Occupational Therapy Feeding Services

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Our feeding-focused Occupational Therapy services are designed to support children of all ages who are learning how to eat, exploring new foods, or experiencing challenges with the sensory, oral motor, or behavioral aspects of feeding. We focus on helping little ones participate confidently in mealtimes while reducing stress for caregivers and strengthening the connection around feeding.

What Feeding OT Addresses:

Our feeding services support development in the following areas:

• Oral Motor Skills
  Chewing, tongue mobility, lip closure, jaw strength, swallowing coordination, cup and straw drinking, and progression through different food textures.
• Sensory Processing & Food Tolerance
  Exploring textures, smells, temperatures, flavors, utensils, and your child’s tolerance for messy or unfamiliar food experiences.
• Behavioral & Participation Challenges
  Addressing food refusal, picky eating concerns, sitting tolerance, pacing, transitions, and overall engagement during mealtimes.
• Developmental Feeding Progression
  Supporting smooth transitions from liquids to purees, soft solids, mixed solids, and ultimately age-appropriate table foods.
• Family Mealtime Routines & Expectations
  Reviewing positioning, meal pace, timing, and practical strategies to promote successful mealtimes without pressure.

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What’s Included in Feeding OT Services

Feeding services at Mama Bee PT include:

1. Comprehensive Feeding Evaluation

Our evaluation assesses the full feeding profile, including:

• Oral motor and swallowing function
• Sensory responses to food and textures
• Developmental readiness for feeding stages
• Seating, positioning, and biomechanical support
• Mealtime routines and family habits
• Parent concerns, goals, and feeding history

Clinical observation and standardized tools may be used as appropriate.

2. Individual Feeding Therapy Sessions

Therapy is play-based, child-led, and responsive to developmental cues. Sessions may include:

• Oral motor exercises and strengthening
• Sensory-based food exploration and messy play
• Gradual food introduction and texture progression
• Motor planning for chewing and swallowing
• Self-feeding strategies (utensils, cups, straws, finger foods)
• Seating and positioning adjustments for optimal feeding

3. Parent Coaching & Real-Time Guidance

Parents receive coaching during sessions, including:

• How to introduce new foods
• How to set up safe, low-pressure meal environments
• How to respond to refusal without power struggles
• Pacing, portion expectations, and meal timing
• Supporting sensory comfort and self-feeding skills

4. Home Integration & Practical Recommendations

All recommendations are tailored to your home environment and routines, and may include:

• Seating and highchair adjustments
• Meal setup and utensil recommendations
• Sensory play ideas to support feeding
• Texture and food progression plans
• Safe next-step foods to practice between visits

5. Ongoing Collaboration

Therapists collaborate with caregivers and, when appropriate, pediatricians, lactation consultants, dieticians, PTs, SLPs, and other specialists to support comprehensive feeding success.

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Who Can Benefit

Feeding OT is ideal for infants and toddlers experiencing: