For many families, mealtimes can feel confusing or stressful, especially when a child struggles with eating, drinking or trying new foods. If your child has difficulty at mealtimes, it’s natural to wonder whether this is something they’ll grow out of or if extra support could help.
Feeding challenges can show up in many ways and for many different reasons. Knowing what to look for can help you decide when feeding therapy may be the right next step for your child. In this post, we’ll explain what pediatric feeding therapy addresses, share common signs that your child may benefit from extra support, and outline when it may be time to seek a feeding therapy evaluation so you can move forward with clarity and confidence.
Why Feeding Can Be Challenging for Some Children
Eating is a complex skill that requires coordination between the mouth, body and sensory systems. Children need strength and control of their oral muscles (including the tongue, lips and jaw), the ability to manage different textures safely, and the sensory tolerance to explore new foods.
For some children, difficulties in one or more of these areas can make eating feel uncomfortable, overwhelming or even scary. Feeding challenges may be related to:
- Sensory sensitivities to textures, tastes, smells or temperatures
- Oral motor skills or coordination difficulties that affect chewing or swallowing
- Medical histories such as reflux, prematurity or early feeding difficulties
- Past negative experiences with eating that lead to avoidance
Whatever the cause, feeding difficulties can impact your child’s nutrition, growth and overall enjoyment of mealtimes.
What Is Pediatric Feeding Therapy?
Pediatric feeding therapy supports children who have difficulty eating or drinking safely and comfortably. It focuses on helping your child build the skills they need to eat with confidence while reducing stress for the whole family. Feeding therapy at More to Say is child-led, responsive, and family-centered.
Each child’s therapy plan is tailored to their unique needs, strengths and developmental level.
Feeding therapy may address:
- Oral motor skills like chewing, biting and coordinating oral-motor movements
- Swallowing safety and with control
- Sensory exploration of food textures, flavors and smells
- Self-feeding skills (such as using utensils, cups or straws)
- Building positive experiences and routines around food
Signs Your Child May Benefit from Feeding Therapy
Every child is different, but there are some common signs that can indicate that your child could benefit from a feeding therapy evaluation.
Limited Food Variety
If your child eats only a small number of foods and strongly resists trying anything new, this may be more than typical picky eating. You may notice your child:
- Eats the same foods every day
- Avoids entire food groups or textures
- Becomes upset when new foods are presented
Difficulty Chewing or Swallowing
Some children struggle with the physical skills required for eating. These challenges may increase frustration or anxiety at mealtimes and affect your child’s ability to eat safely and comfortably.
Common signs may include:
- Gagging, coughing or choking during meals
- Holding food in the mouth without chewing
- Spitting food out frequently
- Difficulty managing mixed textures
Concerns About Nutrition or Growth
If your child struggles to eat enough or maintain a healthy weight, feeding challenges may be affecting their nutritional intake. Concerns about nutrition or growth can be an important sign that eating challenges are interfering with your child’s ability to get the calories, nutrients, and energy they need to support healthy growth and development.
Stressful or Emotional Mealtimes
If mealtimes regularly involve tears, tantrums or refusal, your child may be communicating that eating feels overwhelming. You might notice:
- Crying or distress when sitting down to eat
- Refusal to sit at the table
- Throwing food or utensils
- Strong reactions to certain foods being nearby
Difficulty with Bottles, Breastfeeding or Cups
Feeding challenges can begin early in life. Infants and young children may show signs such as:
- Trouble latching or maintaining a latch
- Difficulty transitioning between bottle, breast and solids
- Challenges drinking from cups or straws
More Challenging Daily Life Experiences
Feeding difficulties often extend beyond the table. Children who struggle with eating may feel anxious during social situations involving food, such as birthday parties or school lunches. Parents may feel pressure, worry or frustration when meals don’t go as planned.
When to Seek a Feeding Therapy Evaluation
If you’re consistently concerned about how your child eats, it may be time to consider a feeding therapy evaluation. An evaluation looks at why eating feels hard for your child, how they’re managing eating and drinking right now, and where they may need a little extra support.
You don’t need to wait until mealtimes feel overwhelming or start to disrupt your daily routines. Looking into support earlier can help you better understand what’s going on, set realistic expectations for your child, and ease some of the stress that often builds around ongoing mealtime concerns.
What Feeding Therapy Looks Like at More to Say
At our clinics in Branford and Oxford, feeding therapy follows the More to Say Way. This approach honors your child’s unique preferences, pace, and personality. Our therapists meet your child where they are and build trust through meaningful and responsive interactions.
Our therapy sessions are child-led and family-centered, which creates meaningful learning experiences that connect to your child’s everyday life. During therapy sessions, your child may:
- Explore foods through play to build comfort and curiosity
- Practice chewing, biting and swallowing skills in a supportive setting
- Work on sensory exploration at their own pace
- Build independence with self-feeding tools
- Develop positive routines that carry over into daily life
Caregivers are an important part of the therapy process. Our therapists collaborate with families, share strategies and provide guidance to support progress at home.
Take the Next Step with Confidence
If you’re wondering whether feeding therapy could support your child, an evaluation is a great place to start. It allows you to talk through your concerns, ask questions and learn more about next steps without pressure.
Reach out to More to Say today to schedule a pediatric feeding and swallowing evaluation at either our Branford, CT or Oxford, CT clinic today. We can also support your child via telehealth, if you reside within Connecticut! Our team is here to help make mealtimes more enjoyable and support your child’s growth and development.
