Wolfson Children's Feeding Program

At Wolfson Children’s Hospital, we understand the special needs of families and children with feeding and swallowing problems. Parents and caregivers receive ongoing education on feeding techniques specific to their child’s condition, while therapists promote positive feeding experiences that are safe, nutritious and nurturing.

Wolfson Rehabilitation

904.202.4200

Call us for more information and to schedule your child's first appointment at any location

Physician Referral Form

Feeding and swallowing problems in children can be complex, with serious consequences to your child’s health. Left untreated, feeding difficulties can lead to:

Poor nutrition, poor weight gain and growth
Poor suck, swallow and breathing coordination
Increased airway congestion, choking, gagging, coughing and vomiting during feeding
Frequent upper respiratory problems like infections, asthma or pneumonia
Agitation or discomfort during or after a feeding
Limited diet and picky eating habits

All of our evaluation and treatment approaches are based on the latest pediatric feeding research and we coordinate care with physicians, dietitians, behavioral specialists, occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists.

For children with complex medical conditions discharged from the hospital, our outpatient therapists have the knowledge and expertise to guide the transition off of feeding tubes.

Wolfson Rehabilitation

904.202.4200

Call us for more information and to schedule your child's first appointment at any location

Physician Referral Form

Related Information

Does my child need the Wolfson Children's Feeding Program?

The Wolfson Children's Feeding Program could help your child if he or she:

Coughs or chokes with food or drink
Has difficult mealtime behaviors
Experiences increased crying, irritability or fussiness during mealtime
Cannot drink properly from a bottle or cup
Refuses to eat or drink or has picky eating habits
Overstuffs his or her mouth with food, pockets food in cheeks or lets food rest on tongue
Will only eat a limited number of foods
Is unable to eat enough by mouth and depends on a feeding tube to gain weight

Your child might also show sensory problems that result in feeding difficulties, such as:

Refusal to allow food on hands or face
Too strong or too weak response to food or objects around the mouth
Negative reactions to smells or sights of food
Difficulty adapting to different food textures
Difficulty brushing their teeth
Frequent gagging

Sometimes, movement limitations of the tongue, lips and jaw can lead to problems with feeding or swallowing. If your child has oral movement problems, they may have:

Poor coordination during bottle or breastfeeding, such as coughing, working hard to breathe, spilling milk out of the mouth or taking longer than 30 minutes to feed
Poor ability to manage food or liquids in his mouth, like food spilling from the mouth or leaking from the nose
Difficulty clearing food from a spoon
Weakness or difficulty with biting and/or chewing
Trouble changing to a straw or open cup