Many parents feel lost when it comes to their child's picky eating—wondering if feeding therapy is the only solution. But what if there was a way to understand the why behind your child's eating behaviors and create a supportive environment at home without relying on therapy?

In this blog, I dive into the real reasons behind picky eating—from genetics and sensory sensitivities to developmental phases—and introduce my Feeding Foundations Session. This 1.5-hour personalized deep dive helps parents gain the tools they need to empower their child for a lifetime of feeding success—without feeling stuck in an endless cycle of therapy.

If you’re ready to take control of mealtimes and help your child thrive, this is for you!

Starting solids is an exciting milestone, but did you know teething tools play a key role in feeding development? Beyond soothing sore gums, they help strengthen oral muscles, improve chewing skills, and support self-feeding. In this blog, we’ll share the best teething and feeding tools to make the transition to solids smoother and more enjoyable for your baby. Let’s get started!

This blog delves into the fascinating world of how babies develop their eating habits, balancing innate instincts and learned behaviors. From their natural preference for sweet flavors to the instinctual aversion to bitter foods, babies come into the world with built-in tendencies that help ensure their survival. As they grow, their food preferences are shaped by repeated exposure, family influences, and the emotional connections they form with food. We also explore the role of epigenetics and how experiences can modify taste preferences, as well as the challenge of food neophobia—fear of new foods—which is common in toddlers. By understanding these processes, parents can support their child’s eating journey and foster healthy, stress-free mealtimes.

This blog explores the crucial stage between 4 and 6 months when babies begin to explore textures, chew more intentionally, and prepare for self-feeding. As your baby’s oral motor skills develop, the right teething tools can significantly support their transition to solid foods. I’ve rounded up the best teething products to help ease discomfort and promote healthy oral development. We’ll also discuss how teething and mouthing play an essential role in feeding development, including how they support chewing skills, jaw muscle strengthening, and hand-to-mouth coordination. From improving tongue movement to encouraging self-feeding, these teething products set the foundation for your baby’s feeding journey.

From the moment they’re born, babies use their mouths to explore the world. Mouthing isn’t just about teething—it plays a critical role in oral development, sensory learning, and the foundation for feeding and speech skills. As a feeding specialist, I encourage parents to embrace this stage and provide safe, developmentally appropriate tools to support it. Early oral exploration helps babies develop coordination, body awareness, and self-soothing skills, all of which are essential for future milestones like chewing, swallowing, and even talking.

Whether your baby is just beginning to discover their hands and mouth or starting to teethe, here are my top recommendations for safe and effective tools to encourage healthy oral habits from the very start!

This blog explores the groundbreaking work of Dr. Clara Marie Davis, a pioneering physician who revolutionized the way we understand child feeding. In the 1920s, when strict dietary prescriptions led to widespread food refusal in children, Davis conducted a radical experiment that allowed infants to select their own foods without adult interference. Her findings laid the foundation for responsive feeding, proving that children can self-regulate their intake and develop healthy eating habits when provided with a supportive environment and nutritious options. Read on to discover how her research continues to shape modern feeding practices.

Is your baby refusing the bottle? Are feedings becoming a source of stress instead of joy? You’re not alone. Feeding your baby is meant to be a bonding and joyful experience, but when your baby starts refusing the bottle, it can bring feelings of overwhelm and frustration. In this blog, I’ll share stories from my work with families facing bottle-feeding aversions, common challenges I see, and how I approach these situations.

Together, we’ll explore what a bottle-feeding aversion is, why it happens, and practical strategies to help your baby rediscover the joy of feeding. At Kids Feeding Wellness (KFW), we’re here to guide and support you every step of the way with expert advice tailored to your baby’s unique needs.

Feeding success goes beyond getting your child to try new foods—it’s about fostering lifelong confidence, connection, and joy at the table. This blog shifts the focus from short-term wins to creating a supportive mealtime environment where your child feels safe to explore food at their own pace.

Discover practical strategies like the Division of Responsibility (DOR), reducing pressure, and making mealtimes about connection rather than food. By addressing stress and fostering trust, you can raise a confident eater who enjoys a variety of foods and builds a lasting, positive relationship with eating and family.

In this blog, we will explore the intricate relationship between sensory processing and how sensory experiences shape a child's willingness to try new foods. We’ll discuss what sensory processing is, the common signs of sensory challenges during feeding, and how these difficulties can manifest in a child’s eating habits. Additionally, we will provide practical tips for parents to support their children in expanding their food repertoire while considering their unique sensory profiles.

Eating is a sensory experience that can overwhelm young children. In this blog, we explore how sensory processing impacts eating behaviors and highlight the benefits of messy eating. By encouraging children to touch and play with their food, we can enhance fine motor skills, boost confidence, and promote acceptance of new tastes and textures. Join us to discover how messy play fosters resilience, curiosity, and emotional regulation. Plus, stay tuned for a freebie at the end, featuring fun activities to support your child’s sensory exploration during mealtimes!

Are you struggling to manage your child’s feeding difficulties? You’re not alone—nearly 50% of parents report feeding-related issues with their children. This blog post clarifies the difference between feeding difficulties and feeding disorders, unpacks the main causes of feeding disorders, and highlights the importance of collaborating with healthcare providers for effective intervention.

Are you struggling to manage your child’s feeding difficulties? You’re not alone—nearly 50% of parents report feeding-related issues with their children. This blog post clarifies the difference between feeding difficulties and feeding disorders, unpacks the main causes of feeding disorders, and highlights the importance of collaborating with healthcare providers for effective intervention.

In this week’s blog post, we explore how the principles of neuroplasticity (the brain's ability to reorganize and form new neural connections) can contribute to the effectiveness of orofacial myofunctional therapy.

Let's delve into an in-depth examination of the prevalent signs and symptoms of orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs) and explore the common underlying causes of these conditions.

In this discussion, we will explore the concept of tethered oral tissue, encompassing its three primary forms: tongue tie, lip tie, and buccal tie. We will also delve into the implications of these conditions on orofacial development, as well as their impact on essential functions like feeding, swallowing, and speech.

In today’s blog post we will discuss the vital role of orthodontic treatment in your child's orofacial myofunctional therapy journey. We'll delve into the indicators that may necessitate dental interventions and their importance to your child’s success.

In this week's blog post, we discuss two gifts many of us take for granted, the prevalence of eating disorders and tube feeding in children, and how exactly we chew and swallow.

Have you ever wondered about how your child's food preferences are developed? Today, let's dive into one influential factor – sugar.

In today's blog post, we underscore the vital significance of a diverse, nutritious diet for a child's development. We delve into the impact of nutrition on cognitive functions like memory, attention, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Research findings on nutrition's positive and negative effects across various developmental domains, including academics, mood, behavior, and language skills, are presented.

In today’s blog post, we explore the concept of "food jags,” which occur when children become fixated on specific foods for an extended period, leaving parents puzzled. We discuss the the role of dopamine in food preferences and why children may suddenly reject once-loved items and provide strategies to prevent and address food jags, emphasizing the importance of fostering a diverse and nourishing diet for children.