Pediatric Feeding

Did you know that there are many steps involved in eating?


The mealtime experience is dynamic and complex and involves many skills including self-regulation. 

Does my child have a pediatric feeding disorder (PFD)?

Feeding and swallowing impairment in children is one of the most challenging things that parents will ever experience. Find out what is normal and when to get help from a feeding specialist.

Characteristics of pediatric feeding disorders:

My child will only eat a few specific foods
My child frequently gags or vomits when presented with certain foods
My child spends an average of 45 minutes or more to finish a single meal
I have to coax, bribe, or threaten punishment to get my child to eat
My child coughs or seems to be choking while eating or drinking
My child holds food in their mouth for a long time before swallowing
My child is struggling to gain weight
My child is refusing to take their bottle or breast feed
My child will put food in their mouth and begins to chew it, but then takes or spits it out
My child will only eat specific brands of their favorite food
I am overwhelmed with how challenging it is to feed my child 

Contact Us

"Lots of feeding skills are rooted in motor development."

During a mealtime treatment session, the use of sensory-rich activities prior to and during eating will be incorporated to promote mealtime success. Your child will be encouraged to smell, touch, and play with foods in efforts to develop a readiness to tolerate different types of foods. Any contact with food is a step in the right direction! Eating is aimed to be a pleasurable and fun experience, as foods will be progressively introduced into your child’s diet. Developing new eating skills is a process that will take time and practice in therapy and at home.

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