Pediatric Feeding Therapy
The pediatric feeding specialists of RISE Pediatric Therapies (RPT) can help your child meet age-appropriate feeding milestones related to eating or swallowing. With locations in Nampa and Boise, we serve the surrounding areas of Southwest Idaho. For more information, contact us and see our How to Get Started page.
What Is Feeding Therapy?
Pediatric feeding therapy, offered in our Nampa location, focuses on supporting children who experience difficulties with eating, feeding, and/or swallowing. It improves your child’s ability to eat a variety of foods safely and comfortably, fostering a positive mealtime experience. Feeding therapy is beneficial for children of all ages and can support a wide range of feeding challenges, including:
- Poor weight gain;
- Aversion to certain textures, smells, and colors of food;
- Gagging or vomiting when introduced to new foods;
- Difficulty with swallowing, chewing, or biting;
- Weakness in oral muscles affecting the ability to manage food;
- Reflux or gastrointestinal disorders that impact feeding;
- Children with neurological conditions that affect motor control; and
- Children with cleft palate or other craniofacial differences.
The first step to determine if your child has a feeding or swallowing disorder is to do an assessment with our pediatric feeding specialist. The specialist will assess the phases of feeding and swallowing, looking for any abnormalities. The specialist will also evaluate how your child’s development aligns with typical feeding milestones of children the same age as your child. Our experts will:
- Evaluate your child’s ability to eat foods of different textures, including both liquids and solids.
- Assess your child’s oral movements, behavior, and feeding position to determine if eating is a safe activity for them.
*Please note, we also provide free speech and language screenings for children ages 1–7.
In the event of a feeding disorder, we’ll develop a treatment plan tailored to your child. It may include any of the following:
- Sequential oral sensory: The goal of this therapy is to minimize the stress and pressure of introducing new foods. We introduce food slowly so your child adjusts to the look, taste, smell, and feel of it. We want this to be a fun experience and for your child to expand their food palate.
- Oral trials: With the approval of a physician, we can conduct oral trials to learn alternative methods of eating.
- Positive experience: We’ll brainstorm ideas with you to make mealtime a fun time.
Additional Services
In addition to pediatric food therapy, we offer other services.
Want to make meal times fun?
Why Choose Us
Habilitative life services that teach functional skills
Exceptional caregiver and parent support
Play-based therapy environment where children love to learn
Family care across the lifespan from toddlerhood through young adulthood
Personalized programs designed and led by skilled therapists
Feeding Therapy Clinic for Kids
RISE Pediatric Therapies is here to help make mealtime more enjoyable for everyone with our pediatric feeding therapy at our Nampa location. With locations in Nampa and Boise, Idaho, we serve the surrounding areas, including Kuna, Meridian, Middleton, and Caldwell. Contact us for more information. As always, we are in-network with several insurance providers and also accept private pay.