Understanding Responsive Feeding Therapy
At South West Kids Clinic, we are proud to follow responsive feeding practises in therapy to support children in developing healthy eating habits. Our team is dedicated to helping children thrive through personalised, evidence-based feeding interventions.
Responsive feeding is an approach to feeding infants and children that emphasises sensitivity, attunement, and respect for their cues and signals. It involves recognising and responding to a child’s hunger and fullness cues, offering a variety of nutritious foods, creating a positive mealtime environment, and reducing stress for the entire family. Responsive feeding aims to promote healthy eating habits, prevent feeding difficulties, and foster positive parent-child interactions around food.
What Conditions Does Responsive Feeding Therapy Support
Responsive feeding therapy is beneficial for a wide range of children who may be experiencing feeding difficulties or challenges. Symptoms your child may have feeding difficulties may include:
- Gagging or coughing during mealtimes
- Difficulty latching or sucking during breast or bottle feeding
- Ongoing refusal of food when offered and avoidance of food and mealtimes
- Taking a long time to eat
- Having difficulty chewing or swallowing
- Frequent vomiting during or after meals
- Have a gurgly, hoarse, or breathy voice during or after meals
- Spit up or throw up a lot
- Children that are not gaining weight or growing in a way that supports their development
Benefits of Responsive Feeding Therapy
Responsive feeding therapy offers numerous benefits for children and families, including:
- Improved Feeding Skills: Through targeted interventions and strategies, children develop improved feeding skills, such as chewing, swallowing, and self-feeding, increasing independence and confidence during mealtimes.
- Increased Food Acceptance: Children learn to explore and accept various foods, textures, and flavours, reducing picky eating behaviours and expanding their dietary repertoire.
- Enhanced Mealtime Interactions: Responsive feeding therapy promotes positive mealtime interactions between children and caregivers, fostering a supportive and nurturing feeding environment that strengthens the parent-child bond.
- Reduced Mealtime Stress: By addressing feeding difficulties and providing caregivers with practical strategies, responsive feeding therapy helps minimise mealtime stress and anxiety for children and caregivers, leading to more enjoyable and relaxed mealtimes.
- Long-Term Healthy Eating Habits: By establishing positive feeding practices and routines early in life, responsive feeding therapy sets the foundation for lifelong healthy eating habits and attitudes towards food.
- Family-Centred Approach: Responsive feeding therapy actively involves caregivers in the therapeutic process, empowering them to play a central role in supporting their child's feeding development and promoting positive mealtime experiences at home.
Is responsive feeding therapy suitable for infants and toddlers?
Yes, responsive feeding therapy is appropriate for infants and toddlers who experience feeding difficulties, such as difficulty latching, sucking, or transitioning to solid foods. Reducing pressure and negative emotions around mealtimes is a decisive step in developing appropriate mealtime skills used for life.
What types of feeding difficulties can responsive feeding therapy address?
Responsive feeding therapy can address various feeding difficulties, including oral motor difficulties, sensory aversions, food selectivity, picky eating, difficulty transitioning to solid foods, and mealtime behaviour challenges.
How can I schedule an appointment for responsive feeding therapy?
To schedule an appointment for responsive feeding therapy at South West Kids Clinic, please contact our clinic directly. Our friendly staff will assist you in scheduling an initial evaluation and consultation with one of our experienced therapists to discuss your child’s feeding concerns and develop a personalised treatment plan.
