Referring a patient to The Feeding Spot
We partner with families and healthcare providers. Here is who we treat, when to refer, and how to send a referral.
Specialized, individualized pediatric feeding therapy
We partner with families and healthcare providers to help children develop safe, positive, and confident feeding skills, from their first bites to a lifetime of good nutrition. Early referral can support safer, more positive feeding experiences.
Our therapist has 12 years of hospital experience, including NICU, inpatient, and outpatient settings, and works closely with medical teams, dietitians, OT and PT, and lactation providers.
Conditions and concerns we see
We treat children with
- Feeding difficulties and oral motor delays
- Picky and selective eating
- Food aversions requiring feeding tubes
- Weaning from tube feeds
And also
- Breastfeeding and lactation support
- Dysphagia (swallowing difficulties)
- ARFID (avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder)
- Oral motor skill delays
Three steps
Referrals are welcome from pediatricians and other healthcare providers.
- 1
Discuss feeding concerns
Talk with the family about the feeding concerns you have noticed.
- 2
Send a referral
With the family’s consent, send a referral with relevant medical and feeding history.
- 3
Contact us
Call, text, or email us to coordinate care. We keep you informed throughout.
Signs that a feeding evaluation may help
Consider an evaluation when you see any of these.
Infants and early feeding
- Difficulty with breastfeeding or bottle feeding: latch, suck, swallow, coordination
- Coughing, choking, or stress during feeds
- Difficulty transitioning to solids
Eating and food acceptance
- Very limited food repertoire or persistent picky eating
- Food refusal, aversions, or distress at mealtimes
- Difficulty managing age-appropriate textures
Safety and medical complexity
- Gagging or frequent vomiting during meals
- Poor weight gain or growth concerns related to feeding
- Feeding difficulties with reflux, prematurity, neurological or genetic conditions, or medical complexity
Skilled support
- Transitioning from tube feeding to oral feeding
- Oral-motor or chewing skill concerns
- Feeding challenges affecting participation, nutrition, or family mealtimes
Answers to common questions
How do I send a referral?
Discuss the concerns with the family, obtain their consent, and send a referral with relevant medical and feeding history. Then call, text, or email us to coordinate care.
Will I be kept informed?
Yes. We keep referring providers informed and work closely with families to support the best outcomes.
Do you work with the rest of the care team?
Yes. We work with medical teams, dietitians, OT and PT, and lactation providers.
Do you treat tube-fed children?
Yes. We work with food aversions in children who rely on feeding tubes and with tube weaning, in coordination with the medical team. See our tube weaning page.
Do you bill insurance?
The Feeding Spot is a private-pay practice and does not bill insurance. Families can request a superbill for possible out-of-network reimbursement. See the investment and payment details.
Send a referral or ask a question
Call, text, or email to coordinate care for a patient.
This page is general information. It does not replace an individual evaluation, a diagnosis, or medical advice.