Some children rely on tube-feedings, or enteral feeding, (i.e. NG tubes, G-tubes, GJ-tubes, etc.) for nutrition secondary to prematurity, medical diagnoses, feeding challenges, etc. Thrive Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Therapy supports the development of oral skills and positive feeding experiences while respecting your child's medical needs and timeline.  

Once your child has been cleared by his/her medical team to eat orally, you can begin feeding therapy to support your child during this transition.  Even when nutrition is provided enterally, children benefit from opportunities to develop oral-motor skills, sensory exploration, and feeding-related experiences appropriate for their developmental age. This might include introducing oral tools, oral exercises, sensory exposure outside the mouth, etc. all to build oral sensory awareness and motor skills needed for potential introduction of foods at a later time - even if your child is currently not allowed any food by mouth, we can start to develop these skills.

Therapy focuses on building:

• Safe swallowing skills

• Preventing and reducing oral aversion

• Supporting positive oral sensory experiences

• Improving oral motor skills for acceptance and chewing of foods

• Supporting gradual acceptance of foods orally

• Providing education on texture modification and progression for safest consumption of foods orally

• Maintaining oral skill development during periods of NPO (nothing by mouth)

Our goal is to support safe oral skill development, reduce oral aversion, and build positive feeding experiences at a pace aligned with your child's medical readiness.  Therapy emphasizes responsive, pressure-free feeding approaches to protect your child's relationship with food.  Progress is guided by your child's medical stability, developmental readiness, and comfort level.

All oral feeding recommendations are provided within parameters of medical clearance and in collaboration with your child's medical team.  We do not adjust tube feeding schedules or nutritional plans, but we will coordinate with your child's medical providers and/or registered dietician.