Pediatric Feeding Therapy
in Lawrenceville, GA

Helping you understand picky eating and feeding disorders, identify when concerns may go beyond a phase, and know when support may be helpful.

Rogers Bridge » Occupational Therapy & Speech Therapy » Pediatric Feeding Therapy

Supporting Children
with Feeding Challenges

Mealtimes can be joyful, but they can also become stressful, overwhelming, or confusing when feeding doesn’t feel typical.

Some children move through phases of picky eating. Others experience feeding challenges that affect nutrition, growth, skill development, or daily family life.

At Rogers Bridge Pediatric Therapy, we provide pediatric feeding therapy to help children build safe, confident, and functional eating skills while supporting parents every step of the way.

We're passionate about your child's needs.

"Jessie has worked with my son for two years - he's now eating on a regular basis and learning how to communicate. I also feel that she's given me the tools to work with him at home. It's a relief to actually look forward to therapy sessions with no tears." – Anika J

What Is Pediatric Feeding Therapy?

Pediatric feeding therapy supports children who have difficulty eating a variety of foods safely and comfortably.

Feeding challenges may involve:

Oral-motor skills (chewing, swallowing, coordination)
Sensory processing (textures, smells, temperatures)
Medical history (reflux, allergies, prematurity)
Behavioral or emotional responses to food
Limited food variety or food refusal

Feeding therapy is individualized and may involve speech-language pathologists and occupational therapists working together to address the root causes of feeding difficulties.

What Is Pediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD)?

Pediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD) is a medical diagnosis used when feeding challenges significantly impact a child’s nutrition, growth, skill development, or daily functioning.

Children with PFD are not choosing to be difficult. Their feeding challenges are often related to how their body processes sensory input, motor skills, or medical comfort during eating.

PFD may include:

Very limited food variety
Difficulty chewing or swallowing
Frequent gagging, coughing, or choking
Strong sensory aversions
Mealtimes lasting longer than 30 minutes
Difficulty gaining or maintaining weight

Early intervention can make a meaningful difference in helping children build safe, functional feeding skills.

When Feeding Challenges Go Beyond Picky Eating

Picky eating is common in toddlers and young children. However, some feeding challenges extend beyond typical developmental phases.

In some cases, children may meet criteria for a diagnosis called Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). ARFID involves significant restriction of food intake that impacts nutrition, growth, or social participation.

ARFID is not about body image or weight concerns. Avoidance may stem from:

Sensory sensitivities
Fear of choking or vomiting
Low interest in eating
Past negative feeding experiences

If you’d like a deeper explanation of how picky eating, pediatric feeding disorder, and ARFID differ, we’ve created a detailed guide here:

Picky Eating vs. Pediatric Feeding Disorder vs. ARFID

Signs Your Child May Benefit from Feeding Therapy

Consider seeking an evaluation if your child:

Eats fewer than 30 total foods
Avoids entire food groups or textures
Gags, coughs, or chokes during meals
Struggles with chewing or swallowing
Has a shrinking list of accepted foods
Experiences frequent mealtime distress
Shows difficulty gaining weight or maintaining growth
Avoids social situations involving food

If mealtimes feel stressful most days, support may be helpful.

What to Expect During a Feeding Evaluation

A feeding evaluation typically includes:

A detailed parent interview
Review of medical and feeding history
Observation of eating and oral-motor skills
Assessment of sensory responses to food
Discussion of family routines and mealtime dynamics

Our goal is not just to increase food variety, but to understand why feeding feels difficult and build a plan that addresses underlying needs.

What Feeding Therapy Sessions Look Like

Feeding therapy is designed to feel safe and supportive. Sessions may include:

Building oral-motor skills
Gradual exposure to new textures
Sensory exploration activities
Mealtime coaching for parents
Structured food play
Skill-building in a low-pressure environment

Parent involvement is an essential part of progress. We work alongside families to create realistic strategies that can be implemented at home.

A Team-Based Approach

Some children benefit from collaboration between:

Pediatricians
Gastroenterologists
Dietitians
Mental health professionals
Speech-language pathologists
Occupational therapists

We support coordination of care when appropriate to ensure comprehensive support.

You Don’t Have to Navigate Feeding Challenges Alone

Feeding concerns can feel isolating, but progress is possible with the right support.

Whether your child is experiencing picky eating, pediatric feeding disorder, or more complex feeding challenges such as ARFID, early guidance can make a meaningful difference.

If you have concerns about your child’s eating, we’re here to help.

Contact us to schedule a feeding evaluation or speak with a member of our team.

(More details below after the following section...)

At Rogers Bridge Pediatric Therapy, we provide evaluations and therapy for a large variety of feeding difficulties. Our speech therapists & occupational therapists have extensive training to help overcome these obstacles.

The first step is an easy conversation about your child's needs.

Let's collaborate

We'd like to prove we're a good fit with a free consultation.

"I'm very grateful for having Ms. Willis support and expertise to help me and my son. We were struggling with the transition to solids and to be honest I was very overwhelmed... my son was born with congenital hydrocephalus and I wasn't sure how to transition from breastfeeding to solids. Ms. Willis has always showed me patience, tought me a lot of strategies and I have recovered the confidence so thanks to her my son now enjoys eating solids and I'm enjoying it too!! My son likes her a lot, he has improved a lot, we have more to achieve but I'm pretty happy because this three months have been a wonderful experience, I really thanks her for her incredible work!!"

– Adriana A.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I be concerned about my child’s eating habits?
You may consider an evaluation if your child consistently refuses meals, eats a very limited variety of foods, shows frequent distress during mealtimes, or has difficulty chewing or swallowing. Concerns about poor weight gain, choking, coughing, or a shrinking list of accepted foods are also important signals. If feeding challenges are affecting nutrition, growth, safety, or daily family life, support may be helpful.
What is a feeding evaluation?
A feeding evaluation is a comprehensive assessment conducted by a licensed therapist. It includes observing your child eat, reviewing medical and developmental history, assessing oral-motor skills, and discussing caregiver observations and mealtime routines. The goal is to understand the underlying factors contributing to feeding difficulty and create an individualized plan.
What does feeding therapy involve?
Feeding therapy is tailored to your child’s needs. It may include oral-motor skill development, sensory-based food exploration, gradual exposure to new textures, and caregiver coaching. Therapy focuses on building safe, functional eating skills in a supportive, low-pressure environment.
Can feeding therapy help with picky eating?
Picky eating can be a common developmental phase. However, if food variety continues to shrink, entire food groups are avoided, or mealtimes are consistently stressful, structured feeding support may help. Therapy can gently expand food acceptance and improve comfort with eating.
Will I be involved in my child’s feeding therapy?
Yes. Caregiver involvement is an essential part of progress. We provide coaching and practical strategies so families can confidently support mealtimes at home. Consistency between therapy sessions and home routines helps children build lasting skills.
How often will my child need feeding therapy?
The frequency of therapy depends on your child’s specific needs and goals. Some children benefit from weekly sessions, while others may require a different schedule. Recommendations are made after the initial evaluation.
Do you work with children who have medical or developmental conditions?
Yes. We support children with a variety of medical and developmental backgrounds, including prematurity, reflux, sensory processing differences, autism, Down syndrome, and other conditions that may affect feeding. When appropriate, we collaborate with pediatricians, dietitians, or specialists to ensure coordinated care.
Do you treat ARFID?
We support children experiencing feeding challenges that may overlap with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). ARFID involves significant restriction of food intake that affects nutrition, growth, or daily functioning and is not related to body image concerns. In some cases, collaboration with medical or mental health professionals may be recommended as part of a comprehensive plan.

Related Resources:

"6 months ago my daughter was struggling with feeding and was pretty much nonverbal. She has made so much progress over the last several months working with Jessie. Mealtimes are no longer a problem for her and she loves to eat. She's also talking more and has almost closed the gap with her same-age peers. I would highly recommend working with Jessie. She is wonderful!" – Lauren A.

Our team provides Occupational Therapy & Speech Therapy in Lawrenceville, GA to support children with feeding challenges, picky eating, and other developmental needs.

This page has been reviewed by licensed occupational and speech therapists at Rogers Bridge Pediatric Therapy.

Pediatric Feeding Therapy in Lawrenceville, GA

Supporting Children with Feeding Challenges