Feeding Therapy in Utah

Helping Children Eat With Confidence and Comfort

Every parent wants mealtimes to be simple and joyful. But when a child struggles with eating, refusing food, gagging at textures, taking a long time to finish meals, or falling behind in weight, mealtimes can quickly become a source of stress and worry.

At Strides Pediatric Therapy, we understand how challenging feeding difficulties can be. Whether your child avoids certain textures, struggles to chew or swallow, or refuses to eat all but a few foods, you’re not alone.

Our team offers compassionate, evidence-based pediatric feeding therapy in Utah to support children and families through these challenges.

Why Feeding Therapy Matters

Feeding isn’t just about nutrition, it’s about comfort, safety, and trust. For many children, feeding difficulties are connected to underlying developmental needs. That might include:

Feeding therapy helps address these root causes. Our therapists work closely with each child to build the skills they need to eat safely and confidently, at their own pace.

Common Feeding Difficulties We Treat

At Strides Pediatric Therapy, we support a wide range of feeding difficulties in children, including:

Picky eating or limited food variety
Gagging or choking during meals
Difficulty chewing or managing textures
Food refusal or avoidance
Poor weight gain or growth delays
Transition challenges (bottle to solids, purees to textures)
Taking a long time to finish meals

We also provide specialized support for infant feeding therapy, helping babies who have trouble latching, sucking, or transitioning to solids.

Every child’s feeding story is different. That’s why we take time to understand your child’s history, needs, and family routines before we begin treatment.

A Family-Centered Approach That Builds Trust

Feeding challenges can impact the whole family. That’s why we include caregivers every step of the way. We don’t just focus on what your child eats, we focus on how they feel when they eat and how you feel as a parent trying to help.

We start by creating a calm, positive environment where your child feels safe to explore. Then, through small, supported steps, we build feeding confidence together.

Whether we’re introducing new textures, practicing chewing skills, or addressing anxiety, the goal is always the same: to help your child enjoy mealtimes and gain the nutrition they need to grow and thrive.

Supporting Oral Motor and Sensory Development

Feeding is a complex skill that depends on strong oral motor development and sensory integration. For many children, eating difficulties are rooted in how their body processes food textures, temperatures, and movements in the mouth.

That’s why our feeding therapy includes:

Oral motor strengthening (lips, tongue, jaw)
Texture exploration and desensitization
Chewing coordination and swallowing practice
Structured exposure to new foods
Sensory regulation techniques
Mealtime structure and routine

When a child receives support for both motor and sensory feeding challenges, they’re more likely to feel in control and less likely to feel overwhelmed at meals.

Feeding Therapy with Occupational, Speech, and Mental Health Therapy

Feeding doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Eating difficulties can stem from challenges in several developmental areas. That’s why we take an integrated, collaborative approach.

Your feeding therapy team may consist of:

Occupational therapists to address sensory processing, fine motor skills, and posture
Speech-language pathologists to support safe swallowing, oral motor movements, and communication
Mental Health Therapists to support anxiety, frustration tolerance, or behavioral challenges related to earing

When your child’s therapy is coordinated across services, skills are reinforced and progress becomes more sustainable. Your child may see these different therapists separately, or together in a co-treatment session.

What Parents Can Expect From a Feeding Evaluation

We begin with a thorough feeding evaluation tailored to your child’s age and history. This includes:

A detailed parent interview to understand concerns and goals
Observation of a typical meal or snack
Assessment of oral motor function and sensory responses
Review of weight, growth, and feeding history
Standardized assessments to get a picture of the child’s functioning overall

From there, we create a personalized therapy plan that supports your child’s developmental needs and family routines. You’ll receive clear guidance, home strategies, and ongoing updates to support progress between sessions.

When to Reach Out

If you child is:

Refusing food or meals
Eating a limited number of foods
Eliminating foods they used to eat
Struggling with weight gain or growth
Avoiding textures or gagging frequently
Relying only on purees or liquids
Struggling to transition off of bottle or sippy cup
Creating stress around mealtime for the family

Then feeding therapy may help. Whether you’re seeking help for picky eating, gagging, texture aversions, or you’re concerned about oral motor development, our team is here to support you with expert guidance and compassionate care.

Let's Take the First Step Together

We know how overwhelming it can feel when feeding becomes a daily struggle. But you don’t have to endure this alone, and your child doesn’t have to stay stuck.

Feeding therapy can open the door to calmer meals, better nutrition, and more confidence for your child and for you. And it all starts with one small step.

Contact Strides Pediatric Therapy to schedule a feeding evaluation or learn more about our pediatric feeding therapy in Utah.

Together, we’ll help your child build the skills they need to eat with ease, joy, and confidence.