DIETETICS / FEEDING THERAPY
Feeding Therapy
When mealtimes are more than just fussy eating.
Some children get stuck — a limited range of safe foods, strong reactions to textures, mealtimes that end in tears every night. Feeding therapy is often the missing piece. We offer an AEIOU-trained, evidence-informed program for children with mild to complex feeding difficulties.
Imogen Barrett
Accredited Practising Dietitian · Paediatric Dietitian · Accredited Sports Dietitian
AEIOU Accredited
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Neurodiversity-Affirming Care
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AEIOU Accredited ➡ Neurodiversity-Affirming Care ➡
WHO WE WORK WITH
Signs it's time to see a feeding therapist
Feeding difficulties range from frustrating to genuinely concerning — and the right support looks different depending on what's going on. Here's a guide to what we help with and when to seek care more urgently.
✅ We can help with
Persistent mealtime stress or conflict in the family
A diet limited to a small number of "safe" foods, or foods being lost over time
Strong rigidity around texture, brand or presentation
Growth or weight tracking that has plateaued or dropped percentile bands
Difficulty with independence or participation at meals
A history of, or transition off, tube feeding
General advice hasn't made a difference
⚠️ Refer or seek care urgently
Coughing, choking, or a wet or gurgly voice during or after eating
Faltering growth or unintentional weight loss
Complete or near-complete refusal of oral intake
Significant distress across all food textures
Our approach
The AEIOU framework
Imogen is trained in the AEIOU feeding therapy framework — a structured, evidence-based approach to paediatric feeding that is trauma-informed and neurodiversity-affirming.
Acceptance
Building a foundation where food is safe, predictable and non-threatening — before asking a child to engage with anything new. Getting this right first changes what's possible later.
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Exposure
Building familiarity with new foods through repeated, low-pressure contact rather than a single high-stakes "just try it." The manner of exposure matters as much as the frequency — pleasant and playful gets further than coaxed or coerced.
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Independence
Giving children agency and control over food interactions — so eating becomes something they choose rather than something done to them. This is often what breaks the cycle of pressure and refusal.
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Observation
Does the child get to watch the family eating the same foods, in the same room, without pressure? Modelling is one of the quieter but more reliable drivers of food acceptance.
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Understanding
Taking a genuinely holistic view of the child — their medical history, sensory profile, developmental stage and family context — before deciding what to target first and in what order.
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HOW IT WORKS
What to expect
Sessions are structured around the child and family, not a fixed programme. Here's how it typically unfolds.
01 | Referral
Getting started
Send through areas of concern and any relevant reports or growth history
We liaise with the child's existing care team where needed
No referral required — families can self-refer
02 | Assessment
Initial consultation
Initial session with the family and child together
Feeding history, growth, mealtime patterns and family goals
Sensory profile, developmental stage and any relevant diagnoses
03 | Therapy
Ongoing support
Parent education and mealtime strategy — usually the starting point
Hands-on therapy directly with the child where appropriate
Coordination with OTs, speech pathologists and other providers already involved
Ready to get some support?
Whether you're a family dealing with a difficult eater, or a practitioner looking to refer — get in touch and we'll work out the right next step together.