Find out more about how my practice can help your picky or problem eater become a happy and healthy eater.
Phone Consultation for Picky Eating, Problem Eating, or Feeding
There are so many questions that run through a parent’s mind when your child struggles with feeding or picky eating. Is this something my child will grow out of? Is it going to affect his health? What can I be doing differently to fix this problem?
It may seem like everyone you know has an opinion, but a trained feeding specialist is the only one who can give you trustworthy advice about what’s normal, what’s not, and when you should be considering therapy.
During your phone consultation, I will use my experience helping children of all ages develop healthy eating habits to help you find the answers you’re looking for.
Whether your child’s feeding/eating trouble is physiological, behavioral, or neurological, chances are I’ve seen it before, I know what you’re up against, and I know what your next step should be.
Initial Consultation for Picky Eating, Problem Eating, or Feeding
Feeding disorders can be serious, and if your child can’t or won’t eat a nutritional diet, you should be strongly considering a feeding consultation.
My consultations use parent input and real-life observation to determine what’s causing the problem, and the best way to move forward. Prior to the consult, you’ll be asked to start keeping a behavioral food diary for your child, and to prepare a lunchbox of foods to bring to your appointment.
During the consult, you and I will discuss the behavioral food diary, and I’ll observe your child’s reaction to the foods in the lunch box. Based on my findings, I’ll be able to advise you on steps you can take to improve the situation at home, and recommend a plan for feeding therapy, if necessary.
Our time together will be comfortable, relaxed, and free of judgment as we take the first step toward helping your child overcome his feeding/eating difficulties.
Feeding Evaluation
Feeding Evaluations include observation and assessment of the motor skills involved in feeding and discussion of behavioral concerns.
You will be asked ahead of time to keep a diary of you child’s food intake and behavior during mealtimes, the more specific the information the better.
Often a video tape of a mealtime is also requested. This allows a real life mealtime to be observed.
The findings of the evaluation will determine if feeding therapy is needed.
Feeding evaluations generally take place in our Briarcliff Manor office which is located in Westchester County, NY. However, arrangements can be made to come to your home if needed.
Feeding disorders can be serious. You need to call a feeding specialist immediately if you are concerned.
Feeding Therapy
Like our other therapies, feeding therapy will be tailored to the needs of your child.
Feeding therapy could involve oral-motor therapy to address weak musculature in and around your child’s mouth. It could involve a behavioral feeding plan with no oral-motor therapy. It could also be some combination of the two.
Since children with feeding problems tend to develop negative emotional responses to eating there is almost always a need for some form of a behavioral feeding plan. In these cases home and center based therapy are often utilized to maximize the effectiveness of therapy. Center based feeding therapy can take place in our Briarcliff Manor office in Westchester County, or in our Hopewell Junction office in Dutchess County.
Virtual feeding therapy is also available.
Feeding disorders can be serious so if you are concerned about your child’s eating/feeding you need to contact a feeding specialist immediately.
You should call (914) 488-5282 to request a consultation, or feeding evaluation with Isa Marrs.