You are the best person at feeding your child

You are amazing at feeding your child

You are the best person at feeding your child

Your ability to know how they are feeling is like no one elses

You pick them up when they feel down

You hold back your own tears when they need to cry

You know the world is hard for them to deal with sometimes

You hold their hand along the way (even if it isn’t physically)

You help them learn so many new tasks
– like investigating what a sliver of plum tastes like wrapped in spinach leaves

You are their favourite

You have not caused them to only eat a few foods

You have not caused them to fear vegetables

You have not made eating one of the hardest things our body has to learn (it just is)

You have helped them develop into busy little things that love to play, jump and imagine

You have not caused them to be fussy eaters

You don’t need criticism

You don’t need stress

You don’t need to be told not to stress

You have the right to be happy

You have the right to choose your parenting tools

You just need a cheerleader – you need to be your cheerleader

You are doing a great job

– Simone Emery

This is a 20 minute virtual interview with Erin from Recipe Roadtest regarding my feeding therapy approach to problem feeding. If you are unsure if your child is a problem feeder or a picky (fussy) eater, please see this blog post.

Erin’s questions:

Behavioral approaches:
1. What are your views on a behavioral approach with many exposures and rewards? Can they work with children with food phobias?
2. Does Division Of Responsibility eventually work for children with food phobias?
3. What are your thoughts on hypnotherapy for children under 5?
4. What do you think are the best approaches to get children with food phobias and very restrictive lists of “safe foods” to eat healthily, and to try new foods?

Family harmony:
5. How can I balance food and eating needs across the family, and make sure younger children don’t copy my child with selective eating?
6. How can I explain my child’s selective eating and food aversions or phobias to people so that they will get it? Even my husband doesn’t really understand.

Medicines :
7. What do you recommend for children who seem to have no hunger, and simply don’t want to eat? Are appetite increasers good or bad?
8. Are anti-anxiety medications recommended to help combat the anxiety or fear of trying new foods?

Do you have any questions about feeding therapy?

If you are unsure about the root cause of your child’s feeding issues, please seek further assistance. You can get great parenting tools to help you along the way. You are not the root cause.