feeding therapy
Helping Your Child Eat with Confidence & Joy
Mealtimes should be enjoyable, not stressful! If your child struggles with picky eating, oral motor challenges, or transitioning to new foods, feeding therapy can help.
What Makes MCP Different?
🌟 It’s FUN! Kids leave therapy smiling, having engaged in play-based activities that encourage food exploration
🌟 No Pressure or Force: MCP follows your child’s lead, making food feel safe and enjoyable.
🌟 Lowered Anxiety, Better Results: A relaxed, engaging environment reduces resistance and helps children progress at their own pace.
At MCP, I specialize in child-centered, play-based feeding therapy that helps children feel safe, confident, and excited about food. Whether your child is a picky eater, has trouble chewing and swallowing, or struggles with different food textures, therapy helps them feel more comfortable with food and makes mealtimes less stressful for the whole family.
JUMP TO SECTION:
Picky & Selective Eating
Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS Approach)
What is IT?
Some children struggle with food variety, textures, and new foods, leading to limited diets and mealtime stress. The SOS Approach to Feeding is a step-by-step method that helps children feel comfortable exploring and trying new foods at their own pace.
| Age | Feeding Milestones |
|---|---|
| 6-9 months | Begins mouthing and exploring soft solids |
| 12 months | Eats a variety of purees, soft solids, and meltable foods |
| 18 months | Self-feeds with fingers, starts using utensils |
| 2 years | Eats a variety of textures (soft, crunchy, chewy) |
| 3 years | Expands food preferences, tolerates small amounts of new foods |
| 4-5 years | Eats from all food groups with minimal restrictions |
Signs Your Child May Need Support
🚩 Refuses entire food groups (e.g., no fruits, no veggies, only carbs)
🚩 Prefers only plain, “nude” foods (no sauces, dips, or mixed textures)
🚩 Eats fewer than 20 different foods
🚩 Gags, chokes, or spits out certain textures
🚩 Needs a separate meal from the family at every mealtime
Why Early Intervention Matters
✔ Reduces mealtime stress and food battles
✔ Expands variety and nutrition without force or pressure
✔ Builds a positive relationship with food that lasts a lifetime
If your child is a selective eater, therapy can help make mealtimes easier and more enjoyable!
Oral Motor Feeding Challenges
What is IT?
Some children have difficulty with chewing, swallowing, and oral coordination, making it hard to eat safely and efficiently. Oral motor feeding therapy strengthens the muscles of the tongue, lips, and jaw, improving how food is chewed and swallowed.
| Age | Oral Motor Skills |
|---|---|
| 0-6 months | Sucks and swallows milk efficiently |
| 6-9 months | Begins munching and moving food in the mouth |
| 12 months | Bites, chews soft solids, drinks from an open cup |
| 18 months | Moves food side to side while chewing, uses lips to clean spoon |
| 2 years | Chews a variety of textures, drinks from a straw |
| 3 years | Fully controls tongue and jaw for chewing and swallowing |
Signs Your Child May Need Support
🚩 Struggles to transition to solid foods (prefers purees, avoids chewable textures)
🚩 Chokes, coughs, or gags frequently while eating
🚩 Drinks from a bottle longer than expected (avoids open cups or straws)
🚩 Spits out food or pockets food in their cheeks
🚩 Excessively drools beyond the toddler years
Why Early Intervention Matters
✔ Improves chewing, swallowing, and mealtime safety
✔ Strengthens muscles for speech and eating
✔ Reduces feeding struggles and frustration
If your child struggles with chewing, swallowing, or oral coordination, feeding therapy can help!
Baby-Led Weaning & Transitions
What Is IT?
Baby-led weaning (BLW) is a feeding approach that allows infants to explore solid foods at their own pace by self-feeding instead of relying solely on purees. Some babies struggle with this transition and may need extra support to learn how to chew, swallow, and accept new textures.
| Age | Feeding Skills |
|---|---|
| 4-6 months | Shows readiness for solids (sits upright, interest in food) |
| 6-9 months | Self-feeds small soft foods, starts drinking from an open cup |
| 9-12 months | Picks up and chews small pieces of food, starts using utensils |
| 12-18 months | Eats a wider range of soft and chopped foods |
| 18-24 months | Masters chewing, manages most table foods |
Signs Your Child May Need Support
🚩 Struggles to move from bottle/breast to solids
🚩 Refuses to self-feed or gags on new textures
🚩 Avoids chewing, preferring only smooth foods
🚩 Difficulty learning to drink from a straw or open cup
Why Early Intervention Matters
✔ Encourages independence and confidence in eating
✔ Supports safe, age-appropriate food transitions
✔ Prevents picky eating habits from developing
If your baby is struggling with starting solids or self-feeding, therapy can help ease the transition!