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What Feeding Therapy Can Do for Your Child
Pediatric occupational therapy can help your child meet their personal goals and reach developmental milestones for their age.
SPEECH THERAPY TIPS
6 Signs Your Child Might Need Feeding Therapy
Is mealtime a struggle? Many parents face the same issues. If your child refuses to eat, dislikes certain textures, or isn’t growing well, you’re not alone. These problems go beyond picky eating and aren’t your fault. Feeding therapy may be the solution.
01.
Is your child refusing to eat or drink?
If your child consistently refuses to eat or drink, it may be a sign that feeding therapy is needed. This is more than normal picky eating. It can mean refusing all food or drinking very little all day.
02.
Does your child have a very limited diet?
A child who eats fewer than 20 different foods or refuses entire food groups may benefit from feeding therapy. This limited diet can lead to nutritional deficiencies and impact growth.
03.
Is your child struggling to gain weight or grow?
If your child has trouble gaining weight, they may need feeding therapy. If your child is falling off their growth curve or missing weight milestones, you must address the feeding issues.
04.
Does your child gag or vomit frequently during meals?
Frequent gagging, choking, or vomiting during meals may signal issues. Feeding therapy can help with oral motor difficulties or sensory sensitivities. These reactions are unusual. They can stress both child and parent at mealtimes.
05.
Is your child having difficulty transitioning to solid foods?
If your child struggles to move from purees to more textured foods, feeding therapy can help. This transition should occur between 6-12 months of age. If it takes longer, there may be a need for intervention.
06.
Does your child have trouble chewing or swallowing?
Difficulty chewing age-appropriate foods or frequent coughing while eating can signal oral motor issues. Feeding therapy can help. These challenges can affect a child’s ability to eat safely and efficiently.
What is FEEDING Therapy?
Feeding therapy goes beyond teaching a child to eat. Therapists work with families and other professionals to identify the cause of feeding difficulties and create personalized treatment plans. The team assesses feeding skills, sensory preferences, and cultural factors, tailoring a plan to the child’s needs and determining the therapy’s frequency and duration.
How Can I Help My Child at Home?
Feeding therapy with a specialist can greatly help your child, but there are several things that you can do at home to help them as well. Here are some feeding therapy ideas to introduce at home and practice as a family.
Set a routine. When it comes to mealtime, set a routine by sticking to a meal schedule. Make sure that meals are free from distractions like screens or toys so that you and your child can be present and focused during the meal. Your child should be relaxed, so limit any stimuli in the room so that they can try their food without feeling overwhelmed.
Make it fun. Present foods with a variety of textures and colors. Let your child feed themselves, even if things get messy. Don’t get angry, but encourage them to eat the food and let them know when they are doing a good job. You can cut foods into fun shapes or arrange them in interesting ways to make your child more interested in the food.
Encourage your child to help. When it’s time to prepare a meal, ask your child to help you cook or prepare. This gives them the chance to explore the food with their senses as the meal comes together. Keep things light and positive. Eating as a family when possible is also helpful so that your child can see everyone else enjoying the food, as well.
Therapists use various techniques in feeding therapy, chosen based on your child’s specific difficulties. One common method is the SOS (Sequential-Oral-Sensory) Approach, which helps children explore new foods through play, encouraging them to use their senses to touch, smell, and taste. Other techniques include the Beckman Oral Motor Approach, which improves mouth motor skills, and the Behavioral Approach, which rewards children with small prizes for mastering new skills.
What Our Families Are Saying
Nikita W.
Buford’s Kids Spot and Ms. Devin have been a complete blessing! Ms. Devin started with our 2 year old who had limited speech of only a few words. A year later he is speaking in full sentences and holding conversations. She also worked through a bout of stuttering with him as well. Ms. Devin is so kind, fun and gentle. She has a magic touch that allowed my son to enjoy working with her each week through specialized “play” sessions. Truly can not speak any highly of this place especially Devin! Thank you!