Paediatric Feeding International
Feeding therapy clinic/programme providing international consultancy and home services that work for paediatric feeding difficulties (including tube weaning & ARFID).
Reclaim the JOY of Mealtime
Paediatric Feeding International provides in-home intensive services and remote consultation for difficulties with feeding/ARFID and tube weaning using well-established empirically-supported treatments for paediatric feeding disorders. We are dedicated to delivering quality services and supporting families through their journey. With our guidance and expertise, families can feel assured that their child receives quality evidence-based care. A process previously exclusive to a few specific locations in the United States, Dr. Tessa Taylor (ClinPsych) now travels in order to bring these advanced techniques across the world.
Backed by 50 years of evidence
Significant progress possible in days, weeks*
Intensive, In-Home
Tailored for your child and family
Gradual tube reduction
Wide variety of healthy foods
Teaches independent skills (utensils, cup drinking, chewing, medication)
Direct, high level of parent support and help
Meals away from home and with other caregivers
Funding available (NDIS, Medicare)*
*Individual results may vary; subject to individual eligibility, contact agencies directly
Treating a Range Feeding Difficulties
Feeding is literally vital–next to breathing it’s the first and most important thing we have to do in life, connected to almost every other aspect of a child’s life and development. No human behaviour has greater biological and social significance. It occurs multiple times every day and is one of parents’ greatest responsibilities.
The prevalence of feeding disorders is between 1:23 and 1:37 children under 5 annually in the USA, higher than autism (1:54) and cerebral palsy (1:323) Kovacic et al., (2020). Prevalence estimates vary up to as high as 90% in developmental disabilities. It’s one of the top parent concerns brought to physician’s appointments, often leading to other diagnoses and services. Risks to health, well-being, and adaptive skills can arise without proper support.
- Gastrostomy (G-Tube) or nasogastric (NG-Tube) tube dependence (tube weaning)
- Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)/paediatric feeding disorder (PFD)
- Liquid dependence (formula, bottle)
- Underweight/poor growth
- Inappropriate mealtime behaviour (crying, negative statements, turning head, covering mouth, hitting the spoon/cup, throwing food/utensils, spitting out the food, holding food in mouth without swallowing, aggression, self-injury, leaving the table, not coming to the table) and long mealtimes
- Gagging, coughing, vomiting
- Food selectivity (“picky”/”fussy” eaters): Not eating foods from all food groups (protein, starch, vegetable, fruit) separately, eating only snack/junk foods, only eating foods at certain temperatures, prepared/presented a certain way, of specific brands/certain colours, or in certain receptacles/utensils
- Not drinking from an open cup or feeding self age-appropriately
- Not drinking liquids such as water or milk
- Eating only mashed or blended foods/textures, difficulty chewing/swallowing
- Only eating in certain settings (e.g., home), at certain times, or with certain people (e.g., Mum)
- Medication refusal
- Refusing to sit at the table to eat; Needing distractions (e.g., electronics) to eat
- Needing a separate meal from family
- Feeling stress, dreading mealtimes
Brief 2-Page Overview on Paediatric Feeding & Checklist
What you may be seeing and why, and the importance of timely proper support
Professionally Certified. Internationally Recognised.
Dr. Tessa Taylor (ClinPsych) has over 25 years of experience and is a Doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D). She obtained her Master’s degree in 2001 and her PhD in clinical psychology in 2010 from Louisiana State University, USA. She is a registered clinical psychologist in Australia and former licensed clinical psychologist in the USA. Dr. Taylor (ClinPsych) completed her predoctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine/Kennedy Krieger Institute.
Dr. Taylor (ClinPsych) has authored over 60 peer-reviewed research publications and 3 book chapters, and has over 70 professional presentations internationally (USA, Australia, Japan, France, Greece, Italy, Maldives, Ireland, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Bali Indonesia, Puerto Rico). She is an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the University of Canterbury, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Treatment Built Upon Expertise
After completing fellowship, Dr. Taylor (ClinPsych) remained on as faculty in the KKI Pediatric Feeding Disorders Program. This programme is the original, largest, and one of the few interdisciplinary behaviour-analytic programs of its kind; serving the most severe and complex children from all over the world.
Dr. Taylor’s (ClinPsych) highly unique training and expertise in paediatric feeding disorders and severe problem behaviour grants her the ability to support the full spectrum of complexity and severity of feeding difficulties.
Backed by decades of Research
This approach is individualised, data-driven, intensive, and direct, employing well-established, empirically-supported treatments for paediatric feeding disorders with 50 years of quality scientific research supporting it.
A process previously exclusive to a few specific locations in the United States, Dr. Taylor (ClinPsych) now travels in order to bring these advanced techniques across the world.
This highly efficient and individualised feeding therapy can quickly increase nutritional variety from all food groups, teach skills needed for age-appropriate independence (cup drinking, utensils) and texture, and is applicable regardless of diagnosis or ability/skill level without the need for starvation/hunger provocation.
Paediatric Feeding International
Board Certified Behavior Analyst - Doctoral (BCBA-D) #1-13-13170
Australian Business Number (ABN) 43511656633