Pediatric Feeding Therapy in Fridley, MN
Nutrition is one of the most important factors in a child’s healthy growth and development, and many children are able to learn to eat a variety of foods without trouble. However, some children become picky eaters or have difficulty feeding themselves, needing extra support to get the vital nutrients for their growing bodies. Metro Therapy in Fridley, MN offers pediatric feeding therapy services because we want to ensure the children in our community grow into healthy, happy adults. If your child has trouble with oral motor skills or picky eating, our expert feeding therapists can help. We’ll work with you and your child to develop their feeding skills and empower them to be the very best they can be.
What Is Pediatric Feeding Therapy?
Pediatric feeding therapy is a specialized treatment that helps children learn how to eat and drink successfully. It is generally delivered by an occupational therapist or speech-language pathologist who has completed additional training to handle feeding concerns. Therapists will work with children to develop their feeding skills so they can enjoy mealtimes and get the nutrients their bodies need for healthy growth.
Our feeding therapists use evidence-based techniques and programs such as the SOS Approach to Feeding and the Beckman Oral Motor Protocol to teach children how to feed with confidence. These techniques involve exercises to strengthen oral muscles, improve coordination of chewing, and reduce any stress or anxiety a child feels about exploring new foods.
Signs Your Child Might Need Feeding Therapy
Children as young as infants can have difficulty feeding, specifically switching from liquids to puree and transitioning to soft table foods. Each child progresses with feeding at different rates and can benefit from support even if they don’t have other developmental delays or disabilities. The common signs that a child may benefit from feeding therapy include:
Coughing, choking, or gagging during meals
Holding food in the mouth for a long time
Refusing foods based on texture, color, temperature, etc.
Having a limited amount of foods they will eat
Growing more slowly than their peers
Vomiting during or after meals
Throwing tantrums at mealtimes
Taking a long time to eat or drink
Being scared or upset about mealtimes
Having a condition such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
The Goal of Pediatric Feeding Therapy
Our goal at Metro Therapy is to build your child’s confidence to eat and drink a variety of nutritious foods. We improve your child’s ability to engage in their natural environments in a meaningful and purposeful manner with a comprehensive therapeutic approach combined with family involvement and education. When we all work together, we can develop your child’s feeding skills and improve their quality of life so they can be the very best they can be.
How the Pediatric Feeding Therapy Evaluation Process Works
At your child’s feeding therapy screening, our pediatric therapist will assess their skills in eating and drinking. This is a comprehensive assessment that includes discussing the feeding challenges your child is having and learning about any worries you have regarding their development. Our pediatric therapist will also work with your child directly to learn how they feel about mealtimes and get all the information needed to create your child’s customized therapy plan. This evaluation is an important step that ensures we can address your child’s specific needs.
How Feeding Therapy Can Help
Your Child
If your child has trouble with eating or drinking, pediatric therapy can help them develop the skills they need to improve mealtimes. Your child’s therapy plan will involve specific activities and exercises designed to strengthen their oral motor skills and other important aspects of feeding. With routine therapy and your encouragement, together we can help your child:
Reduce their risk of choking
Strengthen their chewing muscles
Improve their nutritional intake for healthy growth
Alleviate their stress or fear about mealtimes
Learn to enjoy a wider range of foods
Gain the appropriate amount of weight for their age
Improve digestion for fewer stomach problems
Build their confidence and self-esteem
Learn appropriate mealtime behaviors
Gain more independence
Develop a healthy relationship with food
Conditions We Treat
Our pediatric therapists have worked successfully with children who have a variety of conditions, including:
Autism spectrum disorders
Cleft lip or palate
Cerebral palsy
Down syndrome
Developmental delays
Sensory processing disorder
Failure to thrive
Premature birth
Schedule a Pediatric Feeding Therapy Evaluation
Our pediatric therapists are here to help your child develop the feeding skills they need for healthy growth and happy mealtimes. If you are concerned about your child’s feeding or nutritional intake, call us. We’ll help your child achieve their developmental skills to be the very best they can be.
Schedule a pediatric feeding therapy evaluation today.