A parents guide to feeding and oral motor development

By: Emily Messer, CCC-SLP

Feeding challenges can feel overwhelming for both parents and children. Whether it’s picky eating, food aversions, or oral motor difficulties, finding the right approach can make a world of difference. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you understand the process from evaluation to treatment and how to create positive mealtime experiences for your child.

Starting the Journey: Understanding Your Child’s Feeding Needs

The first step in supporting your child is understanding their unique challenges. During an intake conversation, professionals often ask parents questions like:

• Does your child cough, choke, or gag while eating?
• Are there specific textures or types of food they avoid?
• What does a typical mealtime look like in your household?

These insights help create a clearer picture of your child’s feeding habits and potential challenges. Parents are encouraged to bring various foods to the evaluation—favorites, sometimes-accepted foods, and non-preferred options—along with a drink to assess cup or straw usage.

The Evaluation Process: Laying the Foundation

Feeding evaluations are tailored to your child’s age and needs. A professional may:

• Conduct oral motor assessments to check for chewing patterns, jaw strength, and tongue movement.
• Observe your child during mealtime to understand their behaviors and preferences.
• Use tools like the Food Chaining Intake Form to gather additional details.

By combining observations and input from parents, a customized plan is developed to address specific feeding goals.

Treatment: Building Confidence and Expanding Food Horizons

Feeding therapy is a step-by-step process that focuses on building your child’s comfort with food. Here’s what to expect:

1. Rapport Building: Trust is key. Play with food, eat with your child, and involve them in the process.
2. Gradual Exposure: Using a hierarchy of interaction, your child will learn to tolerate, touch, smell, and eventually taste new foods.
3. Food Chaining: This strategy gradually introduces new foods by connecting them to familiar ones through similarities in taste, texture, or appearance. For example, transitioning from Pringles to apples to string cheese.

Consistency is vital, and patience goes a long way. Each small success builds confidence and promotes progress.

Common Feeding Goals: What Progress Looks Like

Feeding therapy goals can vary but often include:

• Improving oral motor skills, such as chewing and jaw strength.
• Increasing exposure to new foods through play and sensory exploration.
• Encouraging your child to take small steps toward tasting and eating a variety of foods.

Empower Yourself as a Parent

Parents are the most important part of a child’s feeding journey. Educate yourself by:

• Following experts in feeding therapy on social media.
• Reading blogs and books about feeding.
• Attending workshops or courses like the SOS Approach to Feeding or training in managing severe feeding aversions.

Conclusion: Small Steps, Big Wins

Feeding therapy isn’t just about getting your child to eat specific foods—it’s about creating positive mealtime experiences and helping them feel confident in trying new things. Celebrate every small step, and remember: you’re not alone in this journey. With the right tools and support, your child can thrive at the table and beyond!

Request an appointment online to speak with a speech therapist for free. Our team offers complimentary phone screening for parents who have questions about their child’s development.