Feeding
Why is my child a picky eater? Why is mealtime filled with frustration? Why does my child choke when eating or drinking? Is my child getting the best nutrition with eating such a small variety of foods or is inconsistent with the foods they eat? If you are asking these questions, then your child may benefit from feeding support and intervention.
Our feeding therapy services is designed to accommodate the unique needs of each child and their family. Whether your child is experiencing difficulty trying new foods, accepting food, tolerating different food textures, throwing tantrums at mealtime, or refusing to eat certain food groups, our teams can help to improve your child’s appropriate eating behavior to support successful mealtimes in our multi-disciplinary approach with Speech and Occupational therapist. Our clinicians will teach you as a parent or caregiver normal feeding development, portion size, caloric intake requirements, texture progression, and feeding strategies.
I can’t begin to say enough great things about how my daughter’s feeding skills improved in such a short amount of time with the dedication and the help of our OT, Caitlyn. Our daughter now has fun with food and her rigidities with food have decreased as she begins now to exploring new foods while also tolerating having at least one bite of something new.
– Tammy G. (parent)
Signs Your Child May Need Feeding Therapy
- Considered a “picky eater”
- Failure to thrive (e.g. weight gain / growth)
- Refusing new food
- Irritability (e.g. fussy) during feeding times
- Difficulty to accept or tolerate different textures of food
- Difficulty chewing, moving food around the mouth
- Coughing or gagging during meals
- Frequent spitting up or vomiting
- Inability to transition to baby food by 10 months of age
- Inability to accept table food (e.g. solids) by 12 months
- Has not weaned off baby food by 16 months
- Inability to transition from breast milk / bottle to a cup by 16 months
If your child exhibits any of these signs, they may be experiencing feeding difficulties and benefit from an evaluation from our center.
How Can Feeding Therapy for Children Help Your Child?
Feeding therapy at Kara Dodds and Associates helps your child learn how to eat or eat better. Children are provided the opportunity to improve oral motor, sensory, and experience skills they need to make mealtime more enjoyable and nutritious by using a holistic approach using methods of Talktools®, Susan Evan Morris (Pre Feeding Plan), and the SOS Therapy, Beckman Oral motor and more by targeting oral motor, improved chewing, increased acceptance of different foods, improved sucking and drinking skills and overall improving positive mealtime experiences.
If you have concerns regarding your child’s feeding development contact Kara Dodds & Associates at 619.692.0622 or click the button below to schedule an evaluation to determine current needs. Based on the evaluation, or therapists will develop recommendations and a treatment plan (e.g. individual, group feeding, parent consultation) specific your child.