Is mealtime in your house filled with stress, tears, and frustration? If your child consistently refuses to eat, gags on certain foods, or struggles with swallowing, you’re not alone—and you’re not imagining things. Many children experience feeding difficulties that go beyond typical picky eating. When these challenges begin to interfere with growth, nutrition, or family dynamics, it may be time to consider feeding therapy.
At The Way You Say LLC, we specialize in helping children in New Jersey who experience feeding challenges. Our licensed speech-language pathologists and occupational therapists offer compassionate, effective support to help your child eat confidently and safely.
Below will help you identify the common signs that your child may benefit from feeding therapy and explain how professional intervention can make a life-changing difference.
What Is Feeding Therapy?
Feeding therapy is a specialized type of therapy designed to help individuals—especially children—develop safe, efficient, and positive eating habits. It can address a range of issues, from sensory aversions and oral-motor delays to behavioral problems and medical conditions that interfere with feeding.
Feeding therapy is often conducted by:
- Speech-language pathologists (SLPs)
- Occupational therapists (OTs)
- A multidisciplinary team, depending on the child’s needs
Therapy is tailored to your child’s individual developmental level, sensory preferences, and medical history.
Who Might Need Feeding Therapy?
Feeding therapy is appropriate for children who:
- Avoid specific food textures, colors, or smells
- Have difficulty chewing or swallowing
- Exhibit delayed oral-motor skills (e.g., difficulty using tongue or lips effectively)
- Are tube-fed and transitioning to oral feeding
- Experience choking, gagging, or vomiting during meals
- Have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), sensory processing disorder (SPD), or developmental delays
10 Common Signs Your Child Might Benefit from Feeding Therapy
1. Extremely Picky Eating
If your child only eats a limited number of foods—sometimes as few as five to ten—it may be more than a phase. Picky eating that persists beyond toddlerhood may signal a deeper sensory or oral-motor issue.
2. Gagging or Choking on Food
Frequent gagging, coughing, or choking when eating certain textures or sizes of food could indicate oral-motor challenges or an aversion that requires therapy.
3. Refusing Entire Food Groups
Does your child completely avoid fruits, vegetables, or proteins? A refusal to eat entire food groups may result in nutritional deficiencies and signal a need for intervention.
4. Difficulty Transitioning to Solids
If your baby or toddler struggles to move from purees to solid foods, this delay could be caused by underdeveloped chewing skills or sensory sensitivities.
5. Poor Weight Gain or Growth
Feeding difficulties can lead to failure to thrive. If your pediatrician expresses concern about your child’s growth, a feeding assessment is often the next step.
6. Food Refusal Based on Texture, Smell, or Appearance
A strong emotional reaction—such as gagging or crying—when presented with a new food may stem from sensory processing difficulties.
7. Long, Stressful Mealtimes
Does every mealtime turn into a battle? If your child takes over 30–40 minutes to finish a meal or resists coming to the table, therapy can help restore peace to your family.
8. Lack of Self-Feeding Skills
Delays in developing skills like bringing food to the mouth, using utensils, or drinking from a cup can be a red flag for motor coordination or developmental delays.
9. Avoiding Meals at School or Social Events
Children who are embarrassed or anxious about eating around others may have unresolved oral-motor or behavioral feeding issues.
10. Medical Diagnoses That Impact Feeding
Children with autism, Down syndrome, cleft palate, or reflux are more likely to experience feeding challenges and benefit from professional therapy.
Why Early Intervention Matters
Early intervention is key. When left unaddressed, feeding difficulties can impact:
- Nutrition and growth
- Cognitive development
- Social relationships
- Emotional well-being
- Parental stress
Feeding therapy can prevent long-term complications by improving oral-motor coordination, sensory tolerance, and mealtime behavior.
What to Expect During Feeding Therapy at The Way You Say LLC
Every child is unique, and our therapy plans are customized accordingly. Here’s what you can expect when you begin feeding therapy with us:
1. Comprehensive Evaluation
We begin with a thorough assessment of your child’s medical history, feeding habits, developmental milestones, and oral-motor skills. We may also observe a mealtime at home or in our clinic.
2. Goal-Oriented Treatment Plan
Our therapists develop individualized goals that address your child’s specific needs—whether that’s expanding food variety, improving chewing, or reducing anxiety around meals.
3. Hands-On Therapy Sessions
Therapy is play-based and engaging. We use evidence-based techniques like:
- Food chaining
- SOS (Sequential Oral Sensory) Approach
- Oral-motor exercises
- Desensitization strategies
- Parent coaching and education
4. Family Involvement
We teach caregivers how to support progress at home with specific strategies, routines, and language to reduce mealtime stress and encourage success.
Feeding Therapy Success Stories
Many parents are amazed at the progress their children make with professional feeding therapy. Kids who once gagged at the sight of vegetables begin trying new foods. Toddlers who couldn’t transition from bottles to solid food start chewing and self-feeding. Even older children gain confidence to eat at school or social gatherings.
At The Way You Say LLC, we celebrate every bite and milestone with you.
When to Reach Out
Trust your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right about your child’s eating behavior, you don’t need to wait for a pediatrician referral to seek an evaluation.
We serve families across New Jersey and offer in-person and virtual consultations. Our team is passionate about helping your child develop a healthy relationship with food—one step at a time.
FAQs About Feeding Therapy
Question: Is feeding therapy the same as speech therapy?
Answer: Feeding therapy may be provided by a speech-language pathologist, but it specifically focuses on oral-motor skills, safe swallowing, and mealtime behavior. Speech therapy may also target language and communication.
Question: How long does feeding therapy take?
Answer: It varies depending on the child’s needs. Some children improve in a few months, while others with more complex needs may benefit from longer-term support.
Question: Can I attend the sessions with my child?
Answer: Yes. We encourage caregiver participation so you can implement strategies at home.
Question: Will my child outgrow picky eating without therapy?
Answer: While some picky eating is typical, extreme or persistent patterns often require professional intervention.
Question: Do you accept insurance?
Answer: We accept a variety of insurance plans and will help guide you through the verification and reimbursement process.
Question: Is virtual feeding therapy available?
Answer: Yes, we offer virtual consultations and sessions for families who prefer remote support.
Question: What ages do you treat?
Answer: We work with infants, toddlers, and school-aged children who present with feeding difficulties.
Question: What should I bring to the evaluation?
Answer: Please bring a list of foods your child eats regularly, any medical records related to feeding, and videos or notes about mealtime behavior if possible.
Question: My child has autism—can feeding therapy help?
Answer: Absolutely. Many children with autism benefit from sensory-based feeding therapy techniques.
Question: How do I get started?
Answer: Contact us through our website or call to schedule a feeding therapy evaluation.
Let’s Make Mealtimes Enjoyable Again
You don’t have to navigate your child’s feeding challenges alone. At The Way You Say LLC, we’re here to help your child build a healthier, happier relationship with food. Our licensed therapists provide the expertise and support your family needs—right here in New Jersey.
📞 Contact The Way You Say LLC Today
🌐 Website: https://thewayyousayllc.com/contact/
📍 Serving families throughout New Jersey
💬 Schedule a consultation or evaluation today
