Feeding therapy is a specialized kind of therapy that works with people, usually babies or children, to help them develop normal patterns and behaviors when it comes to eating. During feeding therapy, therapists work with children to provide them with the skills they need to make mealtime more enjoyable and nutritious. The skills taught to each child are determined based on the patient’s needs and may differ from one child to another. The most common skills taught include:

• Feeding strategies and general advice for eating at home.
• Tactics for addressing negative mealtime behaviors.
• Improving the quality of bottle and/or breastfeeding, while simultaneously promoting weight gain.
• Improving the ability to accept, chew, and swallow various food textures and tastes.

Feeding therapy can take place at a therapy center, nutritionist office, hospital, or doctor’s office. The approach to treatment will vary based on the person administering the treatment, and your child’s specific condition. There are many different approaches to feeding therapy including sensory, motor, and behavioral models—finding a good fit for your child is imperative.

Caregivers play an important role in feeding therapy. As a vital member of the child’s care team, therapists stay in close contact with the child’s family in between appointments to ensure that the therapy and strategies used can be changed as needed. While the child is learning skills in order to become a better eater, caregivers must learn the skills and strategies they can use at home in order to help the child progress and become a better eater and/or drinker. The child’s caregivers and therapist are a team, working together to make sure the child receives the therapeutic, physical, social, and emotional support to improve his or her feeding skills and habits.