Chewing and Swallowing
What this skill is
Chewing and swallowing are everyday skills that let your child eat, drink, and join family meals. For many children these skills develop naturally. For others, growing new textures, coordinating mouth muscles, or feeling comfortable during mealtimes can take extra practice and support.
Why it matters
Food and drink are about more than nutrition. Mealtimes are social, calming, and part of daily routines. When chewing or swallowing is hard, it can cause stress for the child and for caregivers, make mealtimes shorter or more chaotic, and limit the kinds of foods a child will try. Supporting these skills helps kids feel safer and more confident at the table and helps families find easier routines.
What we look at in therapy or coaching
We focus on what your child can do right now and what skills they need to try next. Typical areas include:
- Oral motor skills: how the lips, tongue, jaw, and cheeks move during eating and play.
- Texture tolerance: comfort with different food textures, from purees to soft solids to chewier foods.
- Bite and chew patterns: how a child bites, chews, and clears food from the mouth.
- Mealtime routines and positioning: seating, pacing, and how the meal is set up.
- Sensory responses: strong reactions to touch, taste, smell, or textures that affect eating.
What to expect in therapy or coaching
Initial conversation and observation: We begin by talking with you about mealtimes, your concerns, and your goals. We observe your child eating when possible — either in clinic, at home, or by video — and gather information from caregivers and other providers.
Individualized plan: We create a simple plan focused on practical steps you can use at home. Goals are family-centered and realistic — for example, trying one new texture, improving a bite pattern, or reducing mealtime stress.
Hands-on and coaching approach: Sessions often combine direct play-based activities to strengthen mouth skills with caregiver coaching. We show techniques and then support you to practice them at home so you feel confident using them during everyday meals.
Safe monitoring and collaboration: If we notice any signs that need medical evaluation, we will recommend discussing them with your child’s pediatrician or a medical specialist and coordinate care as needed.
Progress and practice: Changes usually happen with consistent, small steps. We track progress and adjust strategies as your child becomes more comfortable.
When to consider support
- Your child coughs or chokes frequently during meals.
- Mealtimes are very long, tense, or involve refusing most foods.
- Your child gags, rejects textures, or has very limited variety in what they eat.
- A baby has trouble latching, sucking, or moving to purees and solids.
- You feel unsure how to introduce new textures or manage mealtime behavior.
How we help
- Family-centered coaching so caregivers learn safe, practical strategies to use every day.
- Play-based oral motor activities and guided exposure to new textures.
- Mealtime setup and positioning recommendations to support easier eating.
- Home programs with simple steps, video modeling, and progress check-ins.
- Collaboration with your pediatrician, dietitian, or other therapists when that support is helpful.
If you’re worried about your child’s chewing or swallowing, a short consultation can help you understand next steps and whether hands-on support or coaching would be useful. We aim to make mealtimes less stressful and more enjoyable for the whole family, one small step at a time.