needs.

When parents feel confident and supported, they step into their role as essential partners in care.

Parents are not visitors in the NICU. They are regulators, advocates, and a vital part of the therapeutic environment.

When we support parents, we support babies. 💛

05/27/2026

It’s easy to look at what a baby is doing and try to “fix” the moment.

But when you start to understand what those cues actually mean… everything shifts.

The way a baby moves, responds, settles, or doesn’t… it’s all communication. And once you begin to read that more clearly, your decisions start to feel more grounded (and a little less like guesswork, if we're being honest).

That’s a big part of what Ignite is about. Learning how to see, think, and respond in a way that really supports each baby in front of you.

If you've been wanting to deepen your understanding and feel more confident in those everyday moments, it might be worth exploring.

Learn more and enroll: https://igniteneonatalmentoringprogram.com/

05/26/2026

You’re already leading — whether you have the title or not.

I shared a bit of my own story in this week’s article, and how Launch came to be from years of learning, mentorship, and a lot of figuring it out along the way.

If you’ve been thinking about developing your leadership skills, this might be your nudge.

Read more here.

https://neonataltherapists.org/leadership

Sue from NANT shares a bit of her own story in this week’s article, and how Launch came to be from years of learning, mentorship, and a lot of figuring it out along the way.

05/25/2026

🇺🇸 Today, we pause and remember. 🇺🇸

We honor the courage, service, and sacrifice of those who gave their lives for our freedom.

“How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes.”
Maya Angelou

Their lives, their stories, and the families who carry them forward matter deeply. We don’t take that lightly.

05/22/2026

Great things happen when people grow together 🌱

Because learning and connecting is always better united than alone.

🗓️ Enrollment closes Monday, June 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Learn more & join: https://igniteneonatalmentoringprogram.com/

05/21/2026

What’s one thing you wish felt easier in your NICU day-to-day?

Feeding decisions that don’t leave you second-guessing later?
Explaining your clinical reasoning so your team really gets it?
Or maybe you’ve been thinking about the CNT exam and just don’t know where to start.

That’s exactly where Ignite comes in.

It’s a 10-month program that gives you the foundation and the space to actually talk through real situations. You’re learning, yes. But you’re also asking questions, hearing how others approach things, and starting to connect the dots in a way that sticks.

And there’s something else people don’t always expect. The community.
You end up in conversations with people who understand your world without a long explanation. That part matters more than you think.

If you’ve been wanting to feel more confident and a little steadier in your decision-making, it might be time to take a closer look.

Learn more and see if Ignite feels like the right next step for you: https://igniteneonatalmentoringprogram.com/