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Feeding Therapy

Mealtimes can be a stressful time in any household, especially if you have a picky eater. Mitchell’s Place’s speech and occupational therapists provide feeding therapy to those families who are experiencing mealtime stress due to dysphagia, restricted diets, and other mealtime behaviors. Through an evaluation, an individualized plan of care for one-on-one treatment is established. Our feeding team assesses and targets oral motor skills, sensory-based food aversions, limited variation and number of foods, and family mealtime routines.

If you’re interested in receiving feeding therapy at Mitchell’s Place, please complete our initial interest form.

Does your child need feeding therapy?

If your child is a “picky eater” they may benefit from a feeding therapy consultation. If your child is a “problem feeder” they would benefit from feeding therapy intervention.

PICKY EATER

  • Eats at least 30 different foods
  • If child stops eating a preferred food, they will typically go back to it after a 2-week break.
  • Generally able to tolerate new foods on their plate, and can usually touch or taste a new food, even if they do so very reluctantly.
  • Eat at least one food from most food texture and nutrition groups
  • Frequently eat different foods at a meal than the rest of the family, but usually eat with the family.
  • Sometimes reported by a parent as a “picky eater” at well-child check-ups.

PROBLEM FEEDER

  • Eat less than 20 different food
  • Will rarely ever accept that food again, even after taking a break
  • Cry, protest, and “fall apart” when presented with new foods. They completely refuse to do anything with the food.
  • Refuse entire categories of food textures or nutrition groups.
  • Almost always eat different foods at a meal than the rest of the family, and often don’t eat with the family (either eat at separate times or eat alone in a separate space).
  • Persistently reported by a parent as a “picky eater” across multiple well-child check-ups.

If your child meets more than one of the “Problem feeder” criteria they would benefit from a feeding therapy evaluation. If you are concerned about your child who is a “picky eater” we are happy to provide resources and support.

Copyright 1997/2019 Kay A. Toomey