Struggling with picky eating or stressful mealtimes? We provide support for children who avoid certain foods, have difficulty with textures, or find eating challenging.
Struggling with picky eating or stressful mealtimes? We provide support for children who avoid certain foods, have difficulty with textures, or find eating challenging.
Feeding refers to how your child eats and drinks, including chewing, swallowing, and accepting a range of foods. Children develop feeding skills over time, and it is common for them to have preferences or go through phases. However, some children may experience ongoing challenges that make mealtimes challenging and stressful.
Feeding therapy supports children who have difficulty with eating, drinking, or swallowing. This may include challenges with accepting different foods, chewing and swallowing safely, or managing textures. Feeding difficulties can affect a child’s nutrition, growth, and the overall experience of mealtimes for the whole family.
Speech therapists are trained in the anatomy and function of the mouth, throat, and swallowing mechanism, and are well placed to assess and support feeding difficulties alongside communication development.
It is not always easy to tell the difference between typical feeding preferences and feeding difficulties. A speech therapist can assess your child’s feeding and guide you on the most appropriate next steps.
Gradually expanding your child’s range of accepted foods in a respectful, child-led way
Moving from purees to soft solids and eventually regular table foods
Developing chewing, tongue movement, and swallowing coordination
Supporting children who are sensitive to food textures, smells, and appearances
Supporting structured, positive mealtime routines to make eating more predictable and enjoyable
Assessment and management of swallowing difficulties (dysphagia)
Transitioning from tube feeding to oral feeding
We evaluate your child’s feeding history, oral motor skills, sensory responses, and mealtime routines
We work with you (and your child’s pediatrician or dietitian when needed) to set realistic, meaningful goals
We use step-by-step approaches to help your child become more comfortable with new foods at their own pace
We support you in creating calm, low-pressure mealtimes that encourage your child to explore new foods
We equip you with strategies for practice at home, recognizing that most feeding happens outside therapy sessions
Most children go through phases of selective eating, and this can be a normal part of development. However, it may be more than typical picky eating if your child accepts fewer than 20 foods, has dropped foods without adding new ones, gags or vomits with certain textures, or if mealtimes are consistently stressful. An assessment can help clarify what’s going on and whether support would be helpful.
Some children naturally expand their diet over time. However, children with sensory-based or oral motor feeding challenges often don’t “grow out of it” without support. It can be difficult to know which children will improve on their own and which may need additional support. An assessment can help you better understand your child’s feeding and guide the next steps.
Yes. Feeding is complex, and we take a collaborative approach to make sure your child is supported from all angles. We work with pediatricians, dietitians, and occupational therapists when needed, especially when there are medical or sensory factors involved. This helps ensure all aspects of your child’s feeding are understood and supported.
Sessions are designed to feel low-pressure and supportive for your child. Depending on their needs, we may explore foods through sensory play, gently introduce new foods step by step, work on oral motor skills, or support more positive mealtime routines. Parent coaching is always a key part of the session, so you feel confident continuing strategies at home.
Our speech therapists can assess your child’s feeding and create a plan to make mealtimes easier. Book a free discovery call to get started.
We'd love to have a free 15-minute chat with you to discuss any queries you may have. Think of it as a friendly strategy session to help you explore your child's communication development.