As feeding specialists, we've seen firsthand how mealtime difficulties can strain family relationships and impact a child's nutritional health. But there's good news – feeding therapy can transform these experiences into positive ones.
What is Feeding Therapy?
Feeding therapy is a specialised service where trained professionals like speech pathologists and dietitians help children learn how to eat or eat better. It's about much more than just getting food into a child's mouth. Our approach at Next Bite considers all aspects of your child's wellbeing, including their oral motor skills and sensory profile.
Our therapy sessions are typically once per week, fortnight or month depending on your child's needs. We work closely with families to understand each child's unique needs and develop strategies that make mealtimes more relaxed and positive for everyone involved.
What can Feeding Therapy help with?
Feeding therapy addresses a wide range of challenges that children might experience during mealtimes. Let's explore some common areas where our therapists can help:
Fussy Eating
Does your child stick to just a handful of preferred foods? Fussy eating is more than just a phase for many children. Our therapists use science-backed strategies to gradually expand food acceptance. We focus on building positive relationships with new foods through practice techniques that respect your child's pace. Small steps lead to big changes!
Starting Solids
Transitioning to solid foods is a significant milestone that can be challenging for some babies. We provide guidance on introducing appropriate textures at the right developmental stages. Our therapists can help if your little one is struggling with gagging, refusing textures, or showing signs of discomfort during feeding.
Chewing & Swallowing Difficulties
Some children have physical challenges that affect their ability to chew or swallow safely. Our speech pathologists have extensive knowledge about the muscles of the head and neck involved in these functions. We work with you to find safe and efficient ways to feed your child.
Breast & Bottle Feeding Difficulties
Feeding challenges can begin right from birth. Whether your baby is having trouble latching, experiencing discomfort during feeds, or not gaining weight adequately, our feeding therapists can help identify the underlying issues and develop practical solutions to make feeding more comfortable and effective.
Tube Weaning
For children who have been dependent on tube feeding, transitioning to oral feeding requires specialised support. Our therapists create individualised plans to safely and gradually reduce tube dependency while building oral feeding skills. This process involves close monitoring of nutritional intake and careful progression through food texture stages.
Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
ARFID is more serious than typical "picky eating" and can significantly impact a child's nutritional health and social functioning. Our team uses evidence-based approaches to address the sensory, psychological, and physical components of this condition. We work collaboratively with families to implement consistent strategies that gradually expand food acceptance in a non-threatening way.
How do you Know if Your Child Needs Feeding Therapy?
You might consider feeding therapy if your child:
Gags, tantrums, or refuses to eat during mealtimes
Has difficulty swallowing or chokes when eating
Eats from a very limited range of foods
Shows extreme distress with certain food textures
Has trouble transitioning to different food textures (purées, lumps, finger foods)
Makes mealtimes a battle that leaves everyone feeling exhausted
Has poor weight gain or nutritional concerns identified by your doctor
If you've noticed any of these signs, start by consulting your GP. You don't need a referral to see us, but it's always a good idea to have a doctor as part of the team.
How Does Feeding Therapy Work?
Feeding therapy is a collaborative process between therapists, families, and children. Here's what you can expect:
Assessment
A comprehensive feeding evaluation is the first step. This typically includes:
A review of your child's complete feeding history from birth
Discussion about your family's mealtime experiences
Observation of your child eating a typical meal
A food diary documenting recent meals
Review of any relevant medical information, such as swallow studies
Using this information, our therapists identify the underlying causes of feeding difficulties. These might include sensory sensitivities, oral motor challenges, developmental delays, or behavioural patterns that have developed around mealtimes.
Types of Feeding Therapy
There are several approaches to feeding therapy, and our specialists choose techniques based on each child's specific needs:
Responsive Feeding Therapy: This approach focuses on building trust and follows the child's lead. This approach recognises that forcing food creates negative associations and instead builds positive relationships with food at the child's pace. We find ways to help children learn about food in a way that feels right for them.
Oral Motor Therapy: For children with physical challenges affecting eating, this type of therapy supports them to practice and develop the complex movements needed for sucking, drinking, chewing, and swallowing.
Relationship-Based Developmental Feeding Therapy: This focuses on the interactions between caregivers and children during mealtimes. Our therapists coach parents on responsive feeding techniques that respect the child's cues while gently encouraging new skills.
About Next Bite
At Next Bite, our team of experienced speech pathologists and dietitians specialises in paediatric feeding disorders and ARFID. We take a family-centred approach, recognising that lasting change happens when strategies are implemented consistently at home.
We believe in making therapy practical and relevant to your daily life. Our clinicians educate and inspire families to understand and support their child's feeding journey. We provide you with specific skills and strategies to help develop chewing skills, increase the variety and volume of nutritional intake, and reduce challenging behaviours during mealtimes.
Whether your child is experiencing significant feeding difficulties or is simply a fussy eater, we're here to help transform mealtimes into more positive experiences for your whole family.
Contact us
Ready to take the stress out of mealtimes? Our team is here to help! Email us at hello@nextbitefeeding.com.au or follow this link to book an assessment or discuss how we can support your child's feeding journey.
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