Feeding

Feeding therapy helps children who have difficulty sucking, chewing, eating solids, or drinking from a cup. Feeding therapy can also help children who have sensory processing disorders and have difficulty eating new foods.

Infants eat by sucking, and feeding skills progress from there. It is normal for children to have some difficulty with chewing, drinking from a cup, etc. when they are first developing those skills. For example, when children first start drinking from an open-cup you may notice their drink spill from their mouth. This will improve with time. However, if these skills don’t improve your child could have a feeding disorder. Below is a list of signs that your child could have a feeding disorder:

• Cry/fuss during feeding

• Pocket their food (hold it in their mouth instead of chewing and swallowing)

• Have difficulty gaining weight

• Have difficulty chewing

• Refuse to eat or drink

• Only eat certain textures (such as only eating crunchy things)

• Difficulty breastfeeding

• Frequently cough or gag when feeding

Please note there are many signs of feeding disorders and the list above is not exhaustive. It is also important to note that the signs listed above can vary based on your child’s age (birth-toddler) and developmental skills.

If you suspect your child has a feeding disorder, your therapist will complete a thorough evaluation and obtain a case history. From there, your therapist will create a list of goals for your child. Parent/caregiver education will be provided throughout the course of therapy.