It can be overwhelming to have a child with feeding difficulties. They may have started from birth or developed over time. No matter when you began to deal with feeding challenges, the most important thing you can do is have support from other people who understand what your family is experiencing. Feeding can be a complex journey, including visiting many different doctors, going to feeding therapy, learning new ways to prepare meals, modifying diets…the list could go on. Fortunately, there are organizations out there which can help bring all the resources together. Some of these include:
- FeedingMatters.org : Based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Feeding Matters provides many resources for families and feeding professionals, such as a provider directory, resource directory, community outreach programs, and seminars. They post great articles on Facebook as well.
- MealtimeConnections.com : Based in Tucson, Arizona. Provides therapy services as well as many helpful articles for parents and professionals.
- RaisingSpecialKids.org : Based in Arizona. Whether you have concerns for your child’s feeding, speech and language, sensory development, physical development, or behavior, I often refer families to Raising Special Kids. They provide resources to services and connections to other families who may be going through the same challenges. Their mission is to “improve the lives of children with the full range of disabilities, from birth to age 26, by providing support, training, information and individual assistance so families can become effective advocates for their children”.
~Kristen- Speech/ Feeding Team
