Feeding Therapy

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Feeding and eating should be a moment of shared joy and connection for families. Too often, mealtimes are a struggle for families with picky eaters and problem feeders. If mealtimes are stressful for you and your picky eater, feeding therapy may be able to help. 

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At Springboard therapy we work to identify the cause of picky eating and problem feeding. There are different underlying issues that impact our ability to eat a variety of foods and a willingness to try new foods. 

 

SENSORY DYSFUNCTION: Underlying sensory dysfunction can cause a child to reject foods based on color, shape, size, texture, smell, or temperature. 

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ORAL MOTOR DYSFUNCTION: If a child has difficulty coordinating the muscles and structures of their mouth, eating particular foods can be challenging or even dangerous. Once we identify the underlying challenge for your child, we craft a treatment plan to target their specific needs. Our therapists use a developmental model that prioritizes respect, autonomy, and fun. The primary method we utilize at Springboard is Sequential Oral Sensory (S.O.S.) Feeding Program. For in-depth information about S.O.S. check out their website.

 

 

HOW TO KNOW IF YOUR CHILD WOULD BENEFIT FROM FEEDING THERAPY:

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Does your child:

• have ongoing poor weight gain (dropping percentiles on the growth curve) or weight loss?

• have ongoing choking, gagging, or coughing during meals?

• have ongoing problems with vomiting?

• avoid all foods in a specific texture (wet, squishy, crunchy, etc.) or nutrition (meat, vegetables, starches, fruits, etc.) group?

• have less than 20 foods that they are able to consistently eat? Especially if foods are being dropped over time with no new foods replacing those that were lost.

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Has your child had:

• more than one incident of nasal reflux (vomiting or spitting up out their nose)?

• a traumatic choking incident, where the child choked on something and then subsequently stopped eating certain foods?

• a history of eating and breathing coordination problems, with ongoing respiratory issues?

 

Was your child unable to:

• transition to baby food purees by 10 months of age?

• accept any table food solids by 12 months of age?

• transition from the breast/bottle to a cup by 16 months of age?

• wean off of baby foods by 16 months of age?

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Have you (as a parent or caregiver)

• reported the child as being “picky” at 2 or more well-child checks?

• reported that your infant cries and/or arches at most meals?

• felt like mealtimes are a battle, and that you are always fighting about food with your child?

• reported that your child is difficult for everyone to feed?

• had a history of an eating disorder, in addition to having a child who is not meeting weight gain goals? (Please note – parents are not viewed as causing the feeding problem in their child, however, they may be more stressed around meals and need extra support.)

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