When most people hear “speech therapy,” they think about helping children say their sounds correctly or improve communication skills. But did you know that speech-language pathologists (SLPs) also play a critical role in supporting feeding and swallowing difficulties in children?
At Move U, our team of speech therapists in Sioux Falls helps children of all ages — from infants to school-aged kids — develop safe, confident, and enjoyable eating experiences. Feeding therapy goes far beyond mealtime—it supports a child’s overall growth, development, and comfort.
What Are Feeding Difficulties?
Feeding difficulties can appear in many ways and vary from child to child. Some children may have trouble transitioning from a bottle to solids, while others may eat only a limited variety of foods due to sensory sensitivities or anxiety around textures.
Common signs your child may benefit from feeding therapy include:
- Difficulty transitioning from breast/bottle to cup or straw
- Gagging, choking, or coughing during meals
- Limited diet or extreme food selectivity (picky eating)
- Difficulty chewing or swallowing
- Mealtime stress, tantrums, or refusal to eat
- Taking unusually long to eat or showing fatigue during meals
- Trouble managing different textures or temperatures of foods
- Poor weight gain or slow growth
If any of these sound familiar, a speech-language pathologist specializing in feeding can help.
How Speech Therapy Helps with Feeding Challenges
Speech-language pathologists are experts in the muscles and coordination involved in eating, drinking, and swallowing. Through feeding therapy, our SLPs use play-based, relationship-centered strategies to make progress feel fun and natural for each child.
Here’s how speech therapy can support feeding development:
Strengthening Oral Muscles
Feeding therapy helps children build strength and coordination in their lips, cheeks, tongue, and jaw — essential muscles for safe eating and swallowing.
Improving Sensory Tolerance
Many children are sensitive to certain textures, tastes, or temperatures. Our therapists use gradual exposure and sensory play to help kids become more comfortable exploring new foods.
Enhancing Oral-Motor Skills
Skills like chewing, moving food from side to side, and forming a bolus (food ball) are developed through targeted exercises and activities tailored to your child’s unique needs.
Encouraging Positive Mealtime Experiences
We focus on reducing stress and pressure around mealtimes. Using fun, child-led interactions, we help kids build confidence and curiosity with food.
Family Coaching & Education
Feeding therapy includes collaboration with parents to make mealtimes smoother at home. You’ll receive practical strategies to support your child’s progress between sessions.
What Makes Feeding Therapy at Move U Different
At Move U Pediatric Therapy in Sioux Falls, we believe therapy should be playful, personalized, and empowering. Our therapists meet each child where they are, incorporating their interests and comfort levels into every session.
Whether your child is an infant learning to transition to solid foods, a toddler struggling with mealtime textures, or a school-aged child dealing with selective eating, our goal is to make feeding a positive and successful experience.
No doctor referral is required, and we accept cash, card, HSA, and FSA payments for convenience.
When to Seek Support
If you’ve noticed persistent mealtime struggles or concerns with your child’s eating or drinking habits, early intervention is key. Feeding difficulties can improve dramatically with professional guidance and consistent, compassionate support.
Our speech therapy team in Sioux Falls is here to help your child build confidence and joy around mealtimes — one bite at a time.
Get Started with Feeding Therapy in Sioux Falls
If your child is experiencing feeding difficulties, we’d love to help.
👉 Contact Move U today to schedule a new client speech therapy session or learn more about our pediatric feeding services.
📍 Move U Pediatric Therapy
5020 S Tennis Ln, Ste 6, Sioux Falls, SD 57108
🌐 themoveu.com
