FEEDING CLINIC
Mealtimes can feel stressful when a child has difficulty eating, drinking, trying new foods, managing textures, or swallowing safely. Our Feeding Clinic supports babies, toddlers, children and teenagers with feeding and swallowing challenges in a warm, practical and family-centered way.
Our speech therapists and occupational therapists work together to understand the whole child - Including their oral motor skills, sensory preferences, posture, regulation, mealtime routines, medical history, nutrition concerns and family goals. We aim to make eating safer, calmer and more enjoyable while helping children build confidence with food at their own pace.
Who We Support
Our Feeding Clinic may be suitable for children who:
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Have a very limited range of accepted foods
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Refuse foods based on texture, smell, appearance or brand
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Gag, cough, choke or become distressed during meals
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Have difficulty chewing, moving food around the mouth, or managing different textures
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Take a long time to eat or drink, or pockets food in their mouth
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Have challenges transitioning to solids, cup drinking, self-feeding or using cutlery
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Experience mealtime anxiety, avoidance or frequent food battles
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Need support following medical, developmental, sensory, nutritional or feeding concerns
Our Therapy Approach
Every child is different, so therapy is tailored to your child's unique strengths, needs and family goals. We use a responsive, relationship-based approach to feeding and may draw on strategies from the SOS Approach to Feeding and the STEPS+ approach where they are the best fit.
Our focus is on helping children feel safe, confident and comfortable around food. Rather than encouraging children to eat before they're ready, we support them to build positive experiences with food at their own pace. This might involve being comfortable having food nearby, looking at it, playing with it, touching it, smelling it, tasting it and, when they're ready, eating it. Sessions are fun, engaging and adapted to your child's age, developmental stage and interests.
Depending on your child's needs, therapy may also support skills such as chewing and swallowing, exploring new foods, managing sensory differences, comfortable positioning, mealtime routines and building confidence at family mealtimes. We also work closely with parents and carers, providing practical strategies and coaching to make mealtimes feel less stressful and more enjoyable for everyone.
What to Expect
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An initial feeding assessment with a speech therapist (or both speech therapist and occupational therapist depending on your child’s needs)
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A clear summary of your child’s strengths, growth areas and therapy priorities
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Practical recommendations that fit your family’s routines
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Therapy sessions focused on food sensory play, skill-building and confidence
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Carer coaching sessions focused on strategies for mealtime routines, goal collaboration, problem-solving challenges and where able and applicable, food sensory play sessions outside of the clinic
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Partnerships with other professionals when needed
Book a Feeding Clinic Appointment
If mealtimes are challenging or you're concerned about your child’s feeding, swallowing or variety in diet, our team can help. Contact us to discuss whether a Feeding Clinic appointment is right for your child and family.