Pediatric Feeding Therapy
in Forest Hill & Bel Air, MD
Help Your Child Eat More Comfortably and Confidently
If your child is extremely selective with food, avoids certain textures, or struggles during mealtimes, it helps to take a closer look. Feeding challenges can affect nutrition, growth, and daily routines, but the right support can help your child build more comfort and flexibility with eating.
At Phoenix Therapies+, our feeding therapists identify what is making mealtimes difficult, explain it in a way that makes sense, and build a plan to help your child move forward.
What Is Feeding Therapy?
Pediatric feeding therapy supports children who have difficulty with eating and drinking. This can include challenges with picky eating, chewing, swallowing, and other challenges with mealtimes.
Some children avoid entire food groups or only eat a small number of preferred foods. Others may have difficulty chewing, swallowing, or managing different textures. Sessions with our feeding therapists are tailored to your child’s needs and focus on building skills that make eating safer, more comfortable, and more consistent.
Signs Your Child May Benefit from Feeding Therapy
Your child may benefit from an evaluation if you notice:
- Very limited food variety or strong food preferences
- Refusal of certain textures or food groups
- Gagging, coughing, or difficulty chewing
- Stress or anxiety during mealtimes
- Difficulty transitioning to new foods
- Slow weight gain or failure to thrive
- Mealtimes that feel challenging or inconsistent
Our Approach to Feeding Therapy
We focus on helping your child build comfort with food in a way that is steady and manageable. Each session is one-on-one and tailored to your child. We use a structured approach to gradually introduce new foods and textures while supporting oral motor and sensory development.
We also involve you in the process! At the end of each session, we review what was worked on and show you how to continue that progress at home. Our goal is to make mealtimes more predictable and less stressful for your family.
What Your Child Can Learn in Feeding Therapy
Feeding therapy helps your child build skills that support healthier and more flexible eating. We work with your child to:
- Expand food variety and accept new foods
- Improve chewing and oral motor skills
- Increase tolerance for different textures
- Reduce anxiety around eating
- Build more consistent mealtime routines
Why Choose Phoenix Therapies+ for Occupational Therapy
At Phoenix Therapies+, we take the time to understand what is contributing to your child’s feeding difficulties so we can address the full picture. We use a structured, supportive approach that helps your child build comfort with food over time.
You will be part of the process. We explain what we are seeing, show you how to support your child at home, and help you understand how progress is being made. Our goal is to make mealtimes more manageable and less stressful while helping your child build lasting skills.
Reach Out Today to Get Started with Pediatric Feeding Therapy
If mealtimes have become difficult or your child is struggling with eating, the next step is to schedule an evaluation. Our team will guide you through the process, explain what to expect, and help you understand how to support your child moving forward. Call our office and request an appointment to get started.