Feeding is one of your child’s earliest and most important occupations. It’s nourishment, bonding, exploration, and learning — all wrapped into one daily routine. But for many families across Richmond Hill, Markham, Vaughan, Aurora, and the surrounding York Region communities, feeding isn’t always simple.
You may find yourself thinking:
“Is this normal?”
“Are feeds supposed to feel this hard?”
“Why is my child still struggling with solids?”
You’re not alone — and you don’t have to navigate feeding challenges without support.
Understanding Feeding Development (and When It Gets Tricky)
Recent evidence (2023–2025) shows that feeding development is a gradual, multi-stage process affected by oral-motor skills, sensory experiences, posture, motor development, and the feeding environment. Some children progress smoothly through these stages; others need support — and that’s okay.
Feeding therapy is not just for severe issues. It’s for any infant or child who is struggling to participate comfortably, safely, and joyfully in feeding.
Signs Your Child May Benefit From Feeding Therapy
Parents in York Region often reach out when they notice:
Infants (0–12 months)
- Difficulty latching or staying latched (breast or bottle)
- Frequent coughing, gagging, or sputtering
- Fatigue during feeds
- Clicking sounds during breastfeeding or bottle-feeding
- Slow weight gain
- Difficulty transitioning from milk to purees or solids
Toddlers & Children (1–5 years)
- Limited accepted foods (beyond typical “picky eating”)
- Strong reactions to textures, smells, or new foods
- Difficulty chewing or swallowing solids
- Frequent gagging or vomiting at mealtimes
- Mealtimes longer than 30 minutes
- Reliance on bottles, purees, or specific textures
Stressful mealtimes affect the whole family
What the Latest Evidence Tells Us
Newer studies underline several key points:
✔ Feeding therapy improves oral-motor skills, sensory processing, and mealtime behaviours.
Interdisciplinary feeding therapy (OT + SLP + lactation + pediatric therapy) can improve oral intake, support growth, and decrease parent stress for a wide range of feeding concerns.
✔ Not all feeding issues are structural.
Many families initially worry about tongue ties or anatomy — but evidence shows that sensory, motor, behavioural, and environmental factors play just as large a role.
✔ Early support helps prevent long-term feeding difficulties.
Delays don’t always resolve on their own. Early intervention is associated with better feeding, speech, motor, and self-regulation outcomes.
How Feeding Therapy Works at The New Years
Every child is unique — so every plan is too. Our Feeding Foundations program includes:
- Oral-motor and swallowing assessment
- Sensory processing evaluation
- Posture, tone, and motor observation
- Responsive feeding strategies that reduce stress
- Hands-on practice with textures, utensils, and open cup drinking
- Parent coaching so you feel confident at home
- Collaboration with OTs, SLPs, pediatric dentists, lactation consultants, and other specialists when needed
Our goal is always the same:
Safe, confident, joyful feeding for your child — and less stress for you.