Children
Does your child…
… reject most of the food you offer?
… choke or gag on certain types of food?
… spit out their food when you’re not looking?
Research indicates that approximately 40% of 5-year-olds are picky eaters, with 80% of parents in an international study reporting that their children are fussy about food.
Mealtime can be the hardest time of the day.
Every parent wants their child to eat well, enjoy their food and get the nutrients they need. But for many, mealtimes turn into a battle, with desperate parents trying to convince their reluctant children to taste the good food their mom’s invested time and energy preparing. You feel helpless and out of control. You’re worried that your child is starving, there’s a problem with your parenting and that food-fights are damaging your relationship with your child.
Oral motor
Does your child have a hard time sucking, chewing or swallowing certain foods?
These issues may be so subtle that you’ve never noticed a problem (other than tantrums at mealtimes).
Weak muscles or lack of coordination
in the mouth and throat can make eating very difficult.
Children with oral motor issues will often refuse to eat or favor the foods they can manage.
sensory
Does your child only eat foods that are crunchy, room temperature and salty?
When children are very particular about their food’s appearance, taste, smell, texture and temperature, they are often struggling with processing the sensory elements of eating. Sensory aversions can even cause children to gag or vomit, making it hard to differentiate from oral motor or behavioral issues. Children with underlying gastric problems will sometimes develop sensory aversions in an effort to avoid foods that don’t agree with them.
behavioral
Does your child regularly change their mind about which foods they like?
Behavioral eating issues are often a result of oral motor or sensory issues. Children who have developed problematic eating habits may insist on only eating certain foods, in certain ways, at certain times. This can result in power struggles and resistance to change, making mealtimes a nightmare for parents.
Here is the good news.
Feeding Therapy can solve these issues.
At Feeding Therapy NY we specialize in determining the cause of your child’s eating difficulties and creating a plan of action to tackle them. Our course of therapy combines oral motor exercises, sensory play, exploration techniques and parental coaching – according to your individual needs.
We implement a multifaceted approach, addressing:
- oral motor skills
- sensory skills
- gross/fine motor skills
- medical issues
- seating & positioning
- breathing sleeping patterns
- parenting styles
- family dynamics
We then work with the Division of Responsibility (DOR) technique, where you and your child take on clearly defined roles in the eating process. We believe that giving your child respect and letting them feel in control, while playing by your rules, is the best way to get them eating responsibly.