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Oveview

Starting Solids

You feel like you've finally mastered (or maybe not even) breast or bottle feeding.  And now it's time to start solids with your baby.  This can be an overwhelming but exciting time for both parent and for baby.  We recommend not rushing into the solids stage, as there are some great strategies that you can implement from the start to ensure a successful journey with solids.  

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Ready to Start Solids Checklist 

 

EI
Sleepy Baby
Eating Watermelon
Evals & Therapy

Infant Feeding Resources

Whether you are breastfeeding or bottle feeding, the journey of feeding your baby is one of the most important journeys you'll take.  This can be a challenging but beautiful journey, and we're here to help.  

- Responsive feeding
- Choosing a pacifier (coming soon)
- Choosing a bottle (coming soon)
- Navigating a feeding schedule 
- Navigating oral ties (coming soon)
- Navigating food allergies
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Toddler Feeding Resources

As your infant grows into toddlerhood, the feeding journey continues to develop.  Their oral motor skills, sensory skills, communication skills, and preferences play an important role in their feeding success.   

- Choosing a highchair 
- Offering solids 
- Using utensils 
- Responsive feeding
- Setting mealtime schedules 
- Shaping mealtime behaviors 

What We Treat

Oral Motor • Oral Sensory • Oral Patterns
Picky eating • Difficulty with solids • Bottle aversions
Infant feeding difficulties • Tethered Oral Tissues (Lip, cheek, tongue tie): before, during, and after the release procedures

Signs of a Delay/Disorde

Our Approach to
Feeding Therapy

West Valley's approach to feeding therapy is 3-pronged:

 

We support the oral sensory system

We support the oral motor system

We support the development of feeding skills and behaviors during mealtimes

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Children learn best when they are safe, supported, and motivated to try new, hard things. We take the time to build rapport with our clients by getting to know their interests and incorporating play into our sessions. Plus, we get parents involved throughout the therapy process to make sure that we are all working toward a common goal.

How We Can Help Your Child Thrive with their Feeding Skills

Therapy sessions at West Valley Speech Therapy are personalized, engaging, and highly effective.  Our goal is provide supports which will help you and your child enjoy their feeding experiences, allowing them to grow and thrive in their early years.  

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We use evidenced-based practices in infant and early childhood feeding disorders.  We work directly with the child and the family, meeting them where they are at and helping build success along the way.

Therapy for Speech Delays and Disorders

Oral Sensory & Oral Motor

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  • Low or increased oral muscle tone

  • Low or increased oral sensory awareness 

  • Immature oral patterns 

  • Difficulty with lip closure or lip strength

  • Difficulty with tongue movement and tongue strength

  • Difficulty with coordinating the suck-swallow-breathe sequence 

  • Swallowing difficulties 

  • Extended pacifier use

Therapy for Language Delays and Disorders

Feeding Skills

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  • Difficulty with accepting a bottle 

  • Difficulty with efficiently feeding at the bottle 

  • Excessive spitting up

  • Colic behaviors

  • History of reflux 

  • Difficulty with food exploration

  • Difficulty with finger foods

  • Poor use of utensils 

  • Difficulty with cup drinking 

  • Difficulty with straws

Early Intervention therapy services in Glendale, AZ

Mealtime Behaviors

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  • Food refusals 

  • Tantrums at the table

  • Difficulty staying at the table during meals

  • Power struggles over food 

  • Difficulties transitioning from bottle 

  • Frustration from parents at mealtime 

  • Difficulty with establishing healthy expectations for mealtime and foods

Contact
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