Signs Your Child Might Benefit From Feeding Therapy

Every child goes through the struggles of learning to eat, drink, swallow, and more. This process involves different phases—picky eating, refusing to eat, biting off more than they can chew, and more. While all of these are to be expected bumps in the road to eating properly, more extreme versions of these issues may necessitate the need for feeding therapy. This form of therapy addresses a variety of challenges such as oral motor delays and sensory aversions in order to get a child to a point where they develop healthy eating habits. Without this intervention, physical health, emotional well being, and overall quality of life could be affected.

If you think your child may be experiencing these pronounced difficulties with eating, pediatric feeding therapy can be a wonderful solution. In this blog, we’re going to discuss the signs to look for in your child’s eating habits.

Difficulty Chewing or Swallowing

We’ll start with a common—and concerning—sign that a child may need pediatric feeding therapy in order to address an eating issue: difficulty chewing or swallowing. As this presents an immediate safety concern, it’s important to take care of this as soon as you can after it’s been identified. Frequent gagging, choking, or the spitting of food are clear signs that there are difficulties. In addition to being a safety concern, this can be frustrating for your child (and for you). If you’re concerned about your little one avoiding chewing or having trouble with coordinated swallowing, support from a trained professional can help to develop the necessary skills.

Extreme Picky Eating

Every child is a picky eater at some point in their development. While phases of pickiness are no cause for concern, some children display more extreme cases of it that persist. This can lead to deficiencies in vital nutrients and impact growth. If a child avoids food groups, resists trying new foods, or eats fewer than ten or fifteen different foods, it may be time to seek feeding therapy from a professional. Long-term health concerns can develop if a child is limiting their food variety and missing out on the nutrients required for growth.

To recap, you have an extreme picky eater on your hands if your child:

• Avoids new foods
• Eats fewer than 10–15 foods
• Refuses entire food groups, such as vegetables or proteins
• Gags or becomes distressed when presented with unfamiliar items

The therapists at Basal undergo specific training to help children who require assistance, and a picky eater is a good way to describe several clients. Luckily, we’re equipped with the knowledge and resources to help them broaden their palette.

Sensory-Related Food Aversions

There are some children who have strong adverse reactions to certain flavors, temperatures, or textures. For example, a child may not like the consistency of mashed potatoes, or the cold of ice cream. This aversion can sometimes be bad enough to trigger gagging or becoming distressed. This can make mealtime stressful for parents and children alike. If these sensory sensitivities are becoming a difficult hurdle to overcome, feeding therapy can provide a solution. A feeding specialist can help you introduce new foods to your little one in a gradual and supportive manner.

Mealtime Anxiety and Behavioral Issues

Do you dread mealtime because you know it’s going to be more of a challenge than a relaxing family experience? This is a natural response to the anxiety caused by eating difficulties. Some children develop this anxiety around mealtime to avoid those stressful scenarios altogether, but this means they aren’t getting the nutrition they need. 

Here are the signs your child is experiencing this food-related anxiety:

• Crying and tantrums at the table
• Avoiding meals altogether
• Becoming fearful or distressed over certain foods
• Refusal to eat despite hunger cues

This behavior can disrupt social interactions and make mealtime a stressful experience for everyone.

Poor Weight Gain or Growth Concerns

Showing a lack of interest in eating or falling behind on growth charts is another sign of an issue that may require the implementation of pediatric feeding therapy. If your child’s appetite is always low or they aren’t meeting their weight milestones, guidance from a professional is a great way to address these concerns before they become big issues. 

Dependence on Specific Food Textures or Liquids

Some children have specific preferences based on food characteristics like texture and consistency. For example, a child who has grown accustomed to baby food and purees might have difficulty transitioning to solid food. Chewy and crunchy foods are also commonly avoided by children with eating difficulties. The result is a heavy reliance on liquid nutrition like milk or formula. The result is a hindered ability to develop normal eating skills, which severely limits dietary variety.

Trust a Certified Feeding Therapy Professional

If your child is having persistent feeding difficulties—beyond the expected difficulties associated with learning to eat—consulting a professional feeding specialist can be the solution you’re looking for. At Basal Therapies, our professionals undergo rigorous training in order to provide children the feeding therapy they need to excel in their development and get the ideal nutritional value out of their meals. With this invaluable support, your child can develop healthy eating habits and mealtime will be much less stressful for everyone!

Reach out to us if your little one is having eating difficulties, so that we can lend the helping hand they need. Here’s to your child’s well-being and growth.