Feeding Therapy
Deciding whether your child needs feeding support can feel overwhelming
and let's face it, we all want what is best for our child to receive the
nourishment they need.
Feeding challenges don’t have to be faced alone—getting the right help can make mealtimes safer, calmer, and more enjoyable for everyone.
Sensory feeding or picky eating
Eating is a sensory-rich experience—taste, sight, smell, sound, and touch all play a role in how we experience food. While many children may go through phases of selective eating, more persistent or severe challenges may signal something more.
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If the characteristics below describe your child's eating challenges, we'd love to match you with one of our specialists best suited to help your child.
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Regularly eats fewer than 20 different foods
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Only eats specific food brands
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Refuses mixed foods
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Excludes entire food groups or textures
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Eliminates foods previously liked ("a food jag")
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Refuses to try new foods
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Cannot be bribed to eat disliked foods, even if hungry
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Cannot tolerate being near disliked foods
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Meltdowns or tantrums at mealtimes
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Gagging or vomiting when presented with certain foods
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Anxiety or distress around new or non-preferred foods
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Overreaction to food smells, tastes, or temperatures
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Discomfort with messy hands or face during eating
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No interest in eating or skipping meals entirely
pediatric dysphagia (in infants)
Infant dysphagia, or difficulty with swallowing, can impact a baby’s ability to feed safely and effectively—whether they are breastfeeding, bottle feeding or beginning solids. It can sometimes be hard to tell what’s typical and if extra support is needed, especially in those early, sleep-deprived months.
We’ve listed some common characteristics below to help you recognize potential red flags and know when it might be time to seek support from one of our specialists.
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Trouble latching or staying latched during breast/bottle feeding
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Poor sucking strength or uncoordinated sucking and swallowing
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Breathing difficulty while feeding
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Coughing, choking, or gagging during feeds
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Arching the back or becoming stiff during feeding
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Fussiness or crying during or after feeding
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Congestion or nasal regurgitation (milk coming out of the nose)
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Wet-sounding voice or breathing after feeding
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Frequent respiratory infections or aspiration pneumonia
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Refusal to eat or difficulty transitioning to solids
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Poor weight gain or weight loss, failure to thrive
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Signs of fatigue or falling asleep during feeds
pediatric dysphagia (in toddlers and children)
Childhood dysphagia can present in many ways and often involves challenges with the physical process of chewing and the ability to safely and effectively swallow. If your child demonstrates the symptoms listed below, it may indicate that your child is having trouble safely coordinating the muscles needed for eating and swallowing and might benefit from skilled services by a feeding specialist.
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Difficulty coordinating sucking, swallowing, and breathing
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Arching or stiffening of the body during feeding
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Prolonged feeding times (over 30 minutes)
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Difficulty chewing or managing food in the mouth
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Gagging, coughing, or choking during meals
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Frequent coughing or choking when eating or drinking
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Recurrent pneumonia or respiratory infections
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Wet or gurgly voice quality after swallowing
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Nasal regurgitation (food or liquid coming out of the nose)
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Poor weight gain or weight loss
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Dehydration or signs of malnutrition
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Fatigue or lethargy during meals
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Drooling or poor saliva management
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Food or liquid leaking from the mouth
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Sensation of food being stuck in the throat
(in older children who can verbalize)