Little Eaters & Talkers

When your child suddenly starts refusing foods they used to eat, it can feel like you’re watching their “safe foods” disappear one by one. 😩

But food refusal isn’t always just “being picky.”

A sudden change in eating can be connected to sensory differences, difficulty chewing, constipation, reflux, illness, pain, or changes in oral-motor or swallowing skills.

Instead of pressuring your child to “just take a bite,” focus on keeping foods available, reducing pressure, and paying attention to why the change is happening.

And remember—you don’t have to wait until your child is eating only a handful of foods to seek feeding therapy. ❤️ Early support can make a big difference.

If your child is losing foods from their diet, this is your sign to get curious—not frustrated.

eater

Infant adoption, a month in the NICU, and a feeding journey that took years.

Jaime found out she was a mom over lunch. The call came — the birth mother had delivered that morning — and they needed to get on a plane. Three hours later they were in the air. Somewhere over Phoenix the photos came through and they realised their daughter was in the NICU.

She was healthy. Alert. Strong. Just very, very small.

Small babies are so often sent home with "she'll catch up." Sometimes they do. Sometimes what looks like slow growth is the first sign of something that deserves a closer look — and a feeding therapist is one of the people who can help you tell the difference.

This is the start of Jaime's story. The rest of it — tongue-tie, bottle aversion, failure to thrive, and eventually a diagnosis — is in the full episode.

Full episode on Spotify. Link in bio 🎙️

Little Eaters & Talkers — pediatric feeding therapy and speech therapy in Bellaire, serving Houston and virtually nationwide.

Because apparently kids need lunch EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. 😂

Can breastmilk actually make reflux worse? 👀

Not exactly—and this is an important distinction.

Breastmilk itself isn’t “bad” for babies with reflux. But for some babies, something related to breastfeeding may be contributing to their symptoms.

🥛 Cow’s-milk protein from mom’s diet can pass into breastmilk and may cause symptoms in sensitive infants.
🍼 Fast flow or feeding mechanics can contribute to discomfort.
📈 Overfeeding can worsen reflux symptoms—whether the milk is breastmilk or formula.

And sometimes what looks like “reflux” is actually cow’s-milk protein intolerance/allergy or another feeding issue.

So before we just label a baby as a “reflux baby,” it’s worth looking at the whole feeding picture.

Reflux is a symptom. The goal is to figure out WHY.

When your toddler wants to feed YOU instead of eating their own food… 🍓😂

Don’t panic. And don’t immediately turn it into a battle.

Feeding a parent can be a way for your child to explore food, connect socially, reduce pressure, or simply figure out what to do with this whole eating thing.

Try:

👉 “You want to feed Mommy! Thank you. Now Mommy’s turn… and then your turn.”

👉 “You can give me one bite, then you can take one.”

👉 “You’re not ready for a bite yet? That’s okay. Your food can stay right here.”

The goal is to accept the interaction without letting your child completely outsource the eating. 😉

We want mealtimes to feel safe, social, and low-pressure—while still giving your child plenty of opportunities to practice eating their own food.

And yes… sometimes being fed by your toddler is basically a five-star restaurant experience. 😂

Feeding issues + constipation? 👀 Let’s talk about what’s on the plate.

I see so many kids who struggle with both, and while Miralax or lactulose can have a place, I also want to look at the diet.

For some kids, a diet heavy in dairy may be contributing to constipation. 🥛

Have you ever noticed your child’s constipation improve after reducing dairy or switching to a non-dairy milk?

I want to hear your experience! 👇

What does a significant tongue tie actually look like? 👅

This little girl had a severe restriction in her tongue movement. And while a tongue tie can be easy to spot visually, the bigger question is always:

How is it affecting function? And How did all the doctors not recommend a release?!!!!

Tongue movement matters for feeding, swallowing, speech, oral motor skills, and more.

If you’re a parent who has been told your child has a tongue tie, don’t just ask, “How does it look?” Ask, “How is the tongue functioning?”

Save this if you’re navigating a tongue tie, and send it to a parent who needs to see this. ❤️