Feeding Therapy

Establishing positive mealtime routines are imperative to fostering a child’s lifelong journey with food. The Sweet Pea's Feeding Therapy Team is here to provide support through coordinated, comprehensive evaluation and functional treatment plans. Our Speech Therapists and Occupational Therapists tackle feeding issues including: limited/poor oral intake, food refusal and picky eating, introduction to solids, tube feeding and weaning, infant feeding difficulties for bottle and breast, modified diets, fear/anxiety surrounding mealtimes, and oral sensory processing concerns. Growth and development occurs differently for every child.  If you are concerned about your child’s development please speak with your pediatrician or call us at 563-441-3000 to schedule a FREE screen.

Developmental Milestones

0-6 MONTH EATER

• infant latches to breast or bottle without frustration or pain
• able to consume milk without coughing/taking in excess air
• able to sustain feeding for entire duration (2-4 ounces 0-3 mo 3+ ounces 3-6mo) without many breaks due to fatigue/falling asleep
• feedings are efficient taking no longer than 20 minutes
• retains milk without excessive regurgitation or spitting up
• minimal demeanor changes during or after feeding
• brings teethers and objects to mouth to explore

6-9 MONTH EATER

• Baby begins to show interest in foods ~6 months once sitting independently or with minimal support
• Takes purees and/or large soft solids offered on utensil from caregiver
• Touches foods of different textures and temperatures without distress
• Brings appropriately prepared foods to mouth independently to explore with or without consumption 
• Consumes foods without coughing/regurgitation -- gagging is typical response to new foods

9-12 MONTH EATER

• Baby has begun engaging in more foods with consumption without excess coughing or gagging/regurgitation -- some gagging is still typical
• Sits with caregiver for 2-3 meals and snacks
• Has begun eating more solids and mixed texture foods --  still small and soft
• Demonstrates appropriate chewing with jaw movement up and down and side to side
• Is introduced to pulling milk up through a straw working toward weaning from bottles at 12 months -- can continue breastfeeding as desired

1-2 YEARS MONTH EATER

• child eats a variety of foods that are offered with some from each category: meats, vegetables, fruits, carbs
• self feeding with fingers and utensils, either self loaded or with help from caregiver 
• able to keep food in mouth/lips closed while chewing without excessive spilling of chewed foods
• enjoys meal times -- some periods of regession including not taking once preferred foods, new foods, or eating when unwell can be typical lasting < 1 month
• able to drink from straw cup -- continue with formula, whole milk or milk substitute once recommended by pediatrician, or breast milk
• able to bite-chew-swallow efficiently, not pocketing food, moving about mouth without chewing, or having residue of bite requiring liquid wash or extra swallows to clear 

2+ YEARS MONTH EATER

• demonstrates all first year feeding milestones consistently
• continues to increase amount of accepted foods and textures, including mixed textures (i.e., sandwich or taco with many parts)
• eats well with utensils, loading and feeding self
• drinks from open container with limited spilling