Feeding Therapy
Pediatric Feeding Disorders
Feeding is a special bonding time for both the child and the caregiver. When this everyday activity is disrupted by a child who has feeding challenges, it often takes a team approach to determine the best plan to meet both the nutritional and emotional components of feeding.
Our staff works closely with family, physicians and other team members to address all areas of need, from sensory issues to motor control issues.
Pediatric feeding disorders
If your child is not maintaining a healthy weight or has nutritional deficiencies, it can affect their growth and development. It can also be stressful on you as a parent because it makes mealtime frustrating.
Some common signs of pediatric feeding disorders include:
- Refusal to try new foods
- Trouble chewing or swallowing
- Aversion to certain food textures
- Gagging or vomiting
- Tantrums at mealtime
There can be many causes of pediatric feeding disorders including food allergies, palate defects, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), delayed exposure to different foods, digestive disorders or conditions such as autism spectrum disorders.
Pediatric feeding therapy
Before any pediatric feeding therapy is provided, we consult with your child’s pediatrician to ensure that it is safe for them to feed orally. Even if it is determined that it is not safe, they may still benefit from feeding therapy to improve their oral abilities and oral exploration, which are essential to other developmental skills. As they grow and mature, it may become safe for them to eat at a later time.
Parents should also be prepared to participate in the treatment process. You will be taught how to implement appropriate feeding techniques and routines at home to help improve progress.
Therapists and parents work together towards achieving goals for the child. Caregivers spend 10-15 minutes per day conducting feeding therapy, adhering to a daily routine.
While every child is different,
typical pediatric feeding therapy program goals include:
- Increasing variety and volume of solid foods and liquids accepted
- Increasing texture of solid foods accepted
- Increasing self-feeding skills
- Decreasing meal duration
- Decreasing disruptive mealtime behaviors (e.g., crying, screaming, hitting, throwing food, spitting)
With the right treatment and support, mealtimes can be more enjoyable and beneficial for your child. They’ll be eating a wider variety of foods with less disruptions and better meeting their nutritional needs.
Feeding: Typical Development
Below are the typical development / feeding milestones from birth to 30 months. Check to see if your child is in the suggested milestone for feeding. The below information was received from telability.org.
| Age | Milestones | Food Type | Quantity | Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 3 months | Rhythmic / Reflexive Suckle-Swallow-Breathe | Milk (formula or breast) Liquids | 2 to 6 oz/feed 6+ feeds/day | Breast or bottle |
| 4 to 6 months | Sucking replaces suckle Phastic bite decreases Munching emerges | Milk (formula or breast) Liquids Pureed Foods | 9 to 10 oz/feed 4 to 6 feeds/day | Breast or bottle |
| 7 to 9 months | Active lip closure Munching on soft solids Finger feeding (rakes food) Cup drinking Mouthing toys Begin side-to-side tongue movements (laterilization) | Milk (formula or breast) Liquids Purees Baby Cereals | 11+ oz/feed 4 to 6 feeds/day | Bottle Cup Spoon |
| 10 to 12 months | Controlled bite/munching Graded mouth opening Moves food from midline to sides of mouth | All of the above plus ground/mashed | 11+ oz/feed 4 to 6 feeds/day | Bottle Cup Spoon |
| 12 to 15 months | Refine tongue laterilization Licking food off lips Brings filled spoon to mouth | All of the above plus finely chopped | ||
| 15 to 18 months | Chews with lips closed Upper teeth clean lower lip Feeds messily with spoon | All of the above plus table foods | Cup Spoon Fork | |
| 24 to 30 months | Decreased/absent drooling Eats well with spoon Rotary jaw movement for chewing |
