Pediatric Feeding Therapy
Expert help for feeding challenges that go beyond typical picky eating. Sensory sensitivities, oral motor difficulties, food refusal, and mealtime anxiety. One of few SLPs in Chicago with specialized feeding therapy training.
Schedule Free Consultation
More Than "Just Picky Eating"
Feeding therapy is a specialty area that most speech-language pathologists are not trained to address. Amanda has completed advanced training in pediatric feeding, combining expertise in oral motor function, sensory processing, and behavioral approaches. When your child's feeding challenges affect nutrition, growth, or family quality of life, you need a specialist.
Understanding Feeding Difficulties
Feeding difficulties exist on a spectrum from typical picky eating to more significant feeding disorders. While many toddlers go through phases of food refusal, some children have challenges that do not resolve on their own and significantly impact nutrition, growth, or family life.
True feeding difficulties often have underlying causes that need to be addressed: sensory sensitivities, oral motor weaknesses, or anxiety developed from negative eating experiences. Simply offering foods repeatedly or using rewards does not address these root causes.
Feeding therapy takes a systematic, pressure-free approach that helps children become comfortable with food while addressing whatever is contributing to their difficulties.
It Is Not Your Fault
Feeding difficulties are not caused by parenting. Children with sensory sensitivities or oral motor challenges genuinely struggle with eating. Therapy helps address the underlying issues while reducing mealtime stress for the whole family.
What Causes Feeding Difficulties?
Sensory-Based
Hypersensitivity to textures, temperatures, or smells. Strong preferences or aversions that limit diet variety.
Oral Motor-Based
Difficulty with the mechanics of chewing and swallowing. Weak oral muscles or coordination challenges.
Behavioral/Anxiety
Negative mealtime experiences leading to food fear. Anxiety around new foods or eating in certain settings.
Signs Your Child May Need Feeding Therapy
It can be hard to know whether your child's eating is within normal range or indicates a feeding disorder. These signs suggest it may be time for an evaluation.
Not all children with feeding difficulties show all of these signs. If mealtimes are consistently stressful, your child's diet is extremely limited, or you have concerns about nutrition or growth, an evaluation can provide clarity.
Urgent Signs Requiring Immediate Evaluation
- Weight loss or failure to gain weight appropriately
- Choking, coughing, or "wet" voice quality during or after eating
- Respiratory infections that may be related to aspiration
- Complete refusal of all foods or liquids
- Pain or discomfort when eating
- Regression: suddenly refusing foods previously accepted
Common Signs
- Extremely limited food preferences (fewer than 20 accepted foods)
- Strong reactions to food textures (gagging, spitting out, refusing)
- Difficulty transitioning from purees to table foods
- Gagging, choking, or vomiting with certain foods
- Refusing entire food groups (all vegetables, all proteins, etc.)
- Mealtime tantrums, anxiety, or avoidance behaviors
- Pocketing food in cheeks instead of swallowing
- Excessively long mealtimes (over 30 to 40 minutes)
- Poor weight gain or nutritional concerns
- Only eating foods of certain brands or preparations
- Needing distractions (screens, toys) to eat at all
- History of reflux, tube feeding, or medical issues affecting eating
How Feeding Therapy Helps
We use evidence-based approaches that address the root causes of feeding difficulties while creating positive food experiences.
What to Expect from Feeding Therapy
Feeding therapy is a gradual process that respects your child's pace. Progress takes time, but families typically see improvements in mealtime stress early in treatment.
Comprehensive Assessment
We evaluate oral motor skills, sensory responses to food, feeding history, current diet, and mealtime dynamics.
Identify Root Causes
Feeding difficulties often have multiple contributing factors. We identify whether issues are sensory, motor, behavioral, or a combination.
Individualized Plan
Based on assessment findings and your family goals, we create a therapy plan that addresses your child's specific challenges.
Therapeutic Food Exploration
Using systematic approaches, we help children become comfortable with new foods through play, exploration, and gradual exposure.
Oral Motor Treatment
If motor skills are contributing to feeding difficulties, we address chewing patterns, swallowing coordination, and oral strength.
Family Mealtime Support
We provide strategies for home mealtimes, helping parents implement approaches that support progress.
Struggling with Mealtimes?
Schedule a free consultation to discuss your child's feeding challenges. We will help you understand whether feeding therapy could help and what the process looks like.
Schedule Free Consultation