Paediatric Therapy for Picky Eating
Helping children feel confident around food - without pressure, bribery or battles
If every mealtime feels like a struggle, you're not alone.
Perhaps your toddler only eats beige foods, refuses to try anything new, gags when unfamiliar foods are offered or has gradually reduced the number of foods they'll accept. Many parents worry that they're doing something wrong, but in reality, picky eating is often much more complex than simply being "fussy."
I'm Emma Fitzgerald, a Specialist Paediatric Feeding Therapist and Speech and Language Therapist with over 13 years' experience supporting babies and children with feeding difficulties. I provide evidence-based feeding therapy for families across the UK through online consultations, as well as face-to-face appointments across the East Midlands.
Whether your child has always struggled with food or their eating has become more restricted over time, I'll help you understand why it's happening and create a realistic plan that works for your family.
Get in touch to begin your child's feeding journey.
What is picky eating?
Many toddlers go through a phase of becoming more selective with food. This is a normal part of development and often improves with time.
However, some children experience difficulties that go beyond typical picky eating.
When eating becomes highly restricted, causes significant family stress or affects nutrition, growth or participation in everyday life, specialist assessment is important.
As a Specialist Paediatric Feeding Therapist, I look beyond the food itself to understand why your child is finding eating difficult.
Does this sound familiar?
Your child might:
Eat fewer than 20 different foods.
Only eat beige or crunchy foods.
Refuse fruit and vegetables.
Become upset when new foods are offered.
Gag or spit out unfamiliar textures.
Insist food is prepared in exactly the same way every time.
Eat a different meal from the rest of the family.
Have a diet that's becoming more limited rather than expanding.
Feel anxious around mealtimes.
Leave you feeling worried, frustrated or exhausted.
If several of these sound familiar, feeding therapy may help.
Why does picky eating happen?
There is rarely one single cause.
Instead, feeding difficulties usually develop because several factors interact.
Sensory differences
Some children experience foods much more intensely than others.
Different textures, temperatures, smells or appearances can feel genuinely overwhelming rather than simply unfamiliar.
Oral motor skills
Children who find chewing or managing certain textures difficult may naturally avoid those foods.
Rather than being "fussy", they're choosing foods that feel easier and safer.
Previous experiences
Painful reflux, allergies, choking incidents or difficult early feeding experiences can create understandable anxiety around eating.
Anxiety
Some children become worried about trying unfamiliar foods because they don't know what to expect.
Pressure at mealtimes can unintentionally increase this anxiety.
Medical or developmental conditions
Restricted eating is more common in children with neurodevelopmental differences, developmental delay, gastrointestinal difficulties and other medical conditions.
A thorough assessment helps identify which factors are contributing to your child's feeding difficulties.
What’s normal picky eating?
Many toddlers:
Suddenly eat less after their first birthday.
Need repeated exposure before accepting new foods.
Have favourite foods that change regularly.
Prefer familiar foods when tired or unwell.
Eat different amounts from day to day.
This can be completely typical.
When should I seek professional help?
It may be helpful to seek an assessment if your child:
Eats fewer than around 20 foods.
Continues to lose accepted foods.
Becomes distressed when new foods are offered.
Regularly gags or vomits with certain textures.
Has significant anxiety around mealtimes.
Has nutritional concerns.
Has stopped progressing to more advanced textures.
Mealtimes are becoming a major source of stress for your family.
Early support is often easier than waiting until eating becomes even more restricted.
How feeding therapy can help
Every child is different, so there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach.
Following a detailed assessment, we'll identify the factors affecting your child's eating and develop a personalised therapy plan.
Depending on your child's needs, therapy may include:
Building confidence around new foods.
Reducing mealtime anxiety.
Improving oral motor skills where appropriate.
Supporting sensory exploration.
Helping parents respond confidently at mealtimes.
Creating realistic goals that fit everyday family life.
The aim isn't to force children to eat.
Instead, we work towards helping them feel safe, confident and curious around food, allowing eating skills to develop over time.
What happens during a feeding assessment?
The first step is a comprehensive assessment so I can understand your child's feeding difficulties and the factors contributing to them.
Before we meet, I'll ask you to complete a detailed questionnaire and send me videos of your child eating. Watching a typical mealtime often provides valuable information that can't always be seen during a live appointment.
During your assessment, we'll discuss:
Your child's feeding history, from infancy to the present day.
Pregnancy, birth and medical history where relevant.
Growth, nutrition and any current concerns.
Foods your child currently accepts and refuses.
Mealtime routines at home.
Previous strategies you've tried.
Your goals for feeding therapy.
Together, we'll identify the reasons behind your child's eating difficulties and agree on the most appropriate next steps.
After your appointment, you'll receive a detailed written report with practical recommendations that you can begin using straight away.
What does feeding therapy involve?
There isn't a quick fix for restricted eating, because every child is different.
Instead of focusing on getting your child to eat a specific food, therapy focuses on building the skills and confidence needed for long-term progress.
Depending on your child's needs, therapy may include:
Reducing pressure around food.
Increasing positive interactions with new foods.
Developing sensory tolerance.
Improving chewing skills where appropriate.
Supporting oral motor development.
Helping parents feel confident responding during mealtimes.
Creating achievable goals that fit around family life.
Small, consistent changes often lead to meaningful progress over time.
Can feeding therapy be provided online?
Yes.
Many families are surprised by how effective online feeding therapy can be.
Because sessions take place in your own home, I can observe your child eating in their usual environment using their own chair, utensils and familiar foods. This often provides a more accurate picture than seeing a child in a clinic.
Families from across the UK work with me online, allowing them to access specialist support without travelling long distances.
If I feel your child would be better supported through face-to-face assessment, I'll discuss this with you during our initial conversation.
Why choose Emma Fitzgerald?
Choosing the right therapist is important.
Families work with me because they value specialist expertise, clear explanations and practical advice they can use in everyday life.
When you work with me, you're supported by a clinician who has:
Over 13 years' experience as a Speech and Language Therapist.
Extensive NHS experience assessing and treating paediatric feeding disorders.
Specialist expertise in paediatric dysphagia and complex feeding difficulties.
Experience supporting babies, toddlers and older children with a wide range of feeding challenges.
HCPC registration and membership of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.
A calm, supportive and evidence-based approach.
My aim isn't to judge your parenting or tell you to "just keep offering food."
Instead, I help you understand why your child is struggling and provide practical strategies that are tailored to your family's situation.
