Mouth skills
Chewing, moving food around the mouth, and managing different textures.
Oral motor = how the mouth moves
Tube weaning · Pediatric feeding therapy · Fort Worth, TX
Tube weaning: moving toward eating by mouth
If your child relies on a feeding tube, eating by mouth can feel far away. With skilled, gentle therapy and your medical team, we build the skills and comfort that make it possible.
What is tube weaning?
A gradual move toward eating by mouth
Some children rely on a feeding tube for nutrition. Tube weaning is the gradual process of building the skills, comfort, and confidence to eat and drink by mouth, with the goal of needing less tube feeding over time.
Your child’s medical team decides whether and when tube feeds change. Our role is to build the feeding skills and positive experiences that make that move possible, and to coordinate with the team.
What it takes
Four things we work on
Every child starts from a different place, so the plan is individual.
Swallow safety
Making sure eating and drinking are safe for your child’s swallow before skills are built on them.
Safety firstComfort with food
Many children who rely on a tube have learned to avoid food. We rebuild positive experiences through play, one small step at a time.
Aversion = strong avoidance of foodWorking as a team
We coordinate with your child’s doctors and dietitian and keep them informed.
Collaborative care
How we help
From evaluation to eating by mouth
Therapy is play-based and moves at your child’s pace.
- 1
Comprehensive evaluation
We assess oral motor skills, swallow safety, sensory needs, and overall feeding development, along with your child’s medical history and current tube feeding routine.
- 2
Individualized plan
You receive a personalized plan with clear goals and measurable progress, shared with the medical team.
- 3
Hands-on therapy
Play-based, functional strategies build skills and positive mealtime experiences, with a home program for you.
Do not reduce or change tube feeds on your own. Changes to tube feeding should always come from your child’s medical team.
Are you a provider? See how to refer a patient.
Questions parents ask
Answers to common questions
How long does tube weaning take?
It depends on your child’s skills, medical needs, and starting point. We set clear goals and measurable progress in the plan, and review them with you along the way.
Will my child stop needing the tube?
The goal is individual. Some children move fully to eating by mouth and others partly. We set goals together with you and your child’s medical team.
Can I reduce tube feeds myself?
No. Changes to tube feeding should always be decided by your child’s medical team.
My child refuses food completely. Can therapy help?
Strong food avoidance is common in children who have relied on a tube. Therapy builds comfort with food gradually through play and positive experiences.
Do you work with our doctor and dietitian?
Yes. We keep referring providers informed and coordinate with your child’s medical team and dietitian.
Do you take insurance?
The Feeding Spot is a private-pay practice and does not bill insurance. Many families use out-of-network benefits, and we can provide a superbill on request. See the investment and payment details.
Get in touch
Ready to talk about tube weaning?
Call or text, or send an email. We will help you work out whether a feeding evaluation is the right next step.
This page is general information. It does not replace an individual evaluation, a diagnosis, or medical advice.