Feeding Therapy
That helps accomplish so much in your child’s development!

At TLC Pediatric Therapy, we look through many lens and approaches in a venn diagram to best serve the child:

• Feeding: Bringing food to the mouth.
• Eating: Chewing and swallowing safely.
• Swallowing: Coordinated use of tongue, lips, airway, and muscles.

We provide feeding therapy with a unique lens designed to solve more than just one concern, and efficiently get many of your child’s developmental needs met. Using the latest research and a compassionate, interdisciplinary approach, provider cohorts and training modules are constantly striving to improve approaches through science and proven techniques.

Eating, chewing, and swallowing affect more than nutrition—they influence speech development, airway health, sleep, and behavior. When children face challenges such as sensory sensitivities, tongue placement issues, or oral coordination challenges, mealtimes can become stressful and may cause developmental issues, both short term and long term.

Since there are so many variables to consider in etiology and outcomes, we prioritize an approach that is interdisciplinary and collaborative – so that the best clinician is working on specific areas in any given session that is their expertise, bringing progress to team meetings, and deciding on best interdisciplinary approach week by week.

 

Why our multimodal approach to Feeding Therapy works

Mealtimes are about more than food—they are about family connection and healthy growth. Without support, children may experience:

• Poor nutrition and growth delays.
• Limited diet and health risks.
• Stressful family mealtimes.
• Difficulty joining school or social routines.
• Orofacial complex
• Dentition issues
• Speech delays

Early identification is critical before issues arise. In line with efficient and effective treatment, it’s important to proactively and sequentially correct and develop habits positive habits as early as possible. We want all children to develop safe eating habits, that is joyful and stress-free.

It is the hope that families will find both expert guidance and emotional support from all team members at TLC Pediatric Therapy.

Our Process

Comprehensive Assessment

• Assess oral function, strength, sensory processing, nutrition, and behavior.
• Use an interdisciplinary team approach.

Oral-Motor Function

• Strengthen muscles for chewing and swallowing.
• Improve coordination of lips, tongue, and jaw.
• Support healthy swallow patterns and airway function.

Sensory Integration

• Help children accept new textures, smells, and tastes.
• Use gradual exposure to reduce food aversions.

Behavioral Comfort & Trust

• Create predictable routines.
• Use play and modeling to reduce mealtime anxiety.

Tube-to-Oral Feeding Support

• Guide safe transition from tube to oral feeding.
• Monitor progress with compassion.

Myofunctional Therapy

• Improve tongue placement and swallowing.
• Address airway, sleep, and dental concerns linked to a specific myofunctional issue

Family Coaching & Engagement

• Provide real-time caregiver coaching, education and support that is practical and helpful
• Bridge strategies for all settings to be as efficient in treatment planning as possible

Interdisciplinary Approach at TLC Pediatric Therapy

Feeding difficulties often overlap with speech, occupational, and sensory needs. Our team of specialists works together to support every aspect of your child’s development.

At TLC, we:

• Start with hope and outcomes, reducing any stigma around feeding disorders.
• Strengths based approach.
• Share clear information incrementally so families feel empowered and skilled to implement in the home setting.
• Celebrate and practice every milestone

What to Expect With Feeding Therapy

Every family begins with a comprehensive evaluation of oral-motor skills, sensory needs, mealtime routines, and family goals. Therapy plans may include:

• Oral-motor exercises.
• Sensory play for new textures.
• Structured mealtime practice.
• Family education for consistency at home.

Our sessions are playful and supportive, helping children feel motivated while progress becomes natural and lasting.

Celebrating Joy, Play & Progress

At TLC Pediatric Therapy, we believe mealtimes should be joyful, not stressful. Each safe swallow, new food, and confident family meal is worth celebrating. We measure progress not only in skills, but in smiles, confidence, and connection.