What is Feeding Therapy?

Feeding therapy is a type of intervention to help children who are struggling eaters.  Feeding therapy is often directed by a team of an occupational therapist and a speech therapist who have undergone the specific training. It addresses the sensory and oral motor parts of eating that may affect how a child consumes food. For example, if a child is having issues with chewing or swallowing, this is an oral motor issue and would be addressed by a speech language pathologists. However, if there is a sensory-based concern, such as the smell or texture of food, the sensory-based aspect would be addressed by an occupational therapist.  An OT may also address the motor components of self-feeding.

Does my child need feeding therapy?

Most children have some foods that they refuse to eat, but when do a child’s eating behaviors become an issue? When your child is not getting the nutrients they need, are underweight, or their diet is very restricted  is when their eating habits become problematic. 

Most children are “picky” about some foods, and that’s okay! A lot of children will grow out of it. Of course, this doesn’t mean you should stop encouraging them to eat their fruits and vegetables or whatever they are against eating. It is when a child’s diet is so limited that they cannot get the right nutrients that is cause for concern. Also, if a child is not underweight, this does not mean they wouldn’t qualify for feeding therapy. If a child’s diet is solely chicken nuggets and cheese puffs, they probably are getting caloric content, but they aren’t getting the required vitamins and minerals their body needs to function and grow. 

Signs your child may need feeding therapy:

·       Limited diet

·       Is underweight

·       Coughing or gagging when trying new or non-approved foods

·       Sensitive to texture

·       Trouble swallowing or chewing

·       Throws up frequently after meals

The list above is by no means exhaustive. If you feel your child is struggling with feeding, you should  contact your pediatrician.

Tips to help your child eat new foods

Introducing new foods can be difficult. Not everybody is up for trying new things, especially a child that is struggling with feeding.

Remain calm. It’s easy to get frustrated when your child won’t eat the food you worked hard to prepare or won’t eat anything at all. However, if a child senses your frustrations, they likely won’t be encouraged to eat. Set expectations, but remember to try to stay undisturbed. Don’t give into tantrums, but also don’t punish the child for being unable to eat a new food right away. This will put them off from eating new things even more. 

Establish routines. A set routine for meal times will help set expectations. Pick a time when everybody will sit down together and is expected to eat. This way, your child anticipates meal times and understands that this is a time for eating, not watching TV or playing. 

Encourage the child to interact with the food. If your child is extremely sensitive to the sensory parts of eating (texture, the way it looks, the way a food smells), it’s a good first step to have them interact with the foods. This can be through just touching the food, playing with it, smelling the food, or even helping to prepare it. These interactions might not seem like a big deal, but they are becoming more familiar with sensory stimuli. If the texture is upsetting to them, getting them to play with that food is a huge first step. They are beginning to become desensitized to it. 

Eat new foods with your child. Some children like to mirror their parents, peers, or adults. If they have a representation of what they are supposed to do, they will be more encouraged to try the food. Even if that is putting the food up to their mouths, this is a great first step. When you are introducing a new food, try it first. Show them how much you enjoy it. 

Don’t overwhelm your child. If you are introducing new food to your child, make sure it is one new food at a time. If they have a lot of different things to try, they may become overwhelmed and overstimulated. Also, if you are going to a party or having a big holiday dinner, it might be a good idea to pack some approved foods for your child. A big gathering may be too much pressure to try new foods. Mealtimes should have a relaxing atmosphere so that your child is more open to eating the new food. 

Use books as a way of introducing new food to your child. Books are a great way to increase comfort and establish expectations. By introducing characters in similar situations, your child may be more open to

There are even some books that talk about the texture and appearance of foods. This can help increase exposure to new foods. It will also incorporate repetition of phrases that help a child get used to the idea of eating something that they may be uncomfortable with.

For some great book ideas, check out this list of the 12 Best Picky Eater Books for Children

For more tips on feeding, check out our earlier post: Helping Support Positive Eating Behaviors in Children.

• Sources

  “Feeding and Swallowing Disorders in Children,” ASHA, accessed 7 December 2022, https://www.asha.org/public/speech/swallowing/feeding-and-swallowing-disorders-in-children/

  “Four Pediatric Feeding Therapy Techniques You Can Try Today,” Total Education Solutions, 25 January 2022, https://www.tesidea.com/blog/four-pediatric-feeding-therapy-techniques-you-can-try-today/