Feeding Therapy

Helping “Picky Eaters” Thrive—One Step at a Time

At NEST Therapy in Longmont, Colorado, we understand how stressful it can be when your child struggles with eating. That’s why our evidence-based feeding therapy program is designed to give families fast support, a clear plan, and compassionate care.

We start with a structured 12-week feeding therapy program that blends parent coaching, expert evaluation, and individualized support for your child.

Our Feeding Therapy Approach

NEST’s 12-Week Feeding Program

    • Begins with parent-only sessions to learn about your child’s feeding history, challenges, and mealtime routines

    • Includes one in-depth session with your child to assess oral motor development, sensory processing, and feeding readiness

    • Focused on building trust, reducing mealtime stress, and helping you feel more confident

    • Provides a customized plan tailored to your family’s goals

    • Depending on your child’s needs, sessions may include:

      • Direct feeding therapy with your child

      • Ongoing parent coaching and strategy support

      • Home-based routines and telehealth visits for real-world progress

      • In-person sessions at our child-friendly Longmont office

    • Strategies drawn from the SOS (Sequential Oral Sensory) Approach to Feeding, paired with responsive feeding therapy and sensory integration techniques

Who you’ll be working with

Specialties:

“Picky Eating” or Feeding Problem?

Helping Picky Eaters Become Confident Eaters

Are mealtimes a daily struggle for your child or family? If picky eating, food refusal, or anxiety around meals has been going on for more than two years, it may be time to seek support. At NEST: Neurodiversity-affirming Speech and Occupational Therapy in Longmont, Colorado, we specialize in feeding therapy for children, teens, and families.

Our experienced feeding therapists offer comprehensive feeding evaluations to help identify the root causes of mealtime challenges. We use a strengths-based, evidence-informed approach grounded in the SOS (Sequential Oral Sensory) Approach to Feeding, tailored to your unique needs.

Whether your child has sensory processing differences, autism, ARFID, or developmental delays, we provide compassionate and personalized therapy that supports a positive relationship with food. Our goal is to reduce mealtime stress and help you and your child feel confident, connected, and successful at the table.

At NEST, we believe mealtimes can be joyful again. We serve families throughout Longmont, Boulder, Niwot, Firestone, and the greater Northern Colorado area.

Our SOS-based feeding therapy is tailored to each child's unique needs and may include:

1. Sensory Exploration: Engaging children in sensory play and exposure to a variety of foods to desensitize them to different textures, tastes, and smells.

2. Motor Skill Development: Incorporating exercises and activities to improve oral motor skills, coordination, and strength for safe and efficient eating.

3. Oral Stimulation: Using techniques to encourage proper oral posture, chewing, and swallowing skills.

4. Behavioral Strategies: Implementing strategies to manage challenging behaviors related to feeding difficulties, such as food refusal or aversion.

Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Approach

Our team of trained and experienced feeding therapists utilizes the Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Approach, a multidisciplinary feeding therapy program that addresses the sensory, motor, oral, and behavioral aspects of feeding difficulties. The SOS Approach focuses on creating a positive and enjoyable feeding experience for children, while gradually expanding their food repertoire and improving their feeding skills.

Our Baby-Led Weaning-based feeding therapy may include:

1. Parent Education: Providing parents with guidance on the principles and techniques of Baby-Led Weaning, including appropriate food choices, portion sizes, and safe feeding practices.

2. Infant-Led Feeding: Encouraging infants to self-feed using age-appropriate finger foods, utensils, and cups to develop their self-feeding skills and independence.

3. Sensory Exposure: Exposing infants to a variety of textures, tastes, and smells through age-appropriate foods to promote sensory exploration and acceptance of different foods.

4. Responsive Feeding: Encouraging parents to be attuned to their infant's hunger and fullness cues and to provide a supportive and positive feeding environment.

Baby-Led Weaning

Our feeding therapy services also include Baby-Led Weaning, an approach that encourages infants to self-feed and explore a variety of foods at their own pace. Baby-Led Weaning promotes the development of self-regulation and independence in eating, while respecting the infant's cues and preferences.

Our feeding therapists work collaboratively with parents or caregivers to develop a personalized feeding plan that meets the unique needs of each child. We provide education, support, and practical strategies to help parents confidently navigate feeding challenges and promote healthy eating habits in their infants and young children.

If you have concerns about your child's feeding skills or eating habits, contact us today to schedule an appointment. Let us provide the specialized feeding therapy services, including the SOS Approach and Baby-Led Weaning, to support your child's feeding development and overall well-being!