Feeding Therapy & Fussy Eating Support

At Day by Day Early Intervention, our feeding therapy focuses on understanding the “why” behind a child’s eating difficulties, not just increasing food intake. We use a responsive, relationship-based feeding approach that supports children and families to build safety, trust, and confidence around food.

Our approach is not a compliance-based or exposure-driven model and does not rely on rigid hierarchies or forcing food interactions.

We understand that feeding challenges are often influenced by:

• • Sensory processing differences
  • Oral motor skill development
  • Anxiety or stress around eating
  • Past medical or feeding experiences
  • Interoception (body awareness)
  • Family routines and environments

Rather than “making children eat,” we focus on:

• • Safety before variety
  • Connection before consumption
  • Trust before change

This creates lasting progress that supports emotional wellbeing, regulation, and participation in family meals.

Our feeding therapy:

• • Is child-led and responsive
  • Respects sensory, emotional, and developmental differences
  • Supports eating within real family routines
  • Builds confidence without pressure
  • Avoids reward-based or compliance-driven strategies
  • Supports parents as the experts in their child

We work alongside families to reduce stress at mealtimes and support positive food relationships over time.

Feeding therapy may be helpful for children who:

• • Are very selective or restricted eaters
  • Experience distress or anxiety around food
  • Avoid textures, temperatures, or mixed foods
  • Have sensory sensitivities related to eating
  • Gag, cough, or struggle with chewing
  • Have limited appetite awareness
  • Have a history of feeding difficulties
  • Experience family stress at mealtimes

We support children with and without diagnoses, including autistic children and children with developmental differences.

Feeding therapy may include:

• • Detailed parent interview about mealtime routines
  • Understanding sensory, motor, and emotional contributors
  • Observation of meals (clinic, home, or via discussion)
  • Support for regulation and body awareness
  • Gradual, respectful food exploration (not forced exposure)
  • Parent coaching and practical strategies
  • Adjusting environments and routines
  • Building interoception (hunger/fullness awareness)

Progress looks different for every child — and that’s okay.

📍 Clinic Sessions

Held at our western suburbs headquarters.

🚗 Mobile & Community Sessions

Across Adelaide’s western suburbs in:
Homes • Childcare • Kindergartens • Schools • Community locations

Supporting children where they eat helps create meaningful change.

• • Calm, pressure-free approach
  • Strong focus on emotional wellbeing
  • Evidence-based and developmentally informed
  • Practical strategies families can use every day
  • Respectful of neurodiversity
  • Collaborative and supportive

If mealtimes feel stressful or overwhelming, support is available.

👉 Submit a Referral Form or contact our team to discuss whether feeding therapy is right for your child.

We are happy to help you decide if feeding therapy is appropriate.

📞 Phone: 0460 885 008
📧 Email: [email protected]
📋Contact Us form: Found below!

🌱 Helping children grow, connect & thrive — day by day.

Explore our Speech Pathology services.

Read about our Occupational Therapy support.

See how we partner with families on our Working Together page.

Find out how we set meaningful therapy goals on our Setting Goals page.

Explore all of our Therapy Services.

Learn more about our Assessment & Reporting process.