What Does Feeding Therapy Involve? A Gentle, Family-Centred Approach
Once we’ve identified why your child is struggling with feeding, we create a personalised therapy plan. Feeding therapy is gentle, play-based and family-centred — no force, no pressure, no stress.
Here’s what feeding therapy can include.
1. Oral-Motor Skill Development
For children who struggle with:
- Chewing
- Tongue movement
- Lip closure
- Drinking from a straw or open cup
- Managing different textures
We build these skills through fun, structured activities:
- Chewing practice with “learning foods”
- Tongue movement games
- Straw drinking progression
- Baby jaw support techniques
- Puppets demonstrating biting and chewing
Everything is done at your child’s pace.
2. Sensory Support for Picky Eaters
For children who gag, refuse, or fear new foods, we use sensory-based approaches like:
- SOS Approach to Feeding
- Play-based food exploration
- Step-by-step desensitisation
This might look like:
- Touching food
- Smelling food
- Kissing or licking food
- Playing (e.g., pudding painting, food faces)
- Eventually taking small bites
We also find “bridge foods” to expand their diet gradually.
3. Behavioural + Mealtime Strategies
We help families:
- Set up predictable meal routines
- Reduce mealtime battles
- Stop grazing habits
- Use positive reinforcement techniques
- Balance choice vs boundaries
- Encourage family meals
Parents receive coaching in-session so you feel confident at home.
4. Collaboration With Dietitians & Doctors
We work closely with paediatricians, maternal child health nurses, dietitians and GPs to ensure:
- Nutrition is adequate
- Medical issues (reflux, constipation) are addressed
- Supplements are considered if needed
Feeding therapy is most effective when everyone supports the same plan.
5. Culturally Sensitive, Bilingual Feeding Therapy
Many families in Box Hill, Glen Waverley, Burwood, Doncaster come from Chinese-speaking backgrounds — and we warmly welcome you.
We tailor therapy for families who eat:
- Rice
- Congee
- Soft tofu
- Steamed veggie dishes
- Dumplings
- Chinese soups
- Stir-fries
We introduce familiar foods first and build from there.
We can also explain everything in Cantonese or Mandarin, including:
- Feeding techniques
- Textures
- Home strategies
- Mealtime routines
Grandparents and carers are encouraged to join sessions.
What’s the goal of feeding therapy?
- A safer, more comfortable eater
- Less stress at mealtimes
- A broader, more age-appropriate diet
- Confidence for parents
- Enjoyable family meals again
Many families from Blackburn to Box Hill tell us,
“Mealtimes are finally peaceful again.”
- Blackburn
- Book feeding therapy
- English • Cantonese • Mandarin
Min, K., Seo, S., & Woo, H.-S. (2022). Effect of oral motor facilitation technique on oral motor and feeding skills in children with cerebral palsy. BMC Pediatrics, 22, Article 626.BioMed Central
Kim, A. R., et al. (2021). Sensory Based Feeding Intervention for Toddlers With Food Refusal: A Randomized Trial. Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine, 45(4), …E-ARM
Mohamed, D. T., & Mahfouz, E. M. (2025). Enhancing Pediatric Feeding Disorders Assessment and Management Through the Sequential Oral Sensory Approach. Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 55(1), 18-24.
Pergeline, H., et al. (2025). Diagnosis and Treatment of Pediatric Feeding Disorders: Narrative Review. PMC