Pediatric Feeding Therapy: What Parents Need to Know
If your child refuses food, gags frequently, or struggles with certain textures, a feeding SLP may be exactly who you need.
What Does a Feeding Therapist Do?
A feeding SLP specializes in the oral motor, sensory, and behavioral components of eating. They evaluate how a child chews and swallows food, whether they're managing textures safely, whether there's a sensory component to food refusal, and whether the child has the oral motor strength and coordination needed for various foods. Feeding therapy addresses picky eating, ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder), post-NICU feeding difficulties, and dysphagia (swallowing disorders) in children.
Signs Your Child May Need Feeding Therapy
- Gagging or vomiting frequently during meals
- Refusing entire texture categories (nothing crunchy, nothing mushy)
- Eating fewer than 20 foods
- Mealtimes lasting more than 30 minutes
- Weight concerns related to food intake
- Coughing or choking during meals
- Still on purees past 12-18 months
- History of NICU stay, prematurity, or feeding tube
Evidence-based feeding therapy approaches include SOS (Sequential Oral Sensory) Approach, STEPS+, and ARFID-specific CBT. The right approach depends on whether the primary driver is sensory, motor, behavioral, or a combination.