Feeding Therapy

FOOD SCHOOL for fussy and sensory challenged eaters

Understanding Feeding Therapy for Fussy Eating and Sensory Challenges in Children Feeding your child should be a joyful experience, but for many parents, it can become a daily struggle. Fussy eating and sensory challenges often turn mealtimes into a battleground, leaving parents frustrated and worried about their child’s nutrition. Feeding therapy offers a solution, providing tailored support to help children overcome these challenges and develop a healthy relationship with food. What Is Feeding Therapy? Feeding therapy is a specialized approach that addresses difficulties related to eating, including food refusal, picky eating, and sensory sensitivities. It is particularly beneficial for children who struggle with certain textures, tastes, or smells, and those who have developed aversions to specific foods. The goal of feeding therapy is to make mealtimes more enjoyable and less stressful for both the child and their family. A combination of Responsive Feeding Therapy, SOS (Sequential-Oral-Sensory) Feeding therapy, food chaining, food play activities and other strategies may be used dependent on the situation. Common Signs That a Child May Need Feeding Therapy Parents often wonder whether their child's eating habits are typical or if they signal a deeper issue. Here are some signs that feeding therapy might be helpful: - Limited Food Variety: Your child consistently eats fewer than 30 different foods. - Extreme Picky Eating: Refusal to try new foods or an unwillingness to eat foods that differ slightly from their usual choices. - Sensory Sensitivities: Gagging, vomiting, or crying when exposed to certain textures, tastes, or smells. - Meal Time Stress: Mealtimes are often tense, and your child seems anxious or distressed when it's time to eat. - Slow Eating Progress: Despite efforts to encourage a more varied diet, your child’s eating habits remain rigid and restricted. Understanding Sensory Challenges in Eating Children with sensory processing issues may find certain foods overwhelming due to their taste, texture, smell, or even appearance. For these children, everyday foods may feel unbearable, leading to refusal and distress. Sensory challenges can also be linked to conditions like autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD, Global Developmental Delay (GDD) or anxiety, making the mealtime experience particularly challenging. How Feeding Therapy Can Help Feeding therapy is a holistic process that involves working with a trained therapist, often a dietitian or occupational therapist, who understands both the nutritional and sensory aspects of feeding. The therapy is highly individualized, focusing on the child’s unique needs and preferences. There are certain foods and strateies that are more suitable than others and this can be very personalised depending on the child. Therapy helps discover the most suitable and acceptable foods for your child. Key Elements of Feeding Therapy: - Skill Building: Teaching children the skills they need to manage eating and any food-related anxiety. This could include learning how to chew properly, using utensils, or understanding the mechanics of swallowing different textures. - Positive Reinforcement: Encouraging children through praise when they engage in positive eating behaviors. - Family Involvement: Empowering parents with strategies to support their child at home. This often involves creating a relaxed mealtime environment, avoiding pressure, and modelling healthy eating behaviors. - Desensitization: Gradually introducing new foods in a way that reduces sensory overload. This might involve playing with food, exploring it through touch or smell before tasting, and celebrating small victories. The Benefits of Feeding Therapy Feeding therapy can lead to significant improvements in a child’s relationship with food. Some of the benefits include: - Increased Food Acceptance: Over time, children learn to tolerate and even enjoy a wider variety of foods. - Improved Nutrition: A more varied diet ensures that children receive the essential nutrients they need for growth and development. - Reduced Mealtime Stress: As children become more comfortable with food, mealtimes become less of a struggle and more of a bonding experience for the family. - Enhanced Social Skills: Children who are more confident eaters often feel more comfortable in social situations involving food, such as school lunches or family gatherings. When to Seek Help If you’ve tried different strategies to encourage your child to eat and nothing seems to work, or if you notice that their eating habits are impacting their health or daily life, it might be time to seek the help of a feeding therapist. Early intervention can make a world of difference, helping your child build a positive, lifelong relationship with food. Eating less than 30 different food is a red flag that there may be a concern and that your child will not be meeting their nutrition requirements. Conclusion Feeding therapy is a powerful tool for helping children with fussy eating and sensory challenges. By addressing the root causes of food aversions and providing a supportive, encouraging environment, feeding therapy can transform mealtimes from a source of stress to a moment of joy. If you’re concerned about your child’s eating habits, consider reaching out to a me so I can help guide you through this journey. By embracing feeding therapy, you’re not just helping your child eat better; you’re giving them the tools they need to thrive in all aspects of life.