For humans, successful drinking is a necessity early in life. In fact, swallowing can be observed with ultrasound at approximately the 16th week of pregnancy. The fetus "drinks" amniotic fluid as a way to filter fetal debris and to help maintain the amniotic fluid level for its mother. All this "swallowing practice" in utero enables the fetus to enter the world as a virtual sucking machine at birth. However, nearly 20 percent of babies born each year in the United States have airway issues, congenital anomalies, or neurologic abnormalities that interfere with swallowing practice in utero, resulting in difficulties with feeding and swallowing in the newborn period. Moreover, medical conditions developing after birth may also interfere with swallowing, making the process more difficult and less pleasant. In this article, the experiences of parents who are caring for a child with a swallowing disorder are described. Feeding the child, John, was always a frightening experience for his parents because he would frequently choke on his food. Later, the doctors found that when John swallowed food or liquid, the muscles of his esophagus did not move sequentially, as do the muscles in a connected esophagus. Instead, there was a disconnect at the upper esophagus that caused pooling and back up into his throat. John's case is an excellent example not only of the effect of anatomical defects of the aerodigestive structures on swallowing, but also of the influence of medical issues beyond the pharynx on the swallowing process. This article provides insights from professionals who deal with feeding and swallowing disorders. Their goal is to restore or make possible the most appropriate means of gaining nutrition and providing an opportunity for a child to experience nourishment in a healthy, safe, social, and pleasurable manner. (Contains 3 tables.)