Feeding your child should feel natural and rewarding, not overwhelming. But when you’re navigating breastfeeding, bottle feeding, or starting solids, it can be tough to know what challenges are typical and what needs attention. If mealtimes are taking too long, feel frustrating, or just seem off, it could be a sign that your child needs a bit of extra support.

Feeding challenges aren’t always easy to spot at first, but once you know what to look for, the signs become clearer. That’s why our team at Let’s Communicate has put together this quick guide to help you identify the common signs that your child may benefit from feeding therapy.

Difficulty with Breastfeeding or Bottle Feeding

Feeding challenges often show up early in a baby’s life. If nursing or bottle feeding feels unusually difficult, or if your baby seems frustrated or unsatisfied after meals, feeding therapy can help identify and address the issue.

Some signs to watch out for include if your baby:

  • Needs frequent breaks during feeding but still seems hungry
  • Struggles to latch to the breast or bottle
  • Nurses more often than expected for their age

Another important sign is if the mother experiences pain while breastfeeding, as this can indicate that your baby isn’t latching properly and may not be getting the nutrients their growing body needs.

Struggles with Chewing or Swallowing

As your child starts to eat more solid foods, they should develop smoother chewing, swallowing, and drinking skills. But if these skills don’t progress as expected, feeding therapy can help your child build safe and effective mealtime habits.

Signs that your child struggles with chewing or swallowing include:

  • Missing expected eating or drinking milestones
  • Eating messily and seemingly unaware of food on their face or in their mouth
  • Spilling food or drink from the lips while eating
  • Leaving food on the spoon instead of taking the full bite
  • Struggling to transition to a straw or open cup
  • Biting their lips or tongue during meals
  • Swallowing food whole instead of chewing
  • Making a “wet” or gurgly voice sound during or after eating
  • Letting food or drink come out of the nose while eating or drinking

Limited Food Variety or Strong Food Aversions

While it’s normal for toddlers to be selective with food, having a very limited diet or strong reactions to certain textures can be a sign of feeding challenges that need extra support.

Feeding therapy can be helpful if your child:

  • Refuses foods with mixed textures, like cereal in milk or Jello with fruit pieces
  • Struggles to move from soft purees to textured or chewy foods

Challenges with Mealtime Behavior or Overall Health

If your child regularly becomes upset around meals (e.g., crying before, during, or after eating without a clear reason), it could be their way of signaling that eating feels difficult or stressful for them. Feeding therapy can help uncover what’s behind these behaviors and make mealtimes more comfortable and relaxing for everyone.

Additionally, sometimes feeding challenges show up through your child’s overall health. If your child isn’t growing as expected, or if they frequently experience respiratory issues, you should check with our experts to see if any feeding challenges are playing a role.

Reach Out to Let’s Communicate for Expert Advice

If your child is struggling with feeding in any way, from nursing to mealtime behavior, we’re here to help. Our team will work with your family to understand your child’s needs and build a plan that supports their safe, healthy, and happy feeding.

Call Let’s Communicate today at (678) 963-0694 to schedule an evaluation, and let’s work together to help your child grow with confidence!