Feeding Therapy That Supports Healthy Eating Habits
Helping children feel safe, confident, and capable at mealtimes.
Feeding therapy for pediatric patients is provided during Occupational or Speech therapy sessions. It is appropriate for children who are struggling with the process of eating-from exposure to a variety of foods to chewing and swallowing to consuming a balanced diet with the appropriate number of calories and nutrients. Therapist at Fundamentals Therapy complete a thorough individualized evaluation and collaborate with the child and their family to create a comprehensive treatment plan.
Who Provides Feeding Therapy?
Your child’s feeding therapy may be led by:
- Occupational Therapists (OTs) – focusing on sensory and motor skills related to eating, such as posture, coordination, and sensory processing of food textures and smells.
- Occupational Therapist Assistants (OTAs) – working under the supervision of an OT, OTAs help implement therapy plans that improve a child’s fine motor control, oral motor skills, and sensory tolerance during mealtime.
- Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) – addressing swallowing safety, oral-motor coordination, and the development of age-appropriate feeding and swallowing skills, especially when mealtime difficulties relate to speech, language, or airway concerns.
- Speech-Language Pathologist Assistants (SLPAs) – under the direction of an SLP, SLPAs support therapy activities that help children develop the strength, coordination, and patterns needed for safe and efficient feeding and swallowing.
All plans are developed collaboratively between therapists and families to ensure support continues at home.
How Our Feeding Therapy Works
Thorough Evaluation
Each child begins with a detailed assessment to understand their feeding challenges, preferences, and nutritional needs.
Individualized Plan
We create a personalized therapy plan focused on progress—whether it’s trying new foods, improving oral motor skills, or building a healthier relationship with mealtime.
Therapy Through Trust & Play
Our feeding therapy uses gentle, child-centered techniques to reduce anxiety and encourage positive experiences with food.
Feeding therapy is not about forcing bites—it’s about building trust, confidence, and a more joyful relationship with food.
Areas Our Therapists Can Help With:
- Bottle, Cup and Utensil Use
- Eating a Varied Diet
- Postural and Positional Techniques
- Sensory Aversions
- Anxiety Related to Mealtime
- Challenging Behaviors at the Table
- Selection of Feeding Tableware
- Parent Training
- Positioning and Seating
- Behavior Based Strategies
Personalized Answers About Your Child’s Development
Do you wonder if your child has met all of their developmental milestones? Use our interactive screening tool to see if your 1-6 year old is on track with their gross motor, fine motor, speech, and sensory skills.