SERVICES & RESOURCES

SENSORY-BASED FEEDING THERAPY

For children displaying picky eating or problem feeding behaviors due to sensory processing difficulties or behaviors, feeding therapy can be a great tool to introduce new textures and flavors to your child's diet through multi-sensory play activities, behavioral modification, environmental accommodations, and caregiver education.

Our experienced and talented team members utilize the SOS Approach to Feeding (Sequential Oral Sensory) when working with children with feeding challenges. This program is applicable to children with a limited/restrictive diet, and can be implemented in either an individual or group setting. Parents are asked to be active participants during sessions to ensure carryover within the home environment and provide the children with the optimal setting and support to succeed!

Select team members have additional, advanced training in the following:

Helping Children Transition Off Supplemental Tube Feedings
Food Scientist Model: SOS Approach to Feeding Adaptation for the School-Aged Child
Children with Gastroesophageal Reflux
Feeding the Child on the Autism Spectrum

Unsure if your child is a candidate for a referral? See below for some 'Red Flags'

Ongoing poor weight gain or weight loss
Ongoing choking, gagging, or coughing during meals
Ongoing problems with vomiting
More than once incident of nasal reflux
History of a traumatic choking incident
History of eating and breathing coordination problems, with ongoing respiratory issues
Parents reporting child as being "picky" at 2 or more well child checks
Inability to transition to baby food purees by 10 months of age
Inability to accept any table food solids by 12 months of age
Inability to transition from breast/bottle to a cup by 16 months of age
Has not weaned off baby foods by 16 months of age
Aversion or avoidance of all foods in specific texture or nutrition group
Food range of less than 20 foods, especially if foods are being dropped over time with no new foods replacing those lost
An infant who cries and/or arches at most meals
Family is fighting about food and feeding (i.e. meals are battles)
Parent repeatedly reports that the child is difficult for everyone to feed
Parental history of an eating disorder, with a child not meeting weight goals (parents not causing the problem, but may be more stressed and in need of extra supports)

Toomey, K.A. "Red Flags." SOS Approach to Feeding. https://sosapproachtofeeding.com/. 2019. Website. Accessed 9/13/19.

Eats at Least 30 Foods

Picky Eaters

Decreased range or variety of foods
Foods lost due to "burn out" but usually re-gained after a 2 week break
Able to tolerate new foods on plate; can touch or taste a new food (even if reluctantly)
At least one food from most food texture or nutrition groups (i.e. purees, meltables, proteins, fruits)
Frequently eats a different set of foods at a meal than the rest of the family (typically eats with the family)
Will add new foods to repertoire in 20-25 steps on "Steps to Eating Hierarchy"
Sometimes reported by parent as a "picky eater" at well-child check-ups

Less than 20 Foods

Problem Feeders

Restricted range or variety of foods
Foods lost due to food jags are NOT re-acquired after taking a break, often resulting in a decreasing number of foods in a child's repertoire
Cries and "falls apart" when presented with new foods; complete refusal
Refuses entire categories of food texture or nutrition groups
Almost always eats different foods at a meal than the rest of the family (often doesn't eat with the family)
Adds new foods in more than 25 steps on the "Steps to Eating Hierarchy"
Persistently reported by parent as a "picky eater" across multiple well-child check-ups

Toomey, K.A. "Picky Eaters Versus Problem Feeders." https://sosapproachtofeeding.com/. 2010. Website. Retrieved 9/13/2019.

Helpful Links

The SOS Approach to Feeding

Solid Starts - How to Introduce Real Food to Babies

Play to Grow OT Amazon List - Feeding Infants & Toddlers - Our Favorite Supplies