If your infant is having difficulty with latching or feeding well, or if you have an older child who is struggling with transitioning to solid foods or becoming a picky eater, they may benefit from feeding therapy.
At Treehouse, we have Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs) with extensive and specific training in the area of pediatric feeding disorders and challenges. Our therapists will work with you and your child to develop normal, effective feeding patterns and behaviors to make feeding times enjoyable again!
Feeding Therapy
What is feeding therapy?
Feeding therapy is used to help infants or children that have difficulties sucking, chewing, coordinating breathing with swallowing, or have a limited diet with few varieties of foods. Our feeding therapists specialize in a variety of treatment approaches based on your child’s developmental age and needs.
A thorough feeding evaluation will be completed to identify factors that are making feedings problematic. We then customize our feeding therapy sessions with evidence-based techniques to address your child’s specific feeding needs.
Infant Feeding
Feeding your infant is not only critical for nourishing your baby, it is also a natural bonding period and a way to feel connected to your child. Struggling to help your baby feed whether it is with breast or bottle can not only interrupt this important bonding time, but it can also feel frustrating, defeating and isolating for the parents and caregivers. That is why we are here to help! We provide specialized treatment approaches to address your baby’s feeding difficulties and get your baby back on track.
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Having difficulty with nursing/bottle feeding
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Weight-loss or slow weight gain
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Feedings are stressful/fussy baby during feeds
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Difficulty with latching or staying on breast or bottle nipple
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Pain or nipple trauma for mother with breast feeding
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Frequent coughing/gagging with feedings
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Noisy feedings (clicking or loud gulping)
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Discharged from NICU with ongoing feeding issues
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Bottle and breast feeding taking longer than 30 minutes
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Baby with structural issues such as tongue tie, cleft lip and palate
Signs you could use some help:
Starting Solids
Starting solids sometimes comes easy for some babies, but for others, it can be challenging for a variety of reasons. Whether it is an issue with the strength or how they are using their mouth muscles, a difference in how they are experiencing food (taste or texture) and/or a developmental delay in feeding, our goal is to address your child’s struggles with fun and successful interactions with food. Babies and children grow and develop skill best when eating is stress free!
Signs you could use some help:
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Baby is having difficulty transitioning to solid foods easily
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Baby is 12 months and is not eating any table foods (inability to wean off of smooth textures)
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Mealtimes are taking longer than expected
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Excessive gagging or coughing during meals
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Vomiting with feeding
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Avoiding foods with specific textures
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Ongoing weight gain issues
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Baby is easily upset with mealtimes with solids
Picky Eaters
As children progress on their feeding journey, parents may experience toddlers, preschool or school age children that may continue to have mealtime miseries. Some children may have difficulty with oral motor skills, trying new foods, eating limited volume or may have a very limited number of foods they will eat. If you and your child are experiencing stressful mealtimes, your child may benefit from feeding therapy. Our therapists can help children enjoy mealtimes and trying new foods by building feeding skills and a sense of independence and control with eating.
Signs you could use some help:
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Child eats a limited number of foods
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Choking, gagging or vomiting with foods
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Does not have adequate chewing skills
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Often pockets or spits out food
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Avoids specific food textures or food groups
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Picky eating such that diet is not balanced and healthy
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Drops foods that have eaten in the past
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Refuses or rarely tris new foods
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Negative mealtime behaviors (running away, crying, shuts-down)
