Feeding Problems and Fussy Eaters
Our speech pathology services
How speech pathology can help your fussy eater
Most kids go through a fussy eating phase. Every parent has a story to tell about an epic tantrum at a meal. But what about when it’s every meal? Or when food preferences or refusals are impacting your child’s health or your family life?
It can sometimes be hard to work out what’s normal toddler fussiness and what’s a feeding disorder. For some children, it can also be a problem with swallowing.
Some of the most common reasons for feeding and swallowing problems in children include:
- Difficulties moving or coordinating the muscles needed for eating
- Sensory issues
- Reflux
- Prematurity
- Cleft lip or palate
- Developmental disabilities.
Our team has speech pathologists with specific interests in treating children with feeding issues, including training in the SOS Approach to Feeding.
Signs your child might have a feeding issue
Are you worried that your child has:
- Trouble transitioning to solids
- Difficulty chewing
- Gagging or coughing when eating or drinking
- Food refusal
- A restricted range of foods
- A tongue thrust.
Request an Assessment
Kid-friendly approaches to overcome the mealtime battles
Mealtimes should be a fun family experience. No one wants daily battles trying to get their child to eat. That’s why our therapy approach is designed to be fun and gradually increase your child’s acceptance of different foods. Depending on your child, our approach can involve:
- Strategies for increasing the range of foods they will eat
- Recommendations for positioning your child at meals
- Advice for using cups, spoons and other feeding implements
- Therapy sessions to reduce aversions to certain foods.
We will work in an integrated team with other health professionals including your GP, paediatrician, occupational therapist or dietician.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Most toddlers go through phases of food refusal or preference, and this is a normal part of development. However, if your child has a very limited range of foods, , gags or vomits at the sight or smell of certain foods, is not gaining weight appropriately, or there is distress or refusal around mealtimes (for the child or the family) then it is a good idea to get an assessment. A speech pathologist can determine what is impacting on your child’s feeding and develop a tailored treatment plan.
Speech pathologists are trained in the structure and function of the mouth, throat, and swallowing mechanism. The same muscles and coordination used for speech are also involved in chewing and swallowing. This makes speech pathologists uniquely qualified to assess and treat feeding and swallowing difficulties in children, including problems with chewing textures, managing liquids safely, transitioning from purees to solids, and sensory-based food aversions.
Yes. Many children who are extremely fussy eaters have sensory processing differences that make certain textures, temperatures, or smells overwhelming. Feeding therapy uses a gradual, pressure-free approach to help children become comfortable with new foods at their own pace. This might involve structured food exploration through play, systematic desensitisation to textures, and strategies for reducing mealtime anxiety. The goal is to expand the range of foods your child accepts while keeping mealtimes positive.